Fergus County Democrat. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1904-1919, 1915-02-04
INSURCENT
DEMOCRATS
IN CONTROL
Refuse to Accept Concessions,
but Majority Leaders Hope
Yet to Save Ship Bill.

WASHINGTON, Feb. 3.-Plans of
administration democrats to save the
government ship purchase bill went
awry today in the senate, but cham
pions of the measure had not aban-
done hope of success in an effort to
recommit the bill with definite lnstruc-
tions for it's amendment.
The revolving democrats flatly re-
fused to accept the concessions OF the
majority agreed upon in the secret
caucus last night and the majority
leaders discovered early in the day
that they could not muster enough
votes for their program to defeat the
coalition of republicans and insurgent
democrats, seeking to send the bill to
committee without instructions, to be
pigeon-holed for the session. Then the
party leaders determined to hold Off
the vote and agreed in the meantime
to openly castigate the seven demo-
Gratis who overturned the shipping bill
program last Monday.
Senator Stone of Missouri, was Sc
lected for this task and he delivered
a long speech on the floor OF the
senate, bitterly arraigning the "recre-
ant democrats who had endeavored to
unhorse their party" He particularly
attacked Senator Clarke of Arkansas,
who, he described as the leader in the
revolt, and Senator Camden of Ken
lucky, declaring they had entered into
a secret agreement with the republi-
cans. He charged that Senator Clarke
had violated a caucus pledge. charge
which the Arkansas senator denied in
a vigorous speech, explaining that he
had warned his colleagues that he
would not be bound to any action
which would deprive him of his right
to vote against the ship purchase bill.
Senator Camden also replied, declaring
he was willing to let his constituents
pass upon his record, and adding that
a denunciation of secrecy came with
ill grace" from the senator from MIS-
souri,, who is known the world over as
"Gumshoe Bill"
While Senator Stone was speaking
Senators Simmons, Kern, Fletcher
Martin and others we're working like
Trojans to prevent vote being taken
until some absent democrats should
return to Washington or until assur-
ances of enough progressive-republican
support could be procured to insure
temporary victory, even though victory
might not be effective in averting an
other filibuster from the republican
side.
In their estimate of the situation to-
night the democrats were counting
upon Senator Morris to vote for their
amendment to the recommittment mo.
ton. Senator Kenyon, whose support
they had hoped for, will not be with
them, nor will any of the seven insur-
gent democrats. Senator LaFollette is
regarded as certain, however, to vote
with the democratic majority. Tomor-
row Senator James Hamilton Lewis of
Illinois, who has been absent because
of illness, and Senator Smith OF South
Carolina, may return.
With these votes the leaders are
hopeful that the bill may be recon-
mitted with instructions for its return
within 4S hours with amendments to
limit to one year the term for which
the government under the proposed
law might lease ships to private cor
porations, and to prohibit purchase OF
ships which might menace the neutral
ity of the country.
Republican senators admitted to-
night that Senator Norris might vote
for recommittment with instructions,
but they agreed to an adjournment
without attempting to force a night
session, hopeful that Senator Penrose
might be able to reach Washington
tomorrow to add one more to their
side of the vote should it be reached
With Senator Penrose here they felt
confident that they could recommit
the bill without instructions.
In any event, the republican leaders
insist that the bill cannot reach vote
at this session. Should the effort tC
Continued on page six)