The Washington times., 1915-02-05
Houses Vote, With All Party
Lines 0bIiterated, Accepted
As Proof.
FEW DEMOCRATS FOR VETO
Seventeen Members Revise
Votes They Cast When Bill
Passed a Year Ago.

Proponents of the immigration bill
containing the literacy test clause, to.
day were forced to admit that the
measure is dead. as far as the present
session of Congress is concerned. Late
yesterday. by a vote of 261 to 1856. with
all party lines abolished, the House of
Representatives refused to pass it over
the Presidents veto. 1t was necessary
for two-thirds of the members present
to concur in such action. and the ad-
herents Of the bill failed to poll this
proportion by Ave votes.
The third test of this provision, un-
der Presidents veto, came at the end
Of long day Of debate, during which
Republican leaders. including Mr.. Mann
Of Illinois and Mr.. Moore of Pennsyl-
vania. urged the House to sustain the
action Of a Democratic resident. while
such Democrats as Floor Leader I'm
derwood. with practically a solid back
ing from the Southern delegations,
pleaded with his colleagues to disre-
gard the objections.
Few Democrats In Line.
The temporary obiteration of party
lines continued to manifest itself
throughout the vote, only q few Demo-
Gratis going on record to sustain the
veto.
seventeen members reversed the votes
they cast when the bill passed the
House February 4, 1914. just a year ago
Congressmen Bailey of Pennsylvania,
Beakes of Michigan, Brumbaugh, of
Ohio. Mcguire of Nebraska. Park of
Georgia. Reed of New Hampshire,
Smith of Maryland. Taylor of Ala
bama. and Whaley of South Carolina.
all Democrats. who voted for the bill
last year. yesterday voted against it,
congressman Cooper Of Wisconsin.
johnson Of Utah. kinkaid OF Nebraska
and Scott of Iowa. Republicans, who
voted against the bill in February,
voted to pass it over the President S
The principal rock upon which mem
bers Of the House split in rendering
their votes. as indicated from the de-
,Hh.,,Sr nste which preceded the ballot. was
States desire restricted legislation. a
question which the President took as
one Of his objections to the bill on the
ground that the people of the United
cate their desire. inasmuch as the liter
acy test has never been made a plank
In any party platform
In urging the members of the House
to override the veto. Floor Leader Tn
dsrwood discussed this objection at
length. declaring that time and time
again, as indicated by the histor, OF
this measure, States have returned men
to Congress who have been on record
as favorins restricted immigration
VI he
bers Of this House are willing to sustain
the verdict they have already rendered
In favor Of this bill" he said "The
real question is whether you stand first
American standard of living. and the
American standard of wage
Congressman Moore of Pennsylvania,
In delivering. the final speech against
the bill. declared that American labor
does not want restricted immigration.
the statements of the American Fedora :
tion OF Labor to the contrary notwith-
standing. He exhibited letters sent out
by the A.. F: of l.: in favor Of the bill
Samuel Gonpers, its president: Frank
Morrison. its secretary. and William i;
Wilson. Secretary of Labor
The A; F. Of L." he said: has per-
haps a little moro than 2.NOO.0 mem
probably number an additional million.
while there are 80 o00. 600 workingmen in
the United States. Now. who Is speak
ing today in this House for the q 900. 600
unorganized workingmen of this coun-
try, and who are the men who signed
these letters? 7 respect them but
must use my own Judgment in voting
on this bill.
"Samuel Gomrers was born in Eng
land. Frank Morrison was born in
CanAda: Secretary Wilson was born
in Scotland"
The vote disclosed the division Of the
parties. as follows: In favor OF pass
ing the bill over the Presidents veto:
Democrats, 1866; Republicans so: Pro-
gressives, II, and Independent. T. In
favor of sustaining the veto: Demo
rats, 1oc; Republicans. 32; Progress
ives, .