The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1933-02-15
SENATE GAG
RULE LIKELY IN
REPEAL FIGHT
Vets Win First SkirmiSh
Against FiIibuSterers;
Blaine Motion Up.

By SCftppG-H OtCdrd Newspaper tfGHCc
WASHINGTON, Feb. 15.-Win-
ming their first skirmish against dry
filibusterers, the senate vets today
predicted prohibition repeal would
be submitted to the states, If it can
be brought to vote.
The drys we're outmaneuyered and
outvoted in their filibuster against
the Blaine motion TO consider his
revision proposal, and voted this
afternoon to begin immediate con-
sideration of the measure.
The handful of white-ribboners
opposing any action now will return
to their attack, and may delay a test
unless a gag rule is invoked against
them.
There is every likelihood that this
drastic remedy will be applied, in
view of the temper of the senate, as
disclosed during Tuesdays tumultu
ously comic debate.
Witness Amusing Scenes
It was not until after 10 Tuesday
night that senate vets on both
sides of the aisle wore down Sena-
tor Norris Sheppard Dem, Tex) d,
author of the eighteenth amend
ment and chief filibusterer.
When he yielded the floor after a
nine-hour speech recounting the his
tory of the League of Nations for
the last ten years, Majority Leader
Charles L. McNary rep, OreO
moved for a vote on the proposal
to take up repeal this afternoon.
1t unanimously was agreed to, but
Sheppard and fellow-fi libusterers
did so only because they still have
another chance to delay a vote at
this session.
The vets preliminary victory
came only after some of the strangest
and most amusing scenes the SEN
ate has witnessed in years.
It was Minority Leader Joseph
T. Robinson Dem, Ark, who few
years ago declared that you can
not nail the skull and bones of an
outlawed trade to the Democratic
masthead" that kept more agrees
sive vets from surrendering to the
Sheppard Brookhart-B orah fllibuS-
ter.
"Pitiable Spectacle" Charged
After a bipartisan tongue-lashing
had failed to move Mr.. Sheppard,
who held the floor all day with his
League of Nations address, the vets
agreed to lay on the table the
Blaine motion for consideration OF
his repeal resolution.
Led by Senator Millard TydingS
Dem, Md they based their sur
render on the ground that the fill
buster was blocking important fiscal
and relief measures. Thus, they
sought to absolve themselves OF the
charge of quitting.
But Robinson, who was angry be-
cause he had not been consulted on
this move, leaped to his feet. He
demanded that Senator Blaine be
given more time to wear down or
break the filibuSter.
He insisted that the senate decide
whether it could legislate, or permit
this "pitiable spectacle" to go on
He referred to the nationwide
criticism which followed the Long
Thomas filibuster against the Glass
banking bill few weeks ago.
whole Atmosphere Changed
In a twinkling the whole atmoS-
phere changed. The very senators
who had agreed to support IydingS
in tabling the Blaine motion oe-
serted him. Robinson won out by
30 to %, and this vote indicates that
gag rule and the repeal resolution
itself will pass if it can be forced
to vote.
Immediately after Robinsons one
man revolution. a cloture motion
to choke of the filibuster against
the Blaine proposal to debate re-
peal was introduced by Senator
Hiram Bingham (Rep., Conn.,. -,
But the agreement later obtained
bv McNary obviates the necessity Oh
,,resSinc for ClOture.