The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1915-02-06
FAIL TO STAND TEST.
NINE DEMOCRATIC SENATOR'S
DESERT PARTY TO HINDER
SHIP BILL.
Puts Administrative Forces ON Defcn-
sive Against Change
Makes Advocates of Bill Dcspond.
cnt OF Their Success.

unexpected attempt TO recommit tho
government ship purchase bill.
The sudden revolt turned I'm a
twinkling an administration advan-
tage into defensive. which tonight
appeared almost hopeless to many
Democratic leaders.
Forced to fight for tho vory life Of
the proposed measure the Democrats
succeeded in adjourning the senate
with the motion pending to send the
bill back 20 committee. A party
caucus Immediately was called for
tomorrow morning
| Senator Clark of Arkansas sprang
the surprise when he rose while
Senator William Alden Smith of
Michigan was concluding a long
speech against the bill and asked him
10 yield for a motion. The senator
yielded and Senator Clark. introduc-
Ing his remarks with an appeal for
consideration OF other legislation,
moved to send back the ship bill.
The legislative pandemonium that
followed has not been witnessed In
The senate In years. Senators poured
rom the cloak rooms to the chamber.
The rush from the Republican cloak
room was even more immediate, as
Republicans had been forewarned. AS
soon as administration leaders couli
catch their. breath. Senator Fletcher.
In charge Of the bill, made a point
OK order against the motion. which
vice President Marshall sustained
Senator Clarke appealed and the
chair was overruled and Senator
Ciarke's appeal sustained, 43 to a..
Nine Democrats voted with the Re-
puoiicans. The motion to recon:mit
was pending when the senate ad-
journed until noon tomorrow.
The nine Democrats who voted
against the ruling of the chair were:
Bankhead OF Alabama. Camden of
Kentucky, Clarke OF Arkansas, Hard
wick OF Georgia, Bryan of Florida,
Hitchcock OF Nebraska, O'Gorman OF
New York. Smith of Georgia ana
Vardaman OF Mississippi.
Soon as the result OF this vote had
been declared Senator Stone was rec
ognixed. The chamber was In con-
fusion. as the Missourian, who has
stod by the bill through the bitter
struggle OF the last two weeks. sur
veyed the assemblage for moment.
With gesture towards his own side
OF the aisle. Senator Stone declared:
I'm order that Democrats may have
n conference and that the Republicans
and their allies may hold a confer
ence. l move that the senate do now
adjourn"
The motion was Immediately PIT
and there was a loud chorus of
noes" On a roll call the motion to
adjourn was lost by "a vote OF 40 to
&c. Senator Stone then moved that
Senator Clarke's motion to recommit
be laid on the table. and this was lost
by vote OF "A to AZ. seven Demo-
Gratis voting with the Republicans and
Senator La Toilette aligning himself
with the Democratic minority. Demo-
Gratis who opposed the motion to table
were; Bankhead. Camden, Clarke.
Hardwick. Hitchcock. O'Gorman and
Nardaman. These seven, it subse-
quently developed. had conferred
early In the day and determined to
break the deadlock with a view either
TO naturalization of the measure or
entirely sidetracking IL. at least i'm so
far as the present session Is concerned
This brought the motion TO recon-
init squarely before the senate. when
Senator Reed OF Missouri was recog-
nized and began arraigning his col
leagues who had revoltcd. and Repub-
liccns who had opposed the bill. as
supporters OF the shipping trust
which had sought 10 plumber the ship
pers Of America. For nearly an hour
Senator Reed; who persistently
throughout the administration had
been opposed to It's purposes. defend.
el the bin.
Il congratulate the hoary old ship
trust monopoly" he said. ION the fact
that II appears still To possess I'm this
day and age enough vlgor to invade
the Democratic side of the chamber
and find votes in its support"
As Senator Reed was speaking Re
publican senator's eXultcd while Dem
ocratic leaders rushed hurricdly IN
ana out OF committee room confer
cnccs TO determine on a course OF ac-
tion. They counted noses figuring on
absentees. and could not see way out
s.f an.