The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-02-02
BANKHEAD VOTES WITH REPUBLICANS
 AGAINST RULING
Pandemonium Not Wit messed In Senate In Years Follows Revolt = Both Factions to Confer Today

democrats in the Senate today joined an alliance with the republicans in an unexpected attempt to recommit the government ship purchase bill.
 The sudden revolt turned in . twinkling an administration vantage into defensive, which tonight ap- peared almost hopeless to many demo- cratic leaders.
 Forced to fight for the very life of the proposed measure, the democrats succeeded in adjourning the Senate with the motion pending to send the bill back to committed. A party caucus immedi- ately was called for tomorrow morning. Senator Clarke of Arkansas sprang the surprise when he rose while Senator William Alden Smith of Michigan was concluding long speech against the bill and asked him to yield for a mo- tion. The senator yielded and Senator Clarke, introducing his remarks with an appeal for consideration of other legis- lation, moved to send back the ship bill
 Pandemonium Follows
 The legislative pandemonium that fol- lowed has not been witnessed in the Senate in many years. Senators poured ir from the cloak rooms to the cham ber The rush from the republican cloak rooms was even more immediate. as they had been forewarned. As soon as administration leaders-con4i~ eefche thsiss
  the bill, made point of order against the motion which Vice President Mar shall sustained. Senator Clarke ap- pealed and the chair was overruled and Senator Clarke's appeal sustained 46 to S7 Nine democrats voted with the TO- publicans The motion to recommit was pending when the Senate adjourned un- til noon tomorrow.
 The nine democrats who voted against lof Alabama, Camden of Kentucky, Clarke of Arkansas Hardwick of Geor- gia, Bryan of Florida, Hitchcock of Ne- braska, OGorman of New York, Smith of Georgia and Vardaman of Mississippi As soon as the record of this vote had been cleared. Senator Stone was recog- iiItu. tldlnDeT was III COnIuSlOn as the Mssourian, who has stood by the bill through the bitter struggle of the last two weeks, surveyed the as- semblage for moment. With gesture toward his own side of the aisle, Sena- tor Stone declared.
 Tn order that democrats may have conference and that the republicans and their allies may hold a conference, I move that the Senate do now adjourn" a v1,n i,Ya sx.x.x t..k~ there was loud chorus of noes" On roll call the motion to adjourn was lost by vote of 49 to 36. Senator Stone then moved that Senator Clarke's motion to recommit be laid or the table and this. too, was lost by vote of A to 42, seven democrats voting with the republicans and Sem ator Larollette aligning himself with the democratic minority
 Democrats Join Opposition
 Democrats who opposed the motion to table were Bankhead, Camden, Clarke, Hardwick, Hitchcock, O'Gor- man and Vardaman These seven, it subsequently, developed, had conferre,i early in the day and determined to break. the deadlock with view oither to material revision of the measure or entirely sidetracking it, at least in so Tar as the present session is con cerned. This brought the motion to recommit squarely before the Senate. when Senator Reed of Missouri was recognized and began arraigning his colleagues who had revolted and re- publicans who had opposed the bill as supporters of the shipping trust which had sought to plunder the ship pers of America For nearly an hour Senator Reed, who persistently throughout the administration had | to ed the bill
 q congratulate the hoary old ship trust monopoly" he said, Ion the fact that it appears still to possess in this day and age enough vigor to invade the democratic side of the chamber and find votes in its support"
 Republicans Exult
 While Senator Reed was speaking republican senators exulted while dem ocratic leaders rushed hurriedly in and out of committee room conferences to determine on course of action. They counted noses. hguring on absentees and could not Tee a way out of the difficulty. Some sought conferences with progressive republicans. Senator Norris, who had offered amendments several days before which would strengthen the permanency of the pro- posed government enterprise. told sen- ators who offered to accept his amend ments that they came a few hours too late.
 Amendments will be considered in the democratic caucus tomorrow. The caucus also will endeavor to find a way to get the republican progressive support with out recommitting the bill. If this falls and the bill Is recommitted. many of it's most sanguine supporters insist that the measure is dead for this sesgion..
 Senator Fletcher. when Senator Reed had concluded. moved adjournment which was voted. W
 Canvassing Situation
 Democratic leaders tonight were can- vassing the situation. Absent democratic senators who may return tomorrow are