Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-07-19
Filibuster.

Opponents of the London naval treaty
in the Senate are treating the country
to the latest "filibuster'' in that body.
Exercising the right of unlimited de-
bate accorded Senators under the rules
of that body, this minority, bare
handful of Senators, is seeking to nre-
vent action on the treaty through the
mere holding of the floor. At the first
night session of the Senate last night
on the naval treaty Senator Hale of
Maine read to the Senate an Armistice
day speech of former President Cool
idge, occupying about an hour Of the
Senate's time. An admirable address,
but its reading last night was clearly
for time killing purposes. Other mem
bers of the band of treaty opponents
regale the Senate by reading page after
page of testimony taken before the
Senate Foreign Relations Committee, all
of which has been public for weeks and
has been printed and placed in the
hands of individual Senators.
1t has been clear ever since the open
ing of the special session of the Senate
to deal with the treaty two weeks ago
that the opposition in the end must
rely on obstructionist tactics, and to
those tactics they have now come. 1t
has been known to the obstructiontsts,
to the whole Senate and to the country
from the start that the treaty will
be Overwhelmingly ratified once vote
is reached. All that the obstructionists
hoped for was to be able to tire out the
Senate, break a quorum and compel an
adjournment. The response of Senators
to the. call for attendance upon the
daily sessions of the Senate dealing
with the treaty, however, has been
greater than the opposition had ex-
pected. The end of the fight appears
to be in sight
The supporters of the treaty have
sought to obtain from the opponents
an agreement to close debate after
a reasonable time. for discussion of the
treaty. But the opponents have de-
clined to make any such agreement.
There remains, therefore, an avenue for
the supporters of the treaty to win to
a close of debate. That is to keep the
Senate in session long hours daily and
nightly and thus finally to wear the
opposition out. If this seems cruel; If
the obstructionists complain of the
rough treatment accorded them by
compelling them to talk and talk some
more, the answer Is that the obstruc-
tionists have merely brought their dis
tress upon themselves and can be re-
lieved of it as soon as they are willing
to permit vote to be taken.
The Senate is known as deliberative
body. The contest now under way over
the naval treaty, however, robs it OF
that title and makes it mere talking
marathon race. The minority is en-
titled to full hearing on the treaty.
1t has had it. The majority is now
entitled to act on the pact.
The<Senate has a rule under which
cloture may be invoked by two-thirds
vote of those present and voting. The
supporters of the treaty have been
loath to adopt the cloture rule, while
the obstructionists have sought to
taunt them into doing so, hoping then
to proclaim to the country that the
minority has been gagged" Under
the plan adopted by the leaders sup
porting the treaty, no one can complain
that the minority has been prevented
from talking, and the clear intention
of the obstructionists becomes revealed
to the country