New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-03-27
STEPHENSON CLOSE CALL
Resolution to Unseat Him De-
feated by Two Votes.
FINAL TEST COMES TO-DAY
He Is Expected to Win by at
Least Six Maiority--Root
Defends His Title.

Least Six MaJorlty---Root
Defends His Title.
Washington, March 26.--Taken unawares
by the adroit tactics Of the members op-
posing Senator Stephenson the Senate oy
margin Of two votes narrowly escaped
going on record to-day as deciding tha'
the election Of the Wisconsin Senator vas
invalid
The preliminary skirmish. which might
have easily become rout for those VINO
are supporting Senator Stephenson, came
az the close Of an arduous session Inc
forces arrayed against him objected per-
sistentIy TO an agreement to vote on TIC
election case tomorrow. When the ques-
ton arose of agreeing 10 the resolution
offered by Senator Jones, declaring tue
election OF Senator Stephenson invalid, pre-
serted as an amendment in the nature OF a
substitute for the motion Of Senator Hey
burn. declaring the charges Of bribery nm
proved, the opposition. instead Of continuing
the debate remained silent The rollcal
began, and II was not until the last name
WAS called that 1t was definitely known
that by vote OF 90 10 q the Stephenson
For Stephenson Bradley, Brand@,gee
Briggs, Burnham, Burton, crane, CulI0h'
Curtis Gamble, Hepburn, Lippitt. Lodge
Lorimer Mclean, Nixon, Richardson, Root
Smoot, Sutherland, Warren and Wetnlore'
Republicans; Chiffon, Fletcher. toster;
Johnston, Newlands Pomerene, kayner ana
Watson, Democrats. -,
Against Supplementary, Bourne, Bits
tow, Brown, Clapp,, CRAWFORD r TurlIi ln,,I
Gronna, Kenyon, POndexter, Townsenu
lain. Gardner, Gore, Hitchcock, Johnson
Kern, Lea, MARITIME. Myers, OGormah'
Reed. simmons Smith of Georgia ana
Smith OF South Carolina, Democrats
The result Of the rejection Of the Jones
resolution is acknowledged by Senator Kern
and others who have been conducting the
fight against Senator Stephenson to DC
ample evidence that the Senate to-morro"
will confirm his title to his seat or the
Senators absent and not paired the ma
iority are known to favor Stephenson, ana
n is estimated that he will have majority
of at least six votes when the question
comes up for final disposition. After losing
the fight over the Jones resolution the
opponents of Senator Stephenson relaxed
their efforts and agreed TO take further
recess until II o'clock tomorrow to con-
tinue the debate.
Root Defends Stephenson.
Attention was attracted to the Stephen
son case to-day by striking speeches by
Senator Root and Borah, the first in behalf
Of and the second against the Wisconsin,
Senator. Senator Roots speech was dis
tInguIshcd by references TO the attacks
upon representative government and the
Ipdapeud.nce of the iudiCigrV
II will make bold to say" he said point
ing out the constitutional authority OF the
Senate TO act in the Stephenson case, that
there are men here In this Senate who have
violated tho fundamental principles of our
government in denying tho right Of the
people to elect their own representatives,
who deny that there are men Of honor and
prohlty in every community NJ 10 represent
them. And there are men here who have
violated the fundamental principles Of our
government By proposing TO destroy the in
dependence OF our judiciary. But these
things do not Justify us in preventing their
constituents from sending them as repre-
scutatlyes m tho Senate"
Senator Borah charged both tho great
political parties with utter failure I'm their
campaign 70 give to the people clear ands
distinct issues, as If old lie contra sted
present issues with those disguised by Lin
coin and Douglas.
w" awake each morning 10 a Saturna-
lid Of personal drlyel, 10 chickering's and
quarrclinss which have all the flavor Of
discussions carried on I'm the political
groggerios OF tho lowest dives in the most
rotten districts Of our great cities" ne
said "One week our great dailles are
tecminz with the difference between vii
son and Harvey, the next week with what
Colonel Roosevelt said TO some personal
friend In oyster Bay. the next Week how
tho President failed 20 appreciate the
worth OF some Rough Rider aud thereby
changed the current Of history.
If We could know tho whitening con-
tempt and bitter scoru which the earnest
and industrious people Of tn" country re-
ally have fer this Cowardlv abandonment
OF the great issues. tor this betrayal Of
fha destlnies OF a great party, some heroic
effort would certainly be made to get away
from the most shameless and disgraCeful
contention that ever embarrassed a great
cause. Turn back and read the great de
bates Of Lincoln and Douglass. when
those intellectual giants fought for SUI
nronacy--scarcey \ personal allusion from
beginning 10 end They We're leaders wor-
thy of great parties and th"y held the
confidence OF mon a : few men have done