Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1914-04-03
HOUSE SUSTAINS President
Free Toll Bill Repealed By Big
Majority.
The DEMOCRATS SPLIT 22O TO 81.

Ill DkmOUuhlo VI LII 6AV ~ w.
Speaker Clark Makes a Great Speech
and is cheered to the Echo; but
BIG Majority of the Votes Went the
Other Way.
Washington, March 3l.-The nation
al house of representatives tonight, af-
ter one of the most spectacular legisla-
tive struggles in the history Of the
nation, voted to repeal the provision of
lean vessels from the payment Of tolls.
The vote on the repeal bill was 247 to
161, majority Of So votes in support
Of the personal plea of Woodrow Will
son, president Of the United States.
This verdict on the issue which has alb
sorbed congress for many weeks came
at the close Of a stirring day, made
memorable in the annals Of the house
by party division which found Speak
er Champ Clark, Majority Leader I'm
derwood and other Democratic chief
tains lined up in open opposition
with the president on an issue which
the latter has declared essential to the
conduct of the nations foreign policy.
Today's result was the first struggle
within the party since Democracy took
control Of the government a year ago.
Tomorrow the bill goes to the senate,
where the fight will be renewed with
all the vigor and determination that
attended 1t in the lower house.
On the final vote 220 Democrats in
the house stood by the president, Civ
ing him in ''ungrudging measure" what
he had asked for the honor Of the ma
tion' in it's foreign relations. Twenty
five Republicans and two Progressives
also voted to sustain the president.
Clark and Leader Underwood to de-
feat.
Could not Stop II.
Nothing, it seemed, could stem the
tide of administration success. Speak
er Clark, for nearly % years a member
Of the house, made the speech Of his
life to forestall what he termed "un-
questionable degradation Of the ma
tion. In this he failed, but he did
smooth over the party breach with
kindly words for his adversaries, praise
for President Wilson, and an unquali-
fled denial Of any vaulting ambition on
his own behalf. When he had closed
the debate for the opposition to the re-
peal, the speaker was triumphant in
defeat, for the entire legislative as
semblage, in which were many sena-
tors, rose en- masse to cheer him.
President Wilson was at dinner when
the result Of the vote was announced.
He was gratified but made no COM
ment.
In the senate the bill will be referred
to the committee on inter- oceanic ca
nails, Of which Senator O'Gorman Of
New York, a vigorous opponent Of the
measure, Is chairman. Senator O'Gor-
man has said he would call a meeting
of the committee Immediately to con-
slider the bill. That there will be fight
in that committee is certain. Senator
Owen is leading the fight for the pres
ident there.
Many Proposals Before II.
The committee will have many pro-
posals before it, several in the nature
of compromises, some resembling a
motion Of the house minority today to
recommit the repeal bill and to repeal
the exemption clause with a declara-
tion that the United States should have
complete sovereignty over the canal.
This motion in the house was defeated
by n vote Of 232 to 176. It will be the
aim of administration senators to have
the repeal bill reach it's final vote with
in two or three weeks.
The scene in the house chamber
when Speaker Clark yielded the gaVel
to Representative Underwood, the ma
jority leader, to defend his course in
the great controversy probably was
unrivaled in the history Of American
legislation. Never before within the
of the oldest member had
the galleries been so packed with in
terested spectators. Outside the gal
leries the corridors were jammed with
hundreds. On the floor
nearly every member was in his seat.
Even the senate had adjourned and
scores Of senators occupied seats on
the floor.
IT was a rare political stage setting
that this throng witnessed. Standing
before them while Democratic and Re-
publican members cheered him to the
echo was the sturdy, big framed, silver
haired speaker with resolution beam
ing on his countenance, his thin lips
clenched tightly, his face pale and
stern. Behind him, pounding for order,
was Mr.. Underwood. There they were
awaiting 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 those Democrats who for the
first time had turned their backs on
their immediate leaders and stood res
olutely by the president throughout
the fight were impressed at the scene.
Tensest Of Interest.
The interest was tense as Speaker
Clark began to speak, and his first ut
terance, breathing a spirit Of harmony
as against discord and assuring the
country that the president and he per-
sonally were at peace, seemed to spread
over the assemblage, particularly the
Democratic side Of the house feeling
Of relief
There is no personal issue between
the president and myself" said the
speaker and his voice was drowned in
a chorus of Democratic shouts while
and Progressives applaud
ed.
At the outset the speaker read his
but soon he got into his old
time oratorical swing and was ham
mering home with sweeping gestures
his deliberately delivered words. When
he praised the patriotic motives of