The Anderson daily intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson, S.C.) 1914-1915, 1915-02-02
ATTEMPT TO RECOMMIT
GOVERNMENT SHIP PUR-
CHASE BILL
SENATOR CLARKE.
SPRUNG SURPRISE
Revolt Turns Administration Ad-
vantage Into Defensive That
Appears Almost Hopeless.
(By Associated Press.)

WASHINGTON, Feb Mime Demo-
Gratis in the senate today joined an
alliance with the Republic ans in an
unexpected attempt to recommit the
government ship purchase bill.
The sudden revolt turned In O.
twinkling an administration advan-
tage into an defensive, which tonight
appeared almost hopeless to many
Democratic leaders.
FORCED to fight for the very life of
the proposed measure, the Demo-
Gratis succeeded in adjourning the
senate with the motion pending to
send the bill back to committee. A
party caucus Immediately was called
for tomorrow morning.
senator Clarke, of Arkansas.
sprang the surprise when he rose
while Senator William Alden Smith.
OF Michigan, was concluding long
speech against the bill and asked him
TO yield for a motion. The senator
yielded and Senator Clarke, introduc-
ing his remarks with an appeal for
consideration OF other legislation.
moved to send back the ship bill.
The legislative pandemonium that
followed had not been witnessed in
the senate In many years Senator's
poured from the cloak rooms to the
chamber. The rush from the Republic
can cloak room was even more i'm
mediate. as they had been Torewarn-
ed.
AS soon as administration leaders
could catch their breath. Senator
Fletcher. In charge of the bill. made q
point of order against the motion
tainsd Senator Qlar1os appealed and
the chair was c~effnled and Senator
Clarke's 'appea, sustained, ts to az.
Nine Democrats voted with the Re-
| Tublicans. The motion to recommit
was pending when the senate adjourn
ed until noon tomorrow.
Nine Vote Against Ruling.
The mine Democrats who voted
against the ruling OF the chair were
Bankhead, of Alabama; Camden.
Kentucky: Clarke, Arkansas; Hard
wick. Georgia: Bryan. Florida; Hitch
cock, Nebraska; O'Gorman, New
York; Smith. Georgia, and Vardaman,
Mississippi. AS soon as the record OF
this vote had been cleared, Senator
| Stone was recognized. The chamber
| was in confusion as the Missourian,
who has stood by the bill through
the bitter struggle OF the last two
weeks. surveyed the assemblage for a
moment. With a gesture toward his
own side of the aisle, Senator Stone
declared:
| Defeat Motion TO Adjourn.
I'm order that Democrats may
have conference and that the Re
publicans and their allies may hold
a conference. ! move that the senate
do now adjourn"
The motion was Immediately put
and there was loud chorus of noes"
| On roll call the motion TO adjourn
was lost by vote OF 40 to SO. Sena-
tor Stone then moved that Senator
Clarke's motion to recommit be laid
on the table and this. too. was lost
by vote of A to AZ. seven Democrats
voting with the Republicans and
Senator Lafollette aligning himself
with the Democratic minority.
Democrats who opposed the motion
to table were Bankhead. Camden.
Clarke Hn-a-''"t Hi ~rrnck. O'Gor-
nap and Vara.man. These seven, 1t
subsequently developed, had con-
ferred early In the day and determin-
ed to break the deadlock with a view
either to material revision of the
measure or entirely sidetracking 1t. at
least insofar as the present session is
concerned.
This brought the motion &c re
commit squarely before the senate.
when Senator Reed, of Missouri. was
recognized and began arraigning his
colleagues, who had revolted. and Re-
puf,icans who had opposed the bill as
SUI i,orters Of the shipping trust which
had sought 10 plunder the shippers
OF America. For nearly an hour
Senator Reed, who persistently
throughout the administration had
been opposed to its purposes. de-
Tended the bill.
"I congratulate the hoary old ship
trust monopoly" he said, ION the fact
that II appears still to possess in this
day and age enough vigor to invade
the Democratic side OF the chamber
and find votes. in it's SUPPORT"
Seek Conferences With Progressives.
While Senator Reed was speaking
Republican senators exalted while
Democratic leaders rushed hurriedlY
In and out OF committee room con-
ferences to determine on course of
hction. They counted noses, figuring
on absentees and could not see O way