The people's voice. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1939-1969, 1946-03-22
WHEELER FAVORS FILIBUSTERINC

That Senator Wheeler not only II
opposed to the invoking of cloture II
the senate, but also is not in sympathy
wit hthe detectives of the F.E.P. G
bill, is made abundantly clear in 6
recent exchange of letters between the
senior senator and Headquarters Lo
cal $40, Montana Farmers Union
Great Falls.
The Wheeler Letter
February 4, 1916.
Farmers Union Headquarters,
Great Falls, Montana.
Gentlemen: l am in receipt of your
telegram of January 26, and note that
you urgently request me to vote for
rule of cloture during senate debate
of FE.P.C. bill
| have never voted for cloture as
l have always been in favor of full
and free debate. When 1 first came
to the senate, it was always the lib
erals, LaFollette and Norris who al
ways voted against cloture as a mat
ter of principle. In addition to that,
| think the bill as presently written
will do more to stir up racial and re-
ligious intolerance in this country
than anything else could possibly do.
1t takes away the right of trial by
jury and it is one of the worst pieces
of legislation that has ever come to
the senate in my humble judgment
| do not believe that one by law can
prevent intolerance. Any attempt to
do so only stirs it up / am in no SYM
pathy with the detectives of the law.
If you have read the bill, I am sure
that you would agree that it is indie
fensible.
With best wishes and kindest re-
CARDS, I am, sincerely yours...-B. K
WHEELER.
P.S.-The truth is both the Demo-
cratic leaders and the Republican
leaders are just playing politics and
none of them are for the bill as writ
ten now.-B. K. w.
M.F.U. Questions WheeIer's Stand
March Z, 1896
Senator B. K Wheeler,
Washington, d. c.
Dear Senator: Thank you for your
reply to our request to vote for rule
of cloture during senate debate on
F.EPC. bill, S. 101.
You say you have never voted for
cloture and have always been in favor
of full and free debate" Can a filibus-
ter stand as an example of full and
free debate?' In legislative processes
debate should mean a fair presenta- |
ton of all sides of the question fol- |
lowed by an opportunity of the cham
Der to take action on it and thereby |
dispose of it.
Your reference to the liberals La
Toilette and Norris, who always voted |
against cloture is interesting in the
attitude.
Norris Changed Mind on Fiibustering
Although admitting he had been
party to filibustering on a number of i
occasions, George W. Norris in his
autobiography, Fighting Liberal, pages
175-176, says:
"Filibusters often have been a ma
tional disgrace.
''The filibuster is a legislative weap- ,
on to be employed sparingly if at all
1t should be understood in all of its
"Filibustering is made possible I'M
der the rules of the senate and not
under any law. 1t could be prevented /
largely by single rule: II
81 have always felt, especially since ]
the adoption of the Lame-Duck amend {
ment, there ought to come time I'M
der fair and judicial senate procedure i
when useless and unnecessary talk t
should be ceased, and a majority of 1
the senate should be able to express
it's will" t
There is no doubt that many politi- f
clans are using the F.E.P.C. idea to t
advance their position with those peo- I
pie who will gain by the enactment
Of a law guaranteeing non-discrimina- F
ton in employment practices. While 1
they are not interested in seeing such il