The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1912-03-01
Plead Eloquen entity for
Time When Battle Is
Offered in Senate.
EXPECT FINAL.
ACTION TODAY
Senator'S Opposing Jordan Bill
Lacked One Vote of Calling 1t
Up Out of It's Order-Strong
Demand to Have Question
Settled, So as Not to De-
lay Important Work.

Contrasting every inch of ground
with a desperation born OF conviction
that defeat is in the end Inevitable, the
prohibition forces in the senate yester-
day succeeded in delaying few hours
ionger this execution of tho Jordan bill.
when the vets" generated by Senator
Lesner tried twice TO muster the
twenty seven votes required to suspend
the rules and take the bill out OF its
regular order.
Following closely upon the adverse
report OF the senate Committee on
Privileges and Elections, and its recon-
meHdatson that the bill he made a
special order for to-day, the sudden
ranoeuvre OF the antis Was the ieuideI
legislative sensation OF the morning.
That tho action of the vets" was
rot wholly unexpected was evident
from the promptncsH with which Scna-
Tor Walker. acknowledged Napoleon of
the dry forces. met every attack.
Prominent members OF tho !. nti.Saloon
League occupied front seats in the
gallery and watched with interest the
parliamentary battle III the arena be-
low.
Saved by a siirstle.
The merest OF accidents prevented
the bill from coming to vote before
the adjournment Of the morning ses-
SION Every Senator was in his seat
when the calendar was reached. when
opponents OF the Jordan bill decided
upon tho coup d'etat which they hoped.
would put an end 10 weeks Of I'M
certainty and nostpouelnent. Count
:, ing twenty-four supporters whom they
VssT -. -'iuiyoc9ll. Gems. -"
Measure icndei'aN Of the wet forces
succeeded III eulistin.y. tho aid OF three
members OF the oppos.i.M Side in Z.
movement IL suspend III rules ana
take the bill out OF its Hguiar order
FOX the purpose OF immedV,e disposal
motion 10 suspend IN rules was
accordingly offered by nItor Lesner.
Parliamentary objections We're at once
raised by Senator Walker. These dis
posed OF, the opposition insisted upon
All aye and no vote. Senator Mon
cure, OF stafford, was oscnt upon
business in the House when the roll
was called which resultc.; in vote
of twenty-siH for this suspension or
the rules and thirteen against II. The
absence of the Stafford SENATOR who
is claimed by the ants, defeated the
motion
When IA hulf,hour later the same
motion was put again Senator AIoncurc
was in his seat, but Senator Rinehart,
who voted for a suspension OF the
rules on the iirst motion. declined 10
vote. The vote Was against &c ayes
and 13 noes, and no further attempt
to force vote on the bill was made
thc rest Of the day.
Charged with .Railronaing,,
Senator AIapp, speaking warmly
eainst the tactics Of the majority,
harSed II with an unjustiiiahle at
.empt 10 railroad AN important meas
ure without an opportunity for de-
bate. The chair had called the gem
eral appropriation bill, which was o
special and continuing order for l2:3O
ii o'clock, and Senator Lcsner had inter
posed with motion 10 pass by con-
sideration of the bill for five min
ntss. Senator Walker called for the
ayes and noes. which resulted in a
vote of twenty-seveH for and ten
against the motion.
Personally said Senator Mapp, "I
have been ready TO vote on this bill
ever since l took my oath as Senator
There has never been a question in
my mind MS to which way / shou n
vote. i have always been in favor
OF an early vote on the measure. and
have on more than one occas sion sug-
scsted the advisab!lity OF carly action.
cannot understand the acton OF the
opponents of the bill, coming as II
does within three minutes after The
report OF the Privileges ana Elections
Committee ana it's Recommendation
that the bill be set for debate TO-
morrow. 1 can only interpret ii as
an attempt to railroad this most i'm
portant bill through. without dcba te
or consideration.
why this sudden haste, l ask?
Why'-turninG to Senator Lesner-
ARE you so anxious that the bill be
taken up at once? What are your
4 reasons?"
Wants ITO Ilill II mt Oncc.r
II have more than one reason" re-
Piled Senator Lcsncr. One of Them
Is that Senator Rinehart. one of your
own men, asked me this morning TO
try to get the bill taken up out of
d its order because he had to leave town
Tomorrow and wanted to see tne
measure voted on
But the principal reason, am very
] frank about II, is that / want TO have
this bill killed at once-right now. I
4 want IT lut out of the way, and I
] want to put an end to being l,arassed
and nagged so that wo can proceed
4 with other lcgislation."
TO the objection of Senator Mann
d that no measure of this Importance
should be permitted to go to a yote
without debate, Senator Lesner replied
that he was willing to fix upon linn
tied debate, say, an hour for each side,
at the end OF which time vote
sho.;H be taken, The plan was not
acceptable to Senator Mapp. who sia :
sestcd that the bill be made IL special
order for Monday. The ants wonjd dn'
no condition accedc to further posj :
ponemcnt. and demanded a vote on THE
motion to suspend the rules ana 1,
take the BIN out of Its order. TiH,
A 11;27 N Continued on Sixth EagoI - II