The Washington herald., 1914-04-04
DANIELS Wins
OUT in SENATE
Confirmed for |. C. c. Place
After Struggle Of Three
Days.
LA TOILETTE IN REVOLT
Wants Veil of Secrecy Lifted from Ex-
eeutive Sessions Except When For
eisn Relations Are Discussed.

After three days continuous struggle
In the executive session of the Senate, the
nomination Of Prof. Winthrop More Dam
iels, Of Princeton. N. J., to be Interstate
Commerce Commissioner. was confirmed
by the Senate by nine majority. II q
vote had been taken Thursday the nomi-
nation would have been rejected. Re-
e1izing this. administration leaders Sc
cured an adjournment. that they might
avoid what appeared to be certain de-
feat for the Presidents friend. Presi-
dent Wilson was asked by some Of his
friends to withdraw the nomination. This
he declined TO do.
Chairman Newlands Of the Interstate
Commerce Committee, which had report
ed the nomination, called a meeting Of
his committee with a view to considering
the recommitment OF the nomination.
But a quorum failed to respond and the
fight was renewed at noon. when the
Senate met, with every indication that
the administration forces would be rout-
ed by the rejection OF the nomination.
As the afternoon wore on, however. II
became evident that some effective work
had been done by administration Sena-
tors and change In favor Of confirms-
ton was apparent. ~ E..
When the final test came shortly after
s O'Clock yesterday evening twenty-three
Democrats and thirteen Republicans vot-
ed in favor of confirmation. while thir-
teen Democrats, an equal number of Re-
publicans and one Progressive voted
against confirmation.
Urges More Publicity.
The closing scenes" were attended by
a revolt against Senate procedure that is
likely TO lead to radical changes. Sena-
Ill, yn-A~
the fight against confirmation. served
notice that he no longer would be bound
by the obligation of secrecy in regard to
The proceedings in executive session
where such proceedings related to a mat
ter like the one then before the Senate,
in which the public had the deepest in
terest, and as to which no public interest
could be served by keeping the informa-
tion quiet. He was supported in this
view by Senators Cummins, Kenyon.
Gronna, Poindexter, Jones. Norris. Bris-
tow, and others
Senator La Toilette declared that the
debate attending the confirmation Of a
nomination like that of Prof. Daniels
TO a position in which he would be au-
thorized to construe the interstate COM
merce law. was of such vital Importance
to the public that it ought to be con-
Quoted in open Senate. He reminded
Senators that the President had gone on
record in his writings in favor of work
ing in the open. He declared there was
too much secrecy attending the proceed
ings of the Senate on matters vital to
the public welfare.
AS a result of Senator La Follette's
declaration and statements made by 9TH
ers in sympathy With him the Senate
agreed to make public the roll can of the
vote by which Pro-. Daniels was con-
frmed. The vote was nonpartisan one.
Many Senators were Of the opinion, fol-
lowing the executive session. that action
would be taken shortly to lift the veil of
secrecy from the executive sessions as
to everything except matters connected
with foreign relations. Whether formal
action is taken or not, the Senator from
Wisconsin and many of his colleagues in
the future will refuse to be bound by the