Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1915-03-08
SHIP BILL DEFEAT
REJo|cEs loDs
Says Its Passage Would H,.l
Resulted in Drawing Countr
to the Verge of War

Washington, March Sem,
Lodge Of Massachusetts, in a st..
ment issued Saturday afternoon
clared that the defeat Of the shin -
chase bill prevented the raising az
ternationai questions which wa
have inevitably brought this cou,s
to the verge OF war. and that the n
come is a blow to President Wis.,
plan of making Congress the ~
registry of his executive will
He reviews the fight against the 10
describes the organization Of the 4.
ate Republicans who defeated OF
highly praises the work Of his n
league, Senator Weeks. The STA.
ment said in part:
The contest which closed with ;.
defeat Of the ship purchase bill h
the sererest that 1 have ever kno,y
since / have been in washington 81
opponents of the bill were because !
bill was both bad and dangerous
had practically no support in h
country and no genuine supper,
Congress. It. was defeated by dshr
and parliamentary obstruction.
Those opposed to the bill in
Senate came from both parties a,
differed among themselves as to 4
tails of the question, but they ma
all united against the bill They w,,
united on principle and not for pas
or personal reasons. There could !,
have been a more disirterested m
lie action than that taken BY the =
en- Democrats who fearlessly resis,
the bill. Every personal interest. eva
desire TO stand with their party u
their President. urged them 70 su
port the measure.
Fought for a Principle
They opposed it from principle n
from principle alone and from a
highest and most patriotic mo,iy
for they could have had no other. n
40 Republicans who stood with ths
although they made no party sar
fees by their position. were influenza
by the same motives as the sew,
Democrats. They were governed sole
by their determination 10 save nj
country from a great danger. Tha
IL senators, actuated by these nj
tives, thus brought to the contest
based on princDl
which actuated each and every md
and that is the reason they were al
to overcome the coerced support gys
to the bill.
They won a very great victory. I'd
intention. if the bill had passed, vi
to buy the German ships inlpris )ned
our ports to avoid capture. Of III
fact there can be no doubt. and n
refusal TO put in a clause prohibith|
the purchase of beliigerent- ovn'
ships. which might have passed u
bill, demonstrated it. If the bill hi
passed this intention on the part
the administration it would have IA
creased interna tional complicatim|
and would have raised questions Wiki
would have inevitably brought I'll
country to the verge of war The't|
fore the defeat of this bill has nj
lieved the country of a great dang|
But it has done something more thj
this. although the escape from intel
national danger o"ershadows all cid
The defeat Of the ship purchase ID
is a blow TO President Wilson's pad
of making Congress the mere regisr
OF the executive will. That has bed
the system of Mexico. and It Is a ga]
service TO have checked this MexicaI
lat!on o. our government in at lea1
che instance. The defeat Of the iii
is also a blow 10 the pledge bours
caucus system which enables a minor
ty of Congress, but little more thu,
oIe-third Of the whole body. TO con
troi legislation by coerced ma jorit5
A victory which has brought SUD
results as this was worth all the to5
and strain which were necessary n,
its achievement.
Tribute to Senator Weeks
The organization among the opp'
nents of the bill, and especially amOH!
the Republicans. on whom fell ta
burden OF debate, became very per-
rect as the contest went on. Even
branch of the work was duly ALLOTTED
ana where every one, without exceI'
uon, did his full share and respond
ed TO every call it would he invidioEi
Tor me to attempt to distribute praise
but speaking through the MASSACRE
sets newspapers 10 the people OF Ma;
Sachusetts, l think / may properl
call attention to the very great serye
rendered by my colleague. SenatI
Weeks, to the common cause.
TO him were confided the duts
which are imposed upon what the
call in England the party whip il
was for him to see to il that the og'
ponents of the bill were present a
every vote. a task requiring ineessan
Watchfuiness. He succeeded TO de'
gree that l have never seen equales
IN this direction. Not once. but Owe
and over again, day after day, We poa'
ca every vote. SO thoroughly was LIE
cone that the caucus ground Demo
Gratis were obliged to flibuster tneH
own bill for nearly a week in orue'
to gain time to bring three absenIess
back to Washington.
Senator Weeks was in charge as'
OF all our relations with the two un'
certain Republicans and with our op'
ponents. He not only did ali this wolA'
but he made at the beginning OF Wv
debate strong and cogent spee'a
against the bill. In the difficult E~A
he had to do, in the capacity ! nav
indicated, he showed the most pe''
feet tact, the most imperturoaON
god nature. was never for n'ohifl'
excited, although we were all under
great strain, both physical and MENU