Changes

Despite approval of the Dyer Bill by the Judiciary Committee already at the end of June, Republican senators hesitated to introduce the bill to the floor throughout August 1922 and the first half of September.<ref name=tarbert/> Procrastinating until the final full day of the congressional session prior to adjourning as the midterm elections approached, Shortridge in the afternoon of September 21, securing the floor, prepared to introduce the bill. However, upon yielding towards two party party colleagues, Mississippi Democratic senator Byron P. "Pat" Harrison invoked a [[point of order]], interrupting for two hours. By the time Shortridge had the ability to regain the chamber, the absence of numerous senatorial colleagues, who departed for the evening, created the absence of a [[quorum]].<ref name=tarbert/>

Despite approval of the Dyer Bill by the Judiciary Committee already at the end of June, Republican senators hesitated to introduce the bill to the floor throughout August 1922 and the first half of September.<ref name=tarbert/> Procrastinating until the final full day of the congressional session prior to adjourning as the midterm elections approached, Shortridge in the afternoon of September 21, securing the floor, prepared to introduce the bill. However, upon yielding towards two party party colleagues, Mississippi Democratic senator Byron P. "Pat" Harrison invoked a [[point of order]], interrupting for two hours. By the time Shortridge had the ability to regain the chamber, the absence of numerous senatorial colleagues, who departed for the evening, created the absence of a [[quorum]].<ref name=tarbert/>

In the subsequent [[1922 Midterm Elections|1922 midterm elections]], the Senate Republicans lost a net of six seats, shrinking their majority from 59 to 53 and narrowing chances of obtaining cloture against a looming Democratic filibuster if the Dyer Bill was brought up in the subsequent Congress. Although the 68th Congress would not take place until after the [[lame duck session]], President Harding's urge to Senate Republicans to pass the Dyer Bill no longer carried any influence due to the resounding midterm defeats.<ref name=tarbert/>

In the subsequent [[1922 Midterm Elections|1922 midterm elections]], the Senate Republicans lost a net of six seats, shrinking their majority from 59 to 53 and narrowing chances of obtaining cloture against a looming Democratic filibuster if the Dyer Bill was brought up in the subsequent Congress. Although the 68th Congress would not take place until after the [[lame duck session]], President Harding's urge to Senate Republicans to pass the Dyer Bill proved futile, no longer carrying significant influence due to the resounding midterm defeats.<ref name=tarbert/>

Shortridge's parliamentary skills proved unable to overcome that of Democratic opponents Harrison and Oscar W. Underwood of Alabama.<ref name=greenidge/> In the [[lame duck session]], Shortridge tried taking up the bill once again November 27 and faced a prepared Democratic filibuster led by Sen. Harrison and later described by a correspondent of the ''New York Tribune'' as "the most effective [old timers] have seen in years."<ref name=tarbert/> Amidst a deadlock the following day, the Republican caucus affirmed to continue fighting on behalf of the Bill, though Southern Democrats were more forceful in their determination to see its defeat, vowing to let the filibuster sustain until the end of the lame duck session.<ref name=tarbert/>

Shortridge's parliamentary skills proved unable to overcome that of Democratic opponents Harrison and Oscar W. Underwood of Alabama.<ref name=greenidge/> In the [[lame duck session]], Shortridge tried taking up the bill once again November 27 and faced a prepared Democratic filibuster led by Sen. Harrison and later described by a correspondent of the ''New York Tribune'' as "the most effective [old timers] have seen in years."<ref name=tarbert/> Amidst a deadlock the following day, the Republican caucus affirmed to continue fighting on behalf of the Bill, though Southern Democrats were more forceful in their determination to see its defeat, vowing to let the filibuster sustain until the end of the lame duck session.<ref name=tarbert/>