The Sentinel=record., 1914-03-28
ADMINISTRATION FORCES WIN FIRST sklRMlSH OVER BITTER
 PROTEST OF LEADERS,
CRUCIAL POINT IS PASSED
According to the Belief of the Presi- dent and His Supporters-Speaker Clark Aligned with Minority on the Rule.

Washington, March 27.-President Wilson today won the opening skir- mish of the greatest legislative bat tle of his administration, when the house, over bitter protests from rec ognized leaders and almost solid mi. nority 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, Repub. lican Leader Mann and Progressive Leader Murdock headed those lined up against the administration, but the house responded to the presidents personal appeal for prompt considera- ton of the repeal bill as means of supporting his administration for eign policy.
 TWO votes demonstrated the prasi- dents commanding influence with his party in congress. On the first test motion to end debate and preclude amendent on the rule, carried by a vote of POT to 176; the rule itself was adopted 200 to 172
 Nothing to compare with the scene today had occurred in the house since the famous Cannon rules fight four years ago. In vain Representative l Underwood took the floor and urged his colleagues to vote against the rule The rank and file democrats after lis tening to three hours of passionate argument swung into tie presidents column, 195 of them voting to pre- vent the amendment of the special rule, while but 55 followed the lead CTS in joining with the minority in op. position
 Tonight administration supporters considered the crucial point passed and jubilantly predicted the passage of the repeal bill itself Tuesday or Wednesday by a majority of more than 100. Several of the twenty hours al- lowed under the rule for debate had been consumed when the house ad- Journed and with the speechmaking continuing without interruption it was thought the final vote could be reach ed 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 cham. Der had been crowded and the gal leries filled to overflowing FoIIowinS the announcement of Speaker Clarke last night against the rule high feel ing had appeared and every influence available was brought to bear on doubtful ones. As a result. when the struggle began both sides were keyed up to a high pitch.
 With Representative Underwood Speaker Clark and Representative fitzgerald on the minority side the democratic majority recognized as leaders Representative Henry. chair man on rules Adamson, chairman of the interstate and foreign commerce. committee; Palmer of Pennsylvania Hardwick of George; Sherley of Ken lucky and other prominent figures supporting the presidents position.
 Only eight republicans joined with the majority in support of the admin. istrauons program, but leaders on both sides tonight conceded that many republicans who voted against the preliminary administration plans would vote eventually for the repeal of the tolls. The solid progressive. delegation of the house, led by Rep resentative Murdock 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 unusual alignment of forces within 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 and the other the floor leader of the dominant party-were openly and ac- lively arrayed against him.
 Speaker Clark, though he did not take the floor today, had issued his eleventh hour attack on the plan to
 limit debate and announced that he would speak against the repeal bill Tuesday.
 Representative Underwood. who has been in the open against the presi- dent on the issue, pleaded urgently against the rule and later delivered an attack on President Wilson's pol. Icy, denounclng the repeal of the tolls