Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1926-01-26
Senate Cloture, But No Gag"

Cloture, as applied to the debate
on the World Court protocol by a
vote of sixty eight to twenty-six in
the Senate yesterday, means that each
Senator may speak for one hour.
With a total membership Of ninety
six, that means a possible discussion
for four full days of twenty-four hours
six hours each on an average. At
least that is the possibility, under the
rules. AS a matter of fact, yester-
days vote, with its emphatic demon
stration that more than two-thirds of
the Senate will vote to adopt the pro-
tocol in some form, signifies the clos
ing of the discussion much sooner
than the extreme possibility. The
final vote may. come within the next
forty-eight hours. For there Is roth
Ing now to protraction Of the debate.
The minds of Senators are definitely
made up as to their courses. Debate
will not change them. Furthermore,
several Senators voted against cloture
yesterday who. it is expected, will vote
for the protocol. while none who voted
for the cloture will vote against the
protocol.
To style cloture in such circum-
stances a "gagging" process is ridicu-
&ous. This rule to close debate has
been invoked after several weeks of
discussion. While there has been no
fflibuSter, according to the leading op-
ponents of the proto"o.- though the
Record has shown decided symptoms
Of a maneuver to kill time-ample op-
portunity has been afforded for a full
discussion. But for the protraction
OF single speeches over two and in
some cases three days there would
have been a chance. had they desired,
for all members of the Senate to take
The floor to expound their views.
Cloture was invoked only when all
attempts to fix a time to close the
debate by unanimous consent agree.
ment had failed. It was not applied
until a measure of Importance had
been reported from committee and lay
on the table awaiting attention, with
urgent reason for it's early considera-
ton. Even at the moment before it
was definitely brought to a vote in the
Senate effort was made again to Sc
cure unanimous consent for agree
ment upon a voting time on the rro-
tocol. Objection was made The Cd.
position to the World Court was
determined to compel the Senate to
tably asked to be gagged, If that word
can be applied to the process Of inter
posing the hour-limit barrier against
unstinted talk.
Any effort to cause it to appear
that the World Court protocol was
damned through the Senate without
consideration for the views and feel
ings of the minority will be absurd in
view of the facts, which are Perfectly
apparent to the people of this coun-
try. There is no tolerance for the dis
position to protract discussion. The
popular response to Vice President
Dawes appeal for a change Of rules
which will make cloture after a rea.
sonable period of debate a matter of
routine proves that the sentiment of
the country does not support cbstruc-
ton to legislation, whatever the cause.
Clamor against this present course of
fhe Senate in making possible a vote
on the protocol nearly two months
after it was taken up for considera.
zion at the present session will only
intensity the feeling tina. the rules
Should be so amended that drastic
measures will not be required TO bring
that body to the point of action.