America's Money Machine

42 PART I / THE ROOTS OF REFORM
which he headed, and without moving from his seat reported the bill
favorably and called for a vote. Such in those days was the control ofthe
leadership over their respective Houses! The bill was adopted 47 to 20
and again a struggle for a compromise began. IO
Eventually, after several White House conferences marked by the faithful
cooperation of Speaker Cannon, who for the first time joined forces
with the White House on an important item of the Administration program,
a compromise was accepted which left open the question whether
currency issues should be backed by bonds or commercial paper. To
obtain support of reluctant Congressmen for this hermaphroditic measure,
the Times charged that it would be coupled with a $23 million public
works or "pork barrel" bill.lI-
On May 27 the compromise squeezed through the House under
Speaker Cannon's whip, 166 to 140, but in the Senate confronted a new
and formidable attack by Senator La Follette. The "La Follette Filibuster"
is one ofthe most famous in the annals oflegislative debate. Only
the currency bill held up adjournment and the members were eager to
leave for home. In such circumstances a filibuster, holding the Senate in
session, can be a powerful weapon. The La Follette filibuster was defeated
by circumstance of the blindness of one of the La Follette coterie,
Senator Thomas P. Gore of Oklahoma, combined with the unceasing
watchfulness and consummate strategy of the opposition. Senators La
Follette, Stone and Gore were taking turns speaking so as to prevent the
bill from coming to a vote. The blind Gore had taken the floor on the
understanding that at his signal Senator Stone would relieve him. But
Senator Stone had stepped into the lobby at the moment the blind Senator,
unaware ofhis absence, gave his signal. As Gore paused in his speech
Senator Gallinger rose and demanded a roll call and the cooperative
Clerk began calling the names beginning with Aldrich. The La Follette
group shouted a point of order but Vice President Fairbanks ruled that
the roll call was in order. La Follette had lost the floor, the bill passed
by a vote of 43 to 22, and was signed by the President on the same day,
May 30, 1908.12