Changes

Robinson played a crucial part in killing the Costigan–Wagner Act. He introduced a motion to adjourn the Senate until the chamber would hold a debate over a separate piece of legislation, thus indefinitely stalling off passage of the Act.<ref name=vassar/> This stood in contrast to the two other proposals by anti–civil rights forces which suggested either laying it aside or directly filibustering it to death.

Robinson played a crucial part in killing the Costigan–Wagner Act. He introduced a motion to adjourn the Senate until the chamber would hold a debate over a separate piece of legislation, thus indefinitely stalling off passage of the Act.<ref name=vassar/> This stood in contrast to the two other proposals by anti–civil rights forces which suggested either laying it aside or directly filibustering it to death.

On April 26, 1935, the adjourn motion was narrowly defeated by a 33–34 vote, with most Republicans voting against it while only a third of Democrats opposed it.<ref name=govtrack>[https://www.govtrack.us/congress/votes/74-1/s53 TO ADJOURN. THE PENDING BUSINESS IS S. 24, A BILL TO PREVENT LYNCHING, ON WHICH THE SENATE WAS DEADLOCKED.] ''GovTrack.us''. Retrieved December 1, 2022.</ref> However, as reported by ''The New York Times'' two days later, the anti–civil rights forces were prepared to use "extended oratory" and "other parliamentary devices" against the Act.<ref>Catledge, Turner (April 28, 1935). [https://www.nytimes.com/1935/04/28/archives/antilynching-measure-meets-dogged-hostility-opponents-of.html ANTI-LYNCHING MEASURE MEETS DOGGED HOSTILITY; Opponents of Costigan-Wagner Bill Ready to Fight It With Extended Oratory and Other Parliamentary Devices]. ''The New York Times''. Retrieved December 1, 2022.</ref> Although the initial adjourning attempts fell short, backdoor maneuvering and political trading ultimately resulted in a motion passing on May 1.<ref name=brown>Brown, Mary Jane (2017). [https://www.google.com/books/edition/Eradicating_this_Evil/2kQ3DwAAQBAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=costigan-wagner+act+joseph+t.+robinson&pg=PT253&printsec=frontcover ''Eradicating this Evil: Women in the American Anti-Lynching Movement, 1892-1940'']. ''Google Books''. Retrieved December 2, 2022.</ref><ref>[https://www.govtrack.us/congress/votes/74-1/s57 TO ADJOURN UNTIL 3:30 THE SAME DAY.] ''GovTrack.us''. Retrieved December 2, 2022.</ref> Subsequently, former Republican congressman Leonidas C. Dyer, the author of the 1922 anti-lynching bill, stated that practical efforts to pass federal anti-lynching legislation would prove futile when Congress is controlled by the Democratic Party. Dyer believed that petition efforts by White and other prominent black leaders, which urged legislative action, faced a bleak outlook.<ref name=brown/>

On April 26, 1935, the adjourn motion was narrowly defeated by a 33–34 vote, with most Republicans voting against it while only a third of Democrats opposed it.<ref name=govtrack>[https://www.govtrack.us/congress/votes/74-1/s53 TO ADJOURN. THE PENDING BUSINESS IS S. 24, A BILL TO PREVENT LYNCHING, ON WHICH THE SENATE WAS DEADLOCKED.] ''GovTrack.us''. Retrieved December 1, 2022.</ref> However, as reported by ''The New York Times'' two days later, the anti–civil rights forces were prepared to use "extended oratory" and "other parliamentary devices" against the Act.<ref>Catledge, Turner (April 28, 1935). [https://www.nytimes.com/1935/04/28/archives/antilynching-measure-meets-dogged-hostility-opponents-of.html ANTI-LYNCHING MEASURE MEETS DOGGED HOSTILITY; Opponents of Costigan-Wagner Bill Ready to Fight It With Extended Oratory and Other Parliamentary Devices]. ''The New York Times''. Retrieved December 1, 2022.</ref> Although the initial adjourning attempts fell short, backdoor maneuvering and political trading ultimately resulted in a motion passing on May 1.<ref name=brown>Brown, Mary Jane (2017). [https://www.google.com/books/edition/Eradicating_this_Evil/2kQ3DwAAQBAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=costigan-wagner+act+joseph+t.+robinson&pg=PT253&printsec=frontcover ''Eradicating this Evil: Women in the American Anti-Lynching Movement, 1892-1940'']. ''Google Books''. Retrieved December 2, 2022.</ref><ref>[https://www.govtrack.us/congress/votes/74-1/s57 TO ADJOURN UNTIL 3:30 THE SAME DAY.] ''GovTrack.us''. Retrieved December 2, 2022.</ref> Several senators who voted against the adjourn motion in late April switched sides in early May, including [[Harry S. Truman]], [[James E. Murray]], and Champ Clark.<ref name=archive,p.83>"The Anti-Lynching Bill of 1935," p. 83.</ref>

 

Subsequently, former Republican congressman Leonidas C. Dyer, the author of the 1922 anti-lynching bill, stated that practical efforts to pass federal anti-lynching legislation would prove futile when Congress is controlled by the Democratic Party. Dyer believed that petition efforts by White and other prominent black leaders, which urged legislative action, faced a bleak outlook.<ref name=brown/>

===Progressive Republicans collaborate with Southern Democrats===

===Progressive Republicans collaborate with Southern Democrats===

Alongside Norris, staunch progressive Republican [[William E. Borah]] of [[Idaho]] also opposed the Costigan–Wagner Act. According to author Joseph M. Hernon:<ref>Hernon, Joseph M. (1997). [https://www.google.com/books/edition/Profiles_in_Character/tXhW2Zoj5NEC?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=william+borah+costigan-wagner&pg=PA154&printsec=frontcover ''Profiles in Character: Hubris and Heroism in the U.S. Senate, 1789-1990''], p. 154. ''Google Books''. Retrieved December 2, 2022.</ref>

Alongside Norris, staunch progressive Republican [[William E. Borah]] of [[Idaho]] also opposed the Costigan–Wagner Act. According to author Joseph M. Hernon:<ref>Hernon, Joseph M. (1997). [https://www.google.com/books/edition/Profiles_in_Character/tXhW2Zoj5NEC?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=william+borah+costigan-wagner&pg=PA154&printsec=frontcover ''Profiles in Character: Hubris and Heroism in the U.S. Senate, 1789-1990''], p. 154. ''Google Books''. Retrieved December 2, 2022.</ref>

{{quotebox|Toward the issue of civil rights for African Americans, both Borah and Norris turned a morally blind eye. They joined most of white American in benign neglect, if not active discrimination against "Negroes." And Borah's opposition to the Costigan–Wagner Antilynching Bill succeeded in preventing cloture of a southern filibuster in 1935.}}

{{quotebox|Toward the issue of civil rights for African Americans, both Borah and Norris turned a morally blind eye. They joined most of white American in benign neglect, if not active discrimination against "Negroes." And Borah's opposition to the Costigan–Wagner Antilynching Bill succeeded in preventing cloture of a southern filibuster in 1935.}}

===Huey Long's announced opposition===

===Huey Long's announced opposition===