Evening star., 1915-01-30

in a low tone, for the most part in
order to save his strength and voice,
democratic senators interrupted to
plague him with questions. For hours,
however. they sat in silence while he
addressed himself to every possibility
of the shipping bill. to the criticism
Of every action Of the democratic ad-
mnIstratlon and to the discussion of
subjects that seemed far removed from
the bill itself.
Simmons Gives Warning.
Once all the democrats except Senator
Simmons had left the chamber.
He hastened to the door of the ma
jority cloak room and his words were
audible in the almost empty galleries:
Somebody had better stay out here
he warned his colleagues, I'm the only
democrat on the floor" Z,
A group of democrats fastened to
their seats.
For many hours during the night
Joseph p. Tumulty, secretary to President
Wilson, sat among the democratic SEN
atorS listening to the debate. Shortly
after midnight party Of men and women
in evening dress filed into one of the gal
leries, homeward bound from a dinner or
theater party, and watched the proceed
ings. In the press gallery few cores
pondents kept watch, and at the doors
the old soldiers who make up the Senate
doorlleeper staff, slept in their chairs
Battle of Endurance.
The fight had developed overnight into
grim battle of physical endurance, the
majority determined to wear out the
strength and spirit Of the minority with
constant attendance in the Senate; the
minority equally determined to talk the
bill to death.
Neither side showed signs of weaken
ing. and there was none who would pre-
dict when the contest would end.
At 9 o'clock Senator Smoot had finished
ing and was declining offers OF repub-
lican arrivals for q rest. His colleague,
Senator Sutherland. entered the chamber
armed with twelve heavy tones from
the Congressional Library. from which
he was prepared to make a long legal
argument which would require much
reading from decisions. Between SEN
tences Senator Smoot took a breakfast
Of milk. brought by colleagues from
the Senate cafe, and said he was not
yet tired of speaking.
Arrival Of Reinforcements.
In the Vice Presidents chair sat Sen
ator Hollis watching for the oppor-
tunity to drop the. gavel and order the
hard-fought-for roll-call, but down in
the seats of the chamber new republi-
can sentinels began arriving, fresh and
keen from a night of sleep: their
drooping-eyed colleagues began retir-
ing. the evening dress suits began to
disappear. and at the same time fresh
forces of democrats came On to replace
those who had kept the battle going
through the night.
Thus the contest became one between
men fresh in mind and body. Senator
La Toilette, who holds a long distance
talking record of eighteen hours and
twenty minutes, was an early arrival.
Senator Oliver. acting as tho republi-
can whip, declared he had two weeks
continuous talking material within
call.
Things began to freshen up on the
floor and the galleries az the contest
took ON new vigor with the beginning
of new day, but Senator Smoot, show :
ing no signs of fatigue, continued, tell
ing the democrats that a permanent
and not temporary policy lor up
building the merchant marine was
needed.
At 9:25 o'clock Senator Smoot yielded
to Senator Sutherland, after having
spoken continuously for eleven hours
and thirty-five minutes. His colleague
at once plunged into a speech that
promised to continue all day il neces-
sary.