In Rhode Island

The differences between International Law and Parliamentary Law are subtle, refined and numerous. Filibustering, for example, is possible under either, but the International code is more restricting. Similarly International Law frowns upon the use of poison gas, but Parliamentary Law makes no mention of it.

It awaited the fertile mind of a Rhode Islander to discover the latter difference. It so happens that in Rhode Island the country districts are Republican, the city districts Democratic. Since the country existed before the city, the State Constitution was made by the countrymen, and the countrymen-Republicans have been jealously guarding the Constitution ever since, in order to preserve it from the ravages of the citymen-Democrats.

One of the features of the Constitution is that the State Assembly shall be elected by districts in proportion to population, but the State Senate is elected, one member from each town, regardless of population. Result: 22 Republicans in the Senate to only 17 Democrats, and the rest of the State Government largely Democratic, except for appointive officers. These are Republican, and for a good reason. There is a Rhode Island law that if the Governor makes an appointment which is not approved by the Senate within 72 hours, the Senate may make appointments.

Things were this way when the Legislature convened on Jan. 1. They are that way still. The Democrats were determined to pass a bill providing for a State Constitutional Convention. The Republicans in the Senate refused to let it pass. The Democrats were so determined that there should be a new Constitution that they would not let the regular

Appropriation Bill pass. As a consequence most State officers had not been paid since March 1.

The situation lasted all Spring. The Democrats stoutly filibustered against the Appropriation Bill. The Lieutenant Governor presiding over the Senate, being an elective officer, was a Democrat. He aided the Democrats, by refusing to recognize Republican Senators. One morning last week, as the Senate was about to open, and the Lieutenant Governor was walking up the aisle, the President pro tem of the Senate, a Republican, mounted the rostrum and attempted to call the meeting to order and proceed with the Appropriation Bill. As the reading clerk began to read, a Democratic Senator snatched the Bill from his hands. A general battle of fisticuffs ensued which the Sheriff was obliged to quell. The incident passed.

For 42 hours, the body was in continuous session. Suddenly an odor was detected. It grew worse. Several Senators collapsed. The rest hurried from the Chamber. Janitors investigated and found out that a gas bomb had been planted behind the rostrum.

When the Chamber had been aired and deliberations resumed, several Republican members were absent. The Lieutenant Governor ordered the High Sheriff to arrest them. He went and came back without them--producing a physician's certificate stating they were unable to attend.

The Lieutenant Governor deputized 15 civilians to get the Republicans and bring them back. But the Republicans, safely immured in a committee room, were protected by policemen.

Next morning all the Republicans except one had disappeared. That one was on hand to see that no action might be taken since there was no quorum. The Chairman of the Republican State Central Committee announced that he had advised the Republican Senators to leave the State, to escape "probable violence" in the Senate.

Said the Sheriff, a Republican: "A doctor certified they were not well enough to attend the Senate sessions, and I shall not attempt to force them to attend until he has certified that they have recovered. If they have left the State, it was without my permission. To search for them I should need additional appropriations."

Said Governor Flynn, a Democrat: "Gas has been planted in an attempt to suffocate the Lieutenant Governor. I am going to the bottom of this. . ."