Changes

In practice 19th century filibusters were successful only at the end of a session, when the clock was ticking.  The Senate thereby refused to vote on the [[Wilmot Proviso]] regarding slavery in 1846.  

In practice 19th century filibusters were successful only at the end of a session, when the clock was ticking.  The Senate thereby refused to vote on the [[Wilmot Proviso]] regarding slavery in 1846.  

Until 1915, it was possible to end a filibuster by majority vote by suspending the rules. In 1917 a bipartisan group of liberal isolationists led by Senator [[Robert LaFollette]] filibustered a bill to arm American merchant ships that were being attacked by German submarines; war had not been declared and the opponents thought big business was promoting a war with Germany. The filibuster stopped the legislation, but President [[Woodrow Wilson]] used his war powers to arm the ships anyway.<ref>Thomas W. Ryley, ''A Little Group of Willful Men: A Study of Congressional-Presidential Authority,'' (1975)</ref>

In 1917 a bipartisan group of liberal isolationists led by Senator [[Robert LaFollette]] filibustered a bill to arm American merchant ships that were being attacked by German submarines. War had not been declared and the opponents thought big business was promoting a war with Germany. The filibuster stopped the legislation, but President [[Woodrow Wilson]] used his war powers to arm the ships anyway.<ref>Thomas W. Ryley, ''A Little Group of Willful Men: A Study of Congressional-Presidential Authority,'' (1975)</ref>

 

In 1941, on the eve of World War II, President [[Franklin D. Roosevelt]], in an effort to integrate minority groups into the war effort, issued an [[executive order]], with no vote in Congress, that created the [[Fair Employment Practices Committee]] and enlarged its responsibilities in 1943. It required companies with federal contracts to not discriminate against employees on the base of race, religion or ethnicity. However, only congressional action could extend its life beyond the war years. Democratic Senator Dennis Chavez of [[New Mexico]] introduced a bill to establish a permanent FEPC in 1945 which set off a national controversy over how much control the federal government should have in employment practices. Southern Democrats viewed the bill as a step toward social equality of the races. Leading the opposition was Senator [[Theodore Gilmore Bilbo]] (1877-1947) of [[Mississippi]] who vowed he would beat the 'damnable, unAmerican and unconstitutional' FEPC to death.  The bill was withdrawn from consideration after a 24-day filibuster.<ref>Robert J. Bailey, "Theodore G. Bilbo and the Fair Employment Practices Controversy: a Southern Senator's Reactions to a Changing World," ''Journal of Mississippi History'' 1980 42(1): 27-42.</ref>  

In 1941, on the eve of World War II, President [[Franklin D. Roosevelt]], in an effort to integrate minority groups into the war effort, issued an [[executive order]], with no vote in Congress, that created the [[Fair Employment Practices Committee]] and enlarged its responsibilities in 1943. It required companies with federal contracts to not discriminate against employees on the base of race, religion or ethnicity. However, only congressional action could extend its life beyond the war years. Democratic Senator Dennis Chavez of [[New Mexico]] introduced a bill to establish a permanent FEPC in 1945 which set off a national controversy over how much control the federal government should have in employment practices. Southern Democrats viewed the bill as a step toward social equality of the races. Leading the opposition was Senator [[Theodore Gilmore Bilbo]] (1877-1947) of [[Mississippi]] who vowed he would beat the 'damnable, unAmerican and unconstitutional' FEPC to death.  The bill was withdrawn from consideration after a 24-day filibuster.<ref>Robert J. Bailey, "Theodore G. Bilbo and the Fair Employment Practices Controversy: a Southern Senator's Reactions to a Changing World," ''Journal of Mississippi History'' 1980 42(1): 27-42.</ref>