The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1914-04-04

night. after one OF the most spec
tacular legislative struggles in the his
tory OF the nation. voted to repeal the
provision of the Panama canal act
oxempting American vessels from the
payment OF tolls. The vote on the re-
peal bill was 247 TO l61. majority of
Ss votes in support of the personal
plea OF Woodrow Wilson. president Of
the United states. This verdict on
the issue which has absorbed con-
gress for many weeks came at the
close OF a stirring day. made memoir
able in the annals OF the house by
party division which found Speaker
Champ Clark, Majority Leader In
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 re-
newed with all the vigor and determi-
nation that attended il in the lower
house.
On the final vote 22 Democrats in
A the house stood by the president. CIV
ing him In 'urgrudging measure"
what he had asked "for tho honor of
the nation" in Its foreign relations.
Twenty-Five Republicans and TWO Pro-
gressivcs also voted to sustain the
president. Fifty-two Democrats fol-
lowed Speaker Clark and Leader Un-
derwood to defeat.
Nothing. II seemed. could stem the
tide OF administration success.
speetcr Clark. for nearly % years
n member OF the house. made the
speech OF his life TO forestall what
no termed "unQuestlonablc degrada-
tion" OF the nation. In this he fail
ed. but he did smooth over the party
breach with kindly words for his ad-
versaries. praise for Presid snt Wilson.
and an unqualified denial of any vault
ing ambition on his own behalf. When
he had closed the debate for the op-
position To the repeal the speaker was
triumphant i'm defeat. for the entire
legislative assemblage. in which were
many senators, rose Ell masse to cheer
him.
President Wilson was at dinner
when the result of the vote was an
nounced. lie was sratiiied but made
no comment.
In the senate the bill will be re-
ferred to the committee on inter-
oceanic canals. Of which Senator
O'GormOn OF New York. n vigorous
opponent OF the measure. is chairman.
Senator O'Gorman has said he would
call a meeting OF the committee inn
mediately TO consider the bill That
there will be "a fight i'm that commit
tee IN certain. Senator owen is lead
INK the fight for the president there
The committee will have many pro-
posals before IL. several in the ma
ture OF compromises. some resembling
motion OF the house minority today
to rccommit the repeal bill and to re-
peal the exemption clause with u dec
laration that the United States should
have complete sovereignty over the
canal. This motion in the house was
defeated by vote of 2S2 To 1iG. 1t
viii 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 chamber
when Speaker Clark yielded the gdvci
to Representative Underwood. the
majority leader. To defend his course
In the great controversy probably was
unrivallcd ih the history OF Amcri
can legislation. Never before within
the recollection of the Oldest member
had the galleries been So packed with
Interested spectators. Outside the gal
lerics the corridors were ianmcd
with disappointed hundreds. ON the
floor nearly every member was i'm his
seat. Even the senate had adjourn
cd and scores of senators occupied
seats on the floor.
IL was "a rare political stage set.
ting that this throng Witnessed.
Standing before them while Demo-
cratic and Republican ombcrs cheer
od him To- the echo WIS the sturdy
big framed. silver haired speaker