Jackson advocate. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1939-current, 1952-04-19
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NEW YORK-(GlobaD During
the last session Of the 10Th Con-
gress when Southern Senators es-
tablished their filibuster blockade
to prevent action on the FEPC
bill, | was one of the few persons
who failed 60 become upset, or I'M
duly alarmed. / pointed out that
Dhe practice Of allowing unlimited
debate in the Senate mad its good
features. | was, Of course, severe
Iy criticized, because men like SEN
ators Wayne Morse, Claude Pepper
and Glen Taylor and like former
Mayor Fiorello LaGuardia were
vigorous in their denunciation of
the Senators who were delaying
action. They were believed to be
right.
| asserted at the time that the
unlimited debate rule was estab-
llshed in order to protect the mi
nority from steamroller tactics of
the majority. lie gave even lone
dlssenter a chance to be heard. OBJ
vlously, any privilege can be a.
bused. But even in cases of abuse,
che Senate has provided means by
which abuses can be checked The
Senate has the power to invoke
cloture, which means it can vote to
limit debate. This is the principle
of self-discipline.
In discussing the matter OF un-
limited debate, l stated that one
should consider the possibility Of
q situation in which his interest
was being espoused by the fiLbus-
terers before reaching any eonclu-
sion. | said then that if a really
reactionary majority got control
OF Congress and a measure was
proposed that was Enthusiastically
pnlmlcal to the interest of a mi
norlty, that the minority in ques-
ton would certainly want to have
all the time possible to present its
side, and would take advantage Of
every device at its command to
win its case.
In the United States Senate in
l947, we saw a demonstration Of
that fact. The very men who had
yelled the loudest against filibus-
terlng and other delaying tactics,
employed them to every possible
advantage. 1t was Senator Morse
who blocked an immediate vote on
The Presidents veto of the Taft
Hartley Law. 1t was Senator Glen
Taylor who opened up the fiIibus-
tel, and Senator Claude Pepper who
joined in to help prolong the de-
pate, and thereby choke off Senate
action.
The same labor and liberal forces
who decrled the fiibuster the wear
before We're applauding Senators
Morse, Taylor and Pepper for do
ing the very thing they condemned
Senators Ellender, Bilbo and others
for doing. 1t is easy to see now
that If you outlaw the unlimited
debate rule, it not only will operate
against the bigoted brigade, bent
on thwarting legislation designed
to improve the lot of Negroes, but
1T will likewise operate against
chose Senators who believe they
are acting on behalf of Negroes or
other minorities.
The evil, it seems, is not so much
the fact that the Senate rules per-
NIT member to talk as long as he
chooses, but rather that the Senate
doesn't have the courage to Use its
own power to stop any member who
abuses his privilege.
During the 18th Congress when
She Senate was debating the FEPC
Bill, 1t is clear that the filibuster
could have been broken-either by
the invoking of cloture, or by a
continuous session. The Senate.
cowardly, refused to do either.
Now that the FEPC Bill is being
considered by the Senate, it will
be well Tor the public to watch to
see whether the Senate will take
positive action, whether to vote
clotuIe OF to keep the Senate in
continuous session until the fill
buster is broken; OF. whether the
Senate leadership will abandon the
iight as it mas done in the past on
the grounds that prolonged debate
would hold up other legislation and
That the Senators must get home
10 campaign for reelection.