Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-03-27

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calling attention to the fact that the If
teen-hour rule would give only thre'
minutes TO each man. II have not heart
a valid reason for this rule" he said
IAN / have heard were thunderou:
speeches about contracts
Representative Clayton of Alabama an
nounced in a one-minute speech that h
would vote for the gag. saying the bill Il
plain, and that there is no reason for {
long debate.
II shall vote for 1t because I am dem
ocrat and shall uphold the greatest Pres
ident ever in the White House." Cheer.
followed him.
Representative Mcdonald of Michigan
progressive, spoke for three minutes
against the rule. ut would be unfortu
nate to attempt to bind and gag mem
bers in debate" he said.
Representative Church of California
said all his state is not for free tolls
and the republicans laughed at him wher
he said he had changed his mind and
would now support the rule and the
President.
Moss Assails Sims Bill.
Representative Moss of West Virginia,
republican, assailed the Sims bill, and
suggested that 1t should be amended so
as to allow coastwise vessels to be
favored.
Il denounce the gag rule as an unwar-
ranted assumption of power he said.
This Sims bill needs an amendment by
all the practice of international law
Representative Alfalfa Bill Murray of
Oklahoma said he opposed the gag.
Representative Clayton evidently takes
the President to be the democracy-but
! do not" he said. Our own promise
Is that We favor free ships and free
seas" He said that Representative Henry
of Texas 'is lying, faint and weary, by
the roadside, as the rest of democracy
goes by. He spoke with great fury.
ANY man who violates the platform
will be retired to private retreat
Almost a record was the wild yell that
greeted Underwood. using ten minutes
from the republican time.
Il am opposed to this BILL" he said.
u am opposed to the rule. I regret the
bill is before the House and l hope for
It's defeat.
Has Always Sustained Party.
But the President has laid the question
before us-and l think it should he con-
sdered-but in the proper way. l have
served from one democratic administra-
ton TO another l have never scratched
a ticket and have always endeavored to
sustain my party platform
The democratic party. not I, wrote
this provision in the platform and think
II is right, and | can take but one posi-
ton. ! will sustain the position of my
party in the platform. i regret to differ
with the President and some of my col
leagues
He warned against making the mis-
take Of turning against the party prin-
ciples, (which made a democratic ma
jority possible" He said there are fifty
Il TafS in In
would now be filled by republicans had
4 not been for the fight against the steam
roller and gag. He referred to the pas
sage of the tariff and currency bills
without a cloture rule.
Minority Has Right to Voice.
The majority has the right to legis-
late, but the minority has the right to be
heard and propose reasonable amend
ments.
IF there was an effort to beat the
bill by unreasonable flibuster the ma
jority would have the right to bring in
a rule and force a vote he said.
There is a more serious problem.
You are asked to forego your judg-
ment on the most important question
seen here for years. before you have
seen a proposed amendment You are
asked TO close the tolls question for
all shipping for all time to come"
Looking at the democrats, he told
them he regretted to differ with the
men who had upheld his hands.
But you make a mistake to adopt
this cloture rule-and I would not be
your leader if 1 had not the courage
20 stand here and tell you So
Representative Hardwick of Georgia
then was recognized for fourteen minutes
to close debate for the adoption of the
ciorure rule.
Snpport Doctrine. Says Hardwick.
The gentleman from Ala ALBANIA appeals
To- his colleagues on this side to support a
democratic platform said Representa-
tive Hardwick- i appeal TO you to sup
port democratic doctrine as it has been
since the time of jefferson. and this pro-
vision which we propose to repeal is no
more democratic doctrine than if you
wrote high protective tariff plank into
a democratic platform
Mr.. Hardwick declared that the rule
gave ample time for debate on the bill
and that ample time had been allowed
TO discuss the rule.
He said that only three hours debate
had been allowed on the free tolls pro-
vision when it was originally passed.
And now twenty-three hours is
called gag rule" he said
Turning toward the Speakers dais
and pointing his finger toward Speaker
Clark, Mr.. Hardwick declared:
The distinguished gentleman from
Missouri, whom We all love. Joined last
night in an eleventh-hour assault upon
the administration and his own party
Il will ask the gentleman whether
he does not know that if he tears
Woodrow Wilson down no democrat
can stand. Doesn't he realize that he
must support this administration or be
turned into the wilderness for forty
years more"
Opportunity for Amendments.
Mr.. Hardwick declared that the single
motion TO recommit offered ample op-
portunity to offer all amendments
which had been suggested. Reviewing
the Speakers position, Mr. Hardwick
pointed out a special rule under which
the Sixty-frst Congress democrats
adopted the rules of the House