New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-02-05
President Plans TO Put
Blame for Its Defeat
on Republicans.
DEMOCRATS FAIL
TO GAIN CONTROL
Senate Leaders Forced to
Play for Time to Stave
Off Action.
Iron m. Tr4Sun. Bureau J

Washington. Feb. A.--President Will
son has about concluded that his ship
purchase bill is doomed to defeat in
the Senate. He has made up his mind
20 put the blame on the Republican
party, and will 80 state in speeches IN
his coming transcontinental Journey,
according 20 his close friends and ad-
visers.
The President feels very keenly the
desertion Of the administration cause
by the seven Democratic mutineers Of
the Senate, but It is not on them that
his wrath will fall. He regards the
ship purchase measure as one Of the
principal policies Of his administration
In view Of Mr. Wilson'S opposition TO
an extraordinary session Of the saith
Congress. sll chances for consideration
Of the bill. in the opinion Of the ad-
ministration heads, must 60 over until
next December. BY that time, 1t Is be-
lieved, either the European war will
have ended and the emergency been
eliminated. or the demand for some
such legislation will be more pro-
nounced.
In his journey 10 and from San Fran
cisco the President will attack the Re-
publicans Of the Senate for the defeat
Of his pet measure. He will ignore the
fact that the bill probably could have
been jsmmed through if the Democratic
majority had stood behind the admin
istration.
Democratic Dissension Continues.
Dissension among the Senate Dem
ocrats over the ship bill snd the
gradual weakening Of the administra-
tion forces continued to-day. Wig
ilance was relaxed on neither side,
and the struggle went on ceaselessly.
Senators who had been summoned
from sick beds arrived 70 supplement
the contending forces Senator Lewis
came from North Carolina. and Senator
Penrose from Pennsylvania, against
the orders o. their physicians.
Senator Newlands, in response TO
the summons of the wavering majority,
Is speeding across the country from
the Pacific Coast. The Democratic
leaders also communicated with Sen
ator Smith. of South Carolina, whose
wife is seriously i'll, and he is the
only member Of the Senate whose place
may not be filled when the final clash
comes, II il comes at all.
At the beginning Of to-day's session
the Democratic leaders thought that
by the desertion OF Senator Norri:
from the Republican side they haC
gained control Of the situation. Sen
ator Lewis, showing traces of his i'll
Cess, had arrived to augment then
forces. But Senator Fall, who came
from New Mexico, also responded Il
the call for a quorum. and Senator
Penrose. who had been I'll for severa
weeks. also arrived.
When the count Of the contendine
forces was taken the Democrats were
still in the minority and they re-
manned on the defensive, Senator Reed
forestalling action by q speech on the
immigration bill. The bitterness
aroused by Senator Stones attack or
the seven Democrats who turned The
tide against the administration forces
was reflected in speeches by Senators
Hardwick and Camden, and the ma
jority leaders, apparently uncertain Of
their position, prolonged the truce BY
sdjourning.
Bill Believed Doomed.
The day ended with the administrs
ton forces undecided and somewhat
dishesrtened, and the Republicans con
fdent that the ship purchase bill wa'
doomed.
As soon as the Democratic leader,
discovered they had not the strength Il
force the fighting, the discussed fur
IN compromises with their opponents
Admitting that the Senators who hsC
voted for a motion 10 recommit the bill
could not be expected TO change theil
position, they set themselves TO the
task of gaining enough recruits TO in
sure the discharge Of the Commerce
Committee from further consideration
of the bill after il had been recon
mitted. In this they asserted they haC
been successful, but they failed TO pu
the matter TO an issue.
The change Of the alignment to-da!
was psychological rather than actual
The buoyaucy Of the Democrats gave
wa TO depression, and 10 accentuat'
the dscord in their ranks two of tn,
mutinous seven expressed the resent
ment aroused by the speech Of Senate
Stone not only by defending them
selves, but by criticising the course fol
lowed by the President and the ad
ministration leaders.
Senator Camden, who asserted tina
the bill was heretical from the point o
view Of Democratic doctrine, unap
proved by the people of the country
and a dangerous political and bushes
experiment at a cost of millions TO III
people, fell back on the Presidents eX
planAtion Of his veto of the immigra
Ito, bill as defence of his position.
Quotes Wilson's Message.
"Has any political party" the Senate
quoted from the Presidents message
"ever avowed policy of restriction il
this fundamental matter, gone 10 I'll
country on IL, and been commissioned .
control its legislation" Does this bill
res. upon the conscious and universe
assent and desire OF the American peo
ple9 I doubt IT, IL is because ] doub
IL that I make bold 20 dissent from IL
am willing 20 abide by the verdi CT
but not until il has been rendered. lie
the platforms OF parties speak out upoI
this policy and the people pronounce
thei- wish The matter is too funda
mental 20 be settled otherwise"
Danger Of international compiled
tions and the hopelessness of the un'
dertaking as business enterprise were
also emphasized by the Senator from
Kentucky. Ships could not be acquired
except al e1orbitant prices If they were
now reaping rich harvests in freigh,
receipts, he said and the emergency
would have passed long before ships
could be built.
Senator Hsrdwiek, smother Of the
recsleitrant Senators. also carried his
resentment 70 the White House. He
denied that the seven Democrats had
communicated with the Republicans,