The Lancaster news. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1905-current, 1914-03-31
WINS
OPENING SKIRM|SH
House Adopts Rule to Consider
Repeal of Free Tolls.
CRUCIAL ONT IS PASSED.
MIR. Wilson Triumphed Within the
Party Membership by Nearly
-Four to One.

of his administration when the House
over bitter protests from recognized
Democratic leaders, and almost solid
minority opposition, adopted a special
rule for the consideration of the bill
repeating the free tolls provision of
the Panama Canal Act. Speaker Clark
Democratic Leader Underwood, Re-
publican Leader Mann and Progress
siveLeader Murdoch headed those lin
ed up against the Administration, but
the house responded to the Presi-
dents personal plea for prompt con-
stderation of the repeal bill as a
means of supporting his adminiatra-
tion's foreign policy.
Two votes demonstrated the Presi-
dents commanding influence with his
party in Congress. on the first test a
motion to end debate and preclude
amendment on the ru carried bv q
vote of 2O7 to 17G; the rule itself was
adopted 200 to lT2.
Nothing to compare with the scene
today had occurred i'm tho house since
the famous Cannon rules fight four
years ago. In vain Representative
Underwood took the floor and urged
his colleagues to vote against the rule
The rank and file Democrats. after
/ listening to three hours OF passionate
argument, swung into the Presidents
column, l99 of them voting to prevent
/ the amendment OF the special rule.
while but 80 followed the leaders
i'm joining with the minority in opposi
tion.
CRUCIAL POINT PASSED.
Tonight Administration supporters
considered the crucial point passed
and iubilantly predicted the passage
of the repeal bill itself Tuesday or
Wednesday by a majority of more
than 100. Several OF the twenty hours
allowed under the rule for debate
had been consumed when the House
adjourned, and with the speech
making continuing without Interrupt
ton, il was thought the final vote
could be reached late Tuesday
The roll-call was taken in silence,
the crowded floor and galleries tense
with excitement after an hour Of de-
bate Throughout the day the chamber
had been crowded and the galleries
filed to overlooking. Following the
announcement of Speaker Clark last
might against the rule, high feeling
had appeared and every influence av-
ailable was brought to bear on doubt
full ones As a result when the strug-
gle began both sides were keyed up
to high pitch
NEW LEADERS RECOGNIZED.
With Representative Underwood.
Speaker Clark and Representative
Fitzgerald, ON the minority side the
Democratic majority. for the time rec
ogniZed as leaders Representative
Henry, chairman on rules; Adamson
chairman Ci interstate &Ild fOrei-
gn commerce commission. Palmer,
iof Pennsylvania; Hardwick, of Gcor-
gia; SherlcN, of Kentucky. and other
prominent figures supporting the
Presidents position.
Only eight Republicans ioined with
the majority in support of the Ad-
ministration programme, but leaders
on both sides tuaight conceded that
many Republicans who sotrd against
the preliminary Administration plans
eventually would vote for the repeal.
The solid Progressive delegation of
the House. led by Representative
Murdoch, of Kansas, was aligned
against the majority.
President Wilson's triumph was
considered most notable by the rank
and file of all parties because of the
OnuSOdl allBnmenJ OF FORCES WlJnin
the Democratic ranks. Two men who
had sought with him the Presidential
nomination at the hands of the party
one the Speaker of the House, the
other the floor leader of the domin-
ant party-were openly and actively
arrayed against him. Speaker Clark.
though he did not take the floor to-
day, had issued his eleventh-hour
attack upon the plan to limit debate,
and announced that he would speak
against the repeal bill Tuesday.
FIGHT IN THE OPEN.
Representative Underwood who has
been in the open against the President
on the issue, pleaded urgently against
the rule, and later delivered an attack
on President Wilson's policy. de-
nouncing the repeal Of the toll eXemp
tion as an economic mistake and de-
claring the President to be wrong in
his conclusion that exemption is in
violation of the Hay-Pauncefote trea-
ty. Other Democratic chieftains,
among them Representative Kitchin,
Of North Carolina, broke with the
President Yet in the face OF this op-
position from men who heretofore
had but to raise their voices to have
the Democrats Of the House follow
them, the President won within the
! party membership by nearly four to