Evening star., 1915-02-03
WOO PROGRESSVES
TO PASS SHIP BILL
Democrats Seek. Alliance to
Encompass Defeat Of
G. O. P. and Boilers.
SHORT OF MAJORITY,
TRY TO EVADE VOTE
Senators Object to Order Of Arrest
Issued to Sergeant-at-Arms
and It Is Rescinded.

Failing in all efforts to bring back
to the fold the seven recalcitrant dem
ocratic senators who backed the Clarke
motion to recommit the administration
ship purchase bill Monday. the demo-
cratic leaders OF the Senate intend to at
tempt TO put the ship bill through with
the assistance OF republican progressive
sena tors. To do so 1t is expected that
a motion would be made to amend the
Clarke motion to recommit by adding
instructions that the bill be amended
by the committee ip manner which will
salts some of the progressive republi-
cans. and that it be immed ately reported
back to the Senate from the commit
tee.
The administration democrats found
| themselves in a minority shortly be-
| fore , o'clock today. however, and
were maneuvering to prevent any vote
being taken on Senator Clarkes mo-
tion to recommit the bill without in
structions.
In the Minority.
The special caucus committee discov-
cred after canvassing the situation in
the Senate all morning that they would
fall at least one vote short should they
press an amendment to the Clarke mo-
tion to recommit the ship bill.
The regular democrats had sought,
therefore. to win enough progressive
republican votes to make the vote a
tie and then banked on the vote of
the Vice President to carry the day.
Among the progressive republicans
counted upon was Senator Kenyon.
The Iowa senator is reported to have
informed the leaders that while he
| ffyh ut fnr hn q
been committed to vote for an un-
amended motion to recommit the bin.
In this situation the administration
!; feared to permit vote, for, in the
they recognized that the bill would be
dead, in all probability, for the rest
of the session.
Stone Takes Floor.
Shortly before o'clock a hurried
conference of the regular democratic
senators was called and it was agreed
that Senator Stone should take the
floor at > o'clock and address the Sem
ate. How long the senator would talk
was not determined. but it was evil
dent that the situation looked dubious
in so far as the champions OF the ship
ping bill were concerned.
Whether the democrats would at
tempting to seek further support was
undetermined.
Immediately upon the close of morn
ing business, instead of expected mo-
tions being made. Senator Stone took
the floor in accordance with the sud-
denly agreed upon arrangement.
The seven democrats who are sup
porting the Clarke motion to recommtt
the bill. it is learned. have solemn
agreement that all shall support that
motion without amendment, and that
no one of them shall vote otherwise
unless all consent Such an agreement
was the store wall against which the
democratic leaders found them leaning
when they tried negotiations to get
some Of them back to the fold.
Democratic Boilers obdurate.
This was made clear at the demo-
cratic caucus last night, when the
.wrecking crew." consisting of Sena-
tors Fletcher. Martin and Simmons,
made their report to the caucus. 1t
remained. therefore. for the democrats
to turn to the republican progressives.
even at the risk Of losing the votes OF
Senators Hoke Smith OF Georgia and
Bryan of Florida, If the democrats
agreed to the permanent government
ownership features of the amendments
urged by the republican progressives.
Senator Norris, Senator Kenyon and
Senator Clapp are the progressive re-
publicans whom the democrats are
working to win to support of the ship
bill.
The line up of the Senate on the
Clarke motion to recommit is so close
that the democrats could afford to lose
two more democratic votes provided
they could count upon the three re-
publican progressives. In such an
event it is expected there would be a
Il nj
be counted upon to cast the deciding
vote.
La Toilette Busy.
Senator La Toilette of Wisconsin, the
sole republican who voted with the
democrats Monday against the Clarke
motion. today was busy comforting
with the republican progressives in the
matter
Republicans still continue confident
that whatever the result of the vote
on the Clarke motion to recommit the
bill. the ship purchase bill will not
come to a vote in the Senate by March
4 and the expiration Of the present
Congress.
If the bill is recommitted without
instructions it is virtually NY dead dead. o..
report out, the republicans are confi-
dent they will be able to talk it to
death in the open Senate.
Object to Arrest Order.
When the Senate convened today it was
with the knowledge that the Clarke
motion to recommit the ship bill would
come un automatically at o'clock as
the unfinished business unless it was
taken up before that on motion. There
was a rumor that the democrats would
attempt a maneuver In the advantage
of the ship bill soon after the Senate
had convened Instructions, therefore,
had been sent to all republican sena-
tors to be in their seats at II o'clock.
Senator Lodge of Massachusetts, took
the floor AS soon as quorum of the
Senate had been obtained and demand
ed that the standing order put through
the senate last Friday night, when
the democrats made mighty enort to
break the republican hlibuster against
the ship bill. giving the sergeant-at-
arms continuing authority TO arrest
members of the Senate from day to
day when they were not IN attendance
in tho chamber be rescinded He de-
ella red that by such an order the Sen
ata was treated as mere military
"The sergeant-at-arms should be pro-
v;de1i with a larger force of assistants, SO
as to keep an eye always on the SEN
ators if this order Is to be retained"
said Senator Lodge.
Senator Root of New York warned
the Senate that in free country and
under a republican form Of govern