New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-10-24
CONGRESS UNABLE
TO RELEASE ITSELF
Wilson Looked To Now to
ProrOgue Deadlocked
Session.
COTTON MEN FAIL
TO SEE PRESIDENT
Henry, of Texas, Determined to
Block Adjournment for a
Month, if Necessary.
[From The Tribune Bureau. ]

From The Tribune Bureau
Washington. Oct. 23.-The adjourn
ment deadlock in Congress reached an
scute stage tonight, when President
Wilson found it announcement" to see
a committee representing cotton
conference" held by Southern members
who have been instrumental in check
ing the final adjournment Of the Senate
and House.
Neither body had a quorum to-day,
and after adjournment until to-mor-
row twoscore Senators and Representa-
tlves met in conference to discuss
the prospects OF legislation to relieve
the cotton growers. There was much
talk, and it was finally suggested that
a committee be named TO go 10 the
White House and attempt TO enlist the
Presidents aid, but the President was
not accessible for a conference to-
night, and the disgrpntled obstruction
lists nave no alternative save TO wait
until Mr.. Wilson returns on Sunday
from Pittsburgh. The conference ad-
journed without reaching any agree
ment, except that Representative
Henry, of Texas, remained firm in his
intention TO block all adjOurnmnt mo-
tions.
With a quorum lacking in both
bodies to-day, Speaker Champ Clark as
serted that the President would be
justified in a prorogue of the dead
locked session. in some quarters, how
ever, doubt is expressed that the Presi-
dent can do this, as there is no actual
disagreement, such as the Constitution
mentions, between the two houses. The
House voted yesterday to quit at {
o'clock last night, but the Senate did
not vote on that resolution, merely
laying il aside for action later. Mean
while, the Hoke Smith flibuster began
and the hour Of o'clock arrived with
the House resolution still on the table.
Henry a Stumbling Block.
Senator Smith and other Southern
Senators were in a somewhat yielding
mood to-day, and an adjournment OF
Congress might have been possible but
for the determined stand of Mr.. Henry
in the House. 1t is understood that
Senator Smith is yet open to persua
sion and might consent to an adjourn
ment sine die tomorrow, but Repre-
sentative Henry frankly announces
that there will be no getaway this
week. Furthermore, while Mr.. Henry
met tonight with other Southern
members in the cotton conference h'
made it apparent that he would not OBJ
ligate himself to be bound by any pro
gramme mapped out by the conference
After it was found impossible to SEE
the President until his return iron
Pittsburgh, where he speaks to-mor
row, Mr.. Henry said:
"There will be no adjournment TO
morrow You may bank on that w
will be here next week. | cannot out
line the situation further at this time
as | shall await developments"
Mr.. Henry was ready with point o
no quorum a. soon as the House con
vened to-day A rollcall showed tina
body to be ffty-eight members short o
a quorum. Mr.. Underwood's motion L
adjourn for the day was finally car
ried. >,
Speaker Clark suggested that Nj
Henry and Mr.. Glass consent to al
iourn the session with the understand
ing that their bills would be privileged
on the day Congress reconvened IN De
cember Mr.. Glass agreed, but MI
Henry took the proposal under advise
ment and later determined he woul'
demand action now, if it tied up tn
session for another month. The Hous'
itself is helpless. Any one member can
block adjournment by a point OF M
quorum.
Clark Speaks His Mind.
Senator Clark, President pro tempore
who had been sympathetic up TO a Ger
tain point with the efforts OF the COT
ton Senator's, then provided the cllma'
of the fruitless session by sufrehderihl
the chair to Senator Williams and tax
ing the floor TO express his opinion II
blunt terms Of those who had tied Con
gress in knot.
He declared that it was time TO aban
don "playing TO the grandstand" ant
eliminate the vaudeville in the stu
alton. Although expressing his desire
to help the cotton growers. he sax
that il was obvious that nothing eoul'
he done. and that further effort woul'
be only a "sham battle"
President Wilson left here at mid
NIGHT for Pittsburgh, where he vii
sneak tomorrow before the YOuIl
Mems Christian Association on the sub
iect of Morals and Citizenship" Ht
will return to Washington tomorrow
night.
He held a long conference to-nigh
with Acting Secretary Lansing, IN
principal subject of discussion beinl
the seizure of the oil ships by British
cruisers. Mr.. Lansing will virtIall,
be in full charge of foreign affair
during the Presidents absence, al
though the President will be kept il
close, touch with developments.
II is not believed that the Presiden
will take any step to adjourn Congress
His political advisers contend that /
would be bad policy for him to at
tempt to untangle the situation exist
ipo at tho CaDitol