The north Mississippi herald. (Water Valley, Yalobusha Co., Miss.) 1888-1929, 1915-02-26
vARDAMAN STATES
HIS POSITION

AuiiIlH The ueDdte In the Senate last
week on the Norris amendment to the
rules providing for cloture, there was
considerable discussion of the attitude
assumed by seven Democratic senators
who opposed the ship-purchase bill.
Senator Vardaman gained the floor
and made the following explanation of
his posi ion:
MR.. VARDAMAN: Mr.. President,
have never done anything in politics
or in the performance of official duty
that was unwilling for the public to
know. l have always maintained that
the utmost publicity in public matters
is conducive to efficient service and
promotive of the public good. All my
life have opposed the secret caucus.
II had my way should take the door
of every committee room in this Capt.
tol and turn the spot light on every
caucus, that the public might see and
hear through the newspapers the dis
cussions of all questions dealing with
the affairs of the people. The people
have q right to know how their repre-
sentatives vote in caucus and act on
committees and their reasons therefor,
because we all understand that the
larger amount of legislation is proposed
In the caucus and finished in the COM
mittee rooms. l have been opposed to
the ship-purchase bill since l first in
formed myself of its provisions. l
think l announced my opposition to it
before it was known what stand the
Democrats of the Senate would take
upon it. When this matter under dis
cussion came up at our first conference
said distinctly to my colleagues who
were inclined to think and act about it
IS lido. and l have repeated it at every
subsequent conference: "You owe me
nothing; there is no agreement between
US that is binding upon you to do or not
do anything pertaining to the ship-pur-
chase bill that does not meet your ap-
proval or accord with your sense of
duty. II we can act in harmony doing
~hat we believe to be 9,- .iys.. ~, .lse
temises, and defeat the bill, ] shall BE-
greatly pleased, but want it distinctly
understood that my opposition to the
bill and my action in opposing the bill
will not be determined in the least by
what either or all Of you may do" !
was opposed to the bill then, and l am
still opposed to it, and wanted to re-
commit it.
In, q casual conversation with the
Senator from Massachusetts (Mr.
Weeks) asked him what would be the
attitude of the Republicans on the ques
tion. of recommitting the bill. He re-
piled that he thought a majority of the
Republicans would vote to recommit it.
| do not want to be misunderstood about
the matter. My first and foremost
purpose in recommiting the bill was to
kill it. believe it to be pernicious
piece of legislation, and l wanted to
get it off Of the calendar. l wanted to
rscommit it. amend it, or do anything
else that l could do to get it out Of the
way. In discussing the matter further
with Senators Clarke, O'Gorman and
Hardwick, and other Senators with
whom l have affiliated in this fight
against the bill, l stated the result of
my conversation with Senator Weeks
but always emphasized the fact that
they were not in any way bound to me.
want that understood.
MR., HARDWICK. If the Senator
will pardon me, the Senator UNDER
stands that several of his colleagues on
this side did not 60 that far.
MR.. vARDAMAN. / understand
that several of my colleagues did not
go that far. They were opposed to the
bill upon principle, some Of them on
the ground of COVE -nment ownership.
and yet others thought the bill might
be amended so as to make it possible
for them to vote for it; but was not
opposed to it upon that principle. Al
have said on the floor Of this Chamber
heretofore, would be perfectly willing
at the proper time to consider proper
measure looking to State ownership of
public utilities, including railroads.
ships, and so forth. But not until after
the American people especially the
part who compose the great Democra-
tic Party-shallh have had an opportunity
to consider it and make some declara.
ton upon the policy. l know that the
Democratic Party a. political organi
cation does not agree with me- on tn
question of public ownership. Butsoms
Of tie other Senators do not agree with
me about, that, and, recognising tn
fact, I,desired to make it clear tha1
thers was no agreement between Vi
which in any way hindered or prsvsntet
eachsone of us from following his .owr
judgment and doing the things that hi
senss of duty might dictate. ] an
going to vote against the ship-purchass
hill. I am goin9 to vote to recommit u