The Washington times., 1915-01-25
Declares Majority Ignores In.
terests Of Nation by Con.
tinued Absence During Dis.
cussion.
ASK RESPECT FOR SPEAKERS
Particularly Severe in Adverse
Criticism Of Declarations Of
Senator John Sharp VIII
lIams.

At the outset Of a powerful speech
against the shipping bill in the Sem
ate today. Senator Root Of New York
castigated the Democrats for prac-
sion Of the measure. with systematic
absence from the chamber and with
other tactics calculated to bludgeon
the minority into passing the bill in
the shortest possible time. Senator
Root criticised the methods used by the
Democrats SO sharply as to cause de-
malls and protests from Senators Stone.
Simmons. and others.
Senator Root declared this bill, great
and important as the questions are that
are involved. was receiving practically
no discussion. He said a number on
the Republican side had been making
speeches but no attention was being
given them by the Democrats.
This bill Is very important" said
he. 1T involves the expenditure of vast
sums at a time when war tax has
been imposed. 1t embarks the Gov
ernment Of the United States upon a
new departure based upon a reversal
Of the principles of government which
we have always followed UP to this
time.
Expected TO Change.
No such change Of policy was in
contemplation of the people when the
VnNA Ank 1v,.t t,.s, ,k~-
power"
Declaring such measure was en-
titled to the fullest discussion. he said:
Yet at the very outset. notice was
given which st; ;gmatized the discussion
v,.;sho, "Mho gave it," asked Senator
"The Senator from Missouri. Mr..
Stone" said Senator Root. -
He added that not only was such no.
tice given. but 1t was accompanied by
the declaration. 1--WE have the votes to
pass the BILL"
This was in advance of any discus
sion. any consideration" added Senator
Root
Senator Stone demurred. but said he
could not find his exact language. Sena-
floor. II say that" he pursued. be
cause it Is common report that 1t will
be regarded as a yielding of tina floor
for any Senator to yield except for a
question"
Stating the Effect.
Senator Stone wanted opportunity
later to put into the record his exact
language. Senator Root said he was
stating the effect of Senator Stones
LANGUAGE on the Senators who heard
II.
Senator Root then depleted graphic
ally how, when Senators Burton. Lodge,
Weeks. and Cummins had spoken on the
bill there had often been but four. or
Gratis present. He said not only was
this the case. but Senator Williams OF
Mississippi had the disrespect to say
the speeches were not worth listening
to.
"Discredits the Senate"
when he says that" said Senator
Root. he denies the efficiency of the
American system Of representative
government. He discredits and dis
honors the Senate of the United States
For there Is not now and there ha!
never been a group Of men whose study
and thought and expression on thu
great public questions was of greater
value to the people Of the United State!
than the Senators whom the Senator
from Mississippi says are not ~orti
'isstsn.as ssnaesr tf Root. charged. too. that tn,
rules Of the Senate had been used II
such an unusual way as to make dis
cussion most burdensome. He pointee
out the Senate. though it is January %
is still running on the Legislative da!
of January is. Senator Hughes asket
If this We're not by unanimous concent
Senator Root said it was not. and i
,,os a o. IN 81 his emphatic DrOtest
"For ten days" said Senator Root
I'VE have been conducting business un
der a fiction, false pretense.'
He said the purpose was 10 smut Gu
all other business and compel those wh,
wanted really to discuss the bill tu heel
the floor for seven or eight 1ours eacl
day
Senator Simmons interrupted tn pro
test that as many Democrats had beel
present as Republicans. and that h
personally had been present mucn o
tile time. Senator Root denied It:
Senator Root dissected the bill. afte
further sharp criticism OF the Democrats
He devoted much of his speech to tn
Lodge amendment to prevent 'purchas
OF ships from belligerents
Fears Complications.
Senator Root voiced his alarm at tn
dangers of international complication
from the policy of buying ships Of bel
llgerents. He sought to show the onl
ships which the Government could Sc,
IL it proposed to meet an emergency
was to buy idle ships-that is. interne
ships or ships of belligerents. II
quoted from statements of Secretar
Meade before the House Merchant Ma
rine Committee and from the recen
Chicago speech of the Secretary I
show that Mr. McAdoo, who Is to hca
the shipping board. intends to buy tn
ships Of bslligerents. He referred I
Secretary Redheld's St. Louis speech
indicating Mr.. Redfeld proposed I
buy British ships.
There is no difference in principl
. ana no difference in the obstaclei
whether the ships bought are British O
German" said Senator Root, I'm nc
taking about this because these ship
which are interned are German. II
talking about 1t because they are hell
serents: The ships it is proposed I
to capture as belligerents, liable 10 b
torpedoed as belligerents, liable To b
sunk as belligerents. And I'm alarme