The Sentinel=record., 1915-02-02
ARKANSAS SENATOR SPRUNG A
SURPRISE IN SHIP PURCHASE
CONTROVERSY.
BILL LOOKS TO BE BEATEN
Pandemonium Reigned When the
Senator Made a Motion to Send Bill
6ack-Rad Break in Ranks of the
Democrats.

Washington, Feb. Nine demo
Gratis 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 a
twinkling an administration adyan-
age into a defensive, which tonigh;
appeared almost HELPLESS to many
democratic leaders
Forced to fight for the very life OF
the proposed measure, the democrats
succeeded in adiourning the senate
with the motion pending to send the
bill gack to committee. A party eau
Gus Immediately was called for TO-
morrow morning
Senator Clarke of Arkansas sprang
the surprise when he rose while Sena-
tor William Alden Smith Of Michigan
was concluding a long speech against
the bill and asked him to yield for a
motion. The senator yielded and
Senator Clarke, introducing his re.
marks with an appeal for considera-
tion OF other legislation, moved to
send back the ship bill.
The legislative pandemonium that
followed has not been witnessed in
ther-sefate si7i- fAany years. Senators
poured from the cloal, rooms to the
chamber The rush from the republi-
can cloak room was even more imme-
diate as they had been forewaned.
AS soon as administration leaders
could catca their breath. Senator
Fletcher in charge of the bin, made
q point of order against the motion,
which Vice President Marshall sus-
tanned. Senator Clarke appealed aad
the chair was oyerruled and Senator
Clarkes appeal sustained, As to 81
Nine democrats voted with the repub-
lieans. The motion to recommit was
pending when the senate adjourned
until tomorrow.
The nine democrats who voted
against the ruling of the chair We're;
Banlhead of Alabama Camden, Ken
tucky: Clarke, Arkansas; HardWick,
Georgia: Bryan, Florida Hitchcock,
Nebraska; O'Gorman, New York;
Smith, Georgia, and Vardaman Of
Mississippi As soon as the record
of this vote had been cleared Senator
stone was recognized The chamber
was in confusion as the Missouria1,
who has stood by the bin through the
bitter struggle of the last two weeks,
surveyed the assemblage for "A mo-
ment With a gesture toward his
own side Of the aisle, Senator stone
declared:
In order that democrats may have
a conference and that the republicans
and their allies may hold confer.
ence. 4 move that the senate do now
adjourn"
The motion was Immediately put
and there was loud chorus OF
noes" On roll call the notion to
adjourn was lost by vote of 40 to
36. Senator Stone then moved that
Senator Clarlles motion to recommit
be laid on the table, and this. too. was
lost by vote Of 40 to 50. seven demo
Gratis voting with the republicans and
Senator La Toilette aligning himself
with the democratic minority
Democrats who opposed the motion
to table were; Bankhead Camden
Clarke, Hardwick Hitchcock. Varda.
man and O'Gorman.
These seven. it subsequently de
veloped, had conferred early in the
day and determined to break the
deadlock with view either to mate
rial revision of the measure or entire
ly sidetracking it, al least in so far as
the present session is concerned
This brought the motion to recommit
squarely before the senate, when
Senator Reed OF Missouri was recog
nized aad began arraigning his col
leagues who had revolted and repuf
licans who had opposed the bill a,
Supporters OF the shipping trus
which had sought to plunder the ship
peirs Of America. For nearly an hou'
Senator Reed. who persistentl
Throughout the administration haC
been opposed to its purposes. defend
ed the bill
4 congratulate the hoary Old shi
trust monopoly ne said, "ol - FAC
that it appears still TO posses3
day and age enough vigor
af-Lit'
ne sos