New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-02-17
Administration Senator'S
Ready TO Try Strong
Arm" Methods.
MAY TRAMPLE ON
STANDING RULES
Closure Rule Fight Breaks Down
Democrats Lose Repub-
lican Allies.

Washington, Feb. ia final effort
by the administration Democrats TO
lam through the Senate the modified
ship purchase bill by "strong arm
methods, If necessary, will be made to-
morrow.
The majority leaders, according TO
indications tonight, have reached the
point Of desperation and arc prepared
20 resort to revolutionary par!iomen-
,ary tactics and TO override the stand
ing rules Of the Senate to achieve their
ends. 1t is doubtful that they will be
able to muster q majority Of the Sen
ate to support the threatened par!a-
mentsry tactics. The fear Of the Re
publicans IS that. even if they may mo-
mentarily control more than half the
Senate vote, their protcstauons Will be
Of no avail, and the Democrats by arbi-
trary rulings Of the chair will brush
aside all obstacles.
The campaign Of the administration
forces for closure rule was suddenly
checked to-day. By a vote Of 45 TO A
the Senate refused 90 lay on the table
the proposal by Mr.. Cummlns that SEN
stors who have taken part m caucus
be prohibited from voting IN the Sen
ate. On this question the Democrats
were deserted by their Republican
. allies. Senators Norris, Kenyon and
La Toilette voted with The RepubH-
cans.
Practically defeated iu this new line
of attack, the Democratic leaders laid
their plans tonight for pressing q vote
on the modified ship purchase bin ap-
pended 70 the Weeks bill The old
lines will be drawn over a motion TO
concur in the so-called amendment 20
the Weeks bill. Opposed 20 this mo-
ton will be made 20 commit the bill
10 the Committee on Commerce. Re
publicans are less fearful Of their in
ability 10 secure q majority on these
questions than they are Of the threat
ened strong arm" tactics Of the Demo
Gratis.
At End of Resources.
II the latter plan of action should
fail. the administration leaders viii be
at the end Of their resources, at least
publicans will be able 20 make q tlibus-
ter against the modified ship purchase
bill as effective as tina, against the
original caucus bill, and Will try TO
prevent O vote until March A. if neces-
sary.
Predictions were made, even by
Democratic Senators, that after the
final effort tomorrow the ship pur-
chase bill will be laid aside as de-
feated measure and the administration
will make il a campaign issue before
the country
The battle in the Senate today was
waged over the issue Of caucus rule
The declarations Of the Democrats that
the will of the majority. representing
the will Of the people, was being
blocked By the minority was met by
the charge Of Republican Senators that
the decree Of the secret Democratic
caucus had taken the place of the de-
cision OF the Senate, and that the de-
Lucrative character OF the Senate as a
parliamentary body was being de-
stroyod.
At times the debate became acri-
monious. Replying 10 Senator Cum
mlns's criticism OF the secret caucus &s
method Of legislative procedure, Sen
ator Reed asserted that Democrats and
Republicans couspIriur together had
sought 10 defeat the ship purchase bill
THAT statement" exclaimed Senator
CLARK Of Wyoming, els untrue so fan
as it applies 20 the Senator from Wy
oming"
81 ask that the Senator be called "a
order" rctortcd Mr. Reed
81 repeat" said Senator Clark, with
emphasis "the statement is untrue
- ar the Senator is not called 20 or
%. der III bring him 20 ordcr.' shouted
s, Senator Reed. and Senator Clark turned
A. his back on the Senator from Missouri
" and left the chamber.
b Conspiracy Charge Denied.
- Senators Clarke. o. Arkansas, and
X Hardwick also defended themselves a,
3 members Of the band Of seven boiling
e. Democrats against the criticism Of Sen.
q ator Reed that they had conspirod with
al the Republicans.
Senator Clarke said he had hearc