STONE-WALLING.

Auckland Star, Volume LXXII, Issue 52, 3 March 1941, Page 7

STONE-WALLING.

"BAND OF EVIL MEN." Supporters Of "Aid" Bill Grow Impatient. (Reed, noon.) WASHINGTON*, Mar. Z. Senator William H. Smathcrs (Democrat) adopted the unusual course of advance publication of the speech he expected to deliver on Saturday in the course of the Senate debate on the '•Lend-or-Leasc" BiH. Owing to opposition stone-walling and lengthy, repetitious speeches. Senator Smathers will now deliver hie speech on Alondav.

He said: "It se-?ms a shame, when every man, woman and child in America, knows that the bill is going to pass, and every senator knows how he is going to vote, that we make this great Senate a mere debating society week after week; thus delaying the most important legislation. It almost proves Hitler's contention that democracy is unworkable.

"It is deplorable that a little band of evil men can gang up in a democracy to defeat the working of a democracy.* .

He pointed out tliat while Administration supporters <-onsumed 14 hours, opponents talked 40 hours. Senator (.•erald P. Xye, who opposes the bill, spoke for 10 hours. Signs of growing impatience on the part of many senators at long speeches by opponents of the bill caused the Senate to decide late yesterday to convene every day at 11 a.ni., instead of noon, until the l>sll is disposed of. This move is expected to speed up the passage of the bill. Administration leader* hope . to complete its passage by the end of ! next week.