The Union times. [volume] (Union, S.C.) 1894-1918, 1914-04-03

,'nihs1on' March 31.-The ma
I:ohal mouse of representatives to-
night, after one of the most spec.
t.acuiar legislative struggles in the
nLsoory OF the nation, voted to- repeal
the provision of the Panama canal
act exempting American vessels from
the payment Of tolls. The vote on the
repeal bill was PAT to 161, a majority
OF 80 votes in support of the personal
pea OF woodrow Wilson, president of
the United States. This verdict on
tne issue which has absorbed con
gress for many weeks came at the
ciose OF stirring day, made memor-
aole IN the annals of the house bv a
party division which found Speaker
Snamp Clark, Majority Leader Tn.
uer"ood and other Democratic chief.
t,ans lined up in open opposition with
she president on an issue which the
latter has declared essential to the
conduct of the nations foreign pelicv.
Ioday.s result was the first struo-
gle within the party since Democracy
TOOK control of the government a wear
ago. tomorrow the bill goes to tho
senate, where the fight will be re-
newed with all the vigor and deter
mination that attended it in the lower
house. 'o"ei
On the final vote 22O Democrats in
the house stood by the president civ
ing him in "ungrudging measure,
what he had asked "for the honor of
the nation" in its foreign relations
Twenty-Five Republicans and two Pro.
gressives also voted to sustain the
president. Fifty-two Democrats fol-
lowed Speaker Clark and Leader Un-
derwood to defeat.
Could Not Stop II.
Nothing, il seemed, could stsm tho
Soeaker Clark. for nearly % years
'nemf er of the house, made tho
.oeech OF his life to forestall wnat
nc termed "unquestionable depraia-
ticn' Of the nation. In this he failed
but he did smooth over the party
breach with kindly words for his ad.
versaries, praise for President Wilso,,
and an unqualified denial of any vault.
ing ambition on his own behalf. When
he had closed the debate for the OBJ
position to the repeal the speaker was
triumphant in defeat, for the entire
legislative assemblage, in which were
many senator's, rose en- niasse to cheer
him.
President Wilson was at dinner
when the result of the vote was an
nounced. He was gratified but made
no comment.
In the senate the bill will he re-
ferred to the committee on inter
oceanic canals. of whcih Senator
OGorman of New York, a vigorous
opponent of the measure, is chairman.
Senator O'Gorman has said he would
call meeting of the committee i'm
mediately to consider the bill That
there will be fight in that commit
tee is certain. Senator Owen is lead
ing the fight for the president there.
Many Proposals Before 1t.
The committee will have many pro-
posals before it, several in the ma
ture of compromises, some resembling
a motion of the house minority today
to recommit the repeal bill and to re-
peal the exemption clause with dec
laration that the United States should
have complete sovereignty over the
canal. This motion in the house was
defeated by vote of 282 to 176. 1t
will be the aim of administration SEN
ators to have the repeal reach its final
vote within two or three weeks.
The scene in the house chambc.
when Speaker Clark yielded the gavel
to Representative Underwood, the
majority leader, to defend his course
in the great controversy probably was
unrivalled in the history of Ameri-
can legislation. Never before within
the recollection of the oldest member
had the galleries been so packed with
interested spectators. Outside the
galleries the corridors were jammed
with disappointed hundreds. On the
floor nearly every member was in his
seat. Even the senate had adjournec
and scores of senators occupied seats
on the floor.
1t was rare political stage set
ting that this throng witnessed
Standing before them while Demo-
cratic and Republican members cheer
ed him to the echo was the sturdy,
big-framed, silver-haired speaker
with resolution beaming on his coun-
tenance, his thin lips clenched tight
ly, his face pale and stern. Behind
him, pounding for order, was Mr..
Underwood There they were await
ing the climax of the long debate,
these two leaders of the Democratic
party, heading the first revolt in the
party ranks since Democracy put
Woodrow Wilson in the White House
Even house Democrats who for the
first time had turned their backs on
their immediate leaders and stood
resolutely by the president through
out the fight were impressed at the
scene.