The weekly tribune and the Cape County herald. (Cape Girardeau, Mo.) 1914-1918, 1915-02-05
SENATOR STONE
FLAYSDEMOCRATS
OVER ship BILL
Calls Party Colleagues Bolt
ers for Attempting to De-
feat Measure.
DEMOCRATS AND COP.
UNITE TO KILL BILL
Senator Clarke is Arraigned For
Leading Fight to Defeat
Wilson.

washington, rep. 0-Wnlle tn
Democrats spared for time in the his
toric fight in the Senate over the Gov
ernment ship purchase bill today, Sen
atOr Stone of Missouri bitterly at
tackled the Democratic Senators wht
deserted the majority Monday nigh,
and put the ship bill in position
where its passage, earnestly desired
by President Wilson, is endangered.
Senator Stone, in beginning his
speech, characterized the "bolters
O'Gorman, Hitchcock, Vardaman
Smith of Georgia, Camden, Clarke OF
Arkansas, Bankhead, Hardwick and
Bryan-as "conspirators," but when
Vardaman and O'Gorman jumped up
with a demand that the Missourian
be called to order he apoligized and
proceeded to arraign them in parlia-
mentary terms.
While Senator Stone spoke admin
istration leaders worked desperately
to improve the prospects for the bill.
How long the Democrats could hold
the floor against vote on the Clarke
motion one would predict. Appeals
were sent to absent Senators to re-
turn at once.
81 think l am within my rights" "
Senator Stone resumed, " when | say
that there are among us Democrats,
who by courtesy, if not by right, still
are PERMITTED to occupy this side of
the chamber. Like Brutus, they are
all most honorable men, but it is a
fact that the Democrats, unbeknown
to US, conferred with the enemy and
confided to them our plans.
81 am within my rights when l say
that these Democrats marched in here
the other day and sprang a complete
and hostile surprise on all the cham
Der. Republican Senators had been
served with notice of what was COM
ing. These Democrats and the Re-
publicans were acting in concert. /
our friends, the enemy,
on the coup they made. You did upset
US. You did get US in tight hole and
l don't know that we are going to get
out of it. It was a fine, a most ar
tistic performance. Again l tender to
the Senators on that side fthe cham
ber."
Senator Stone recalled that Senator
Clarke, the leader of the revolt, had
been reelected President pro tempore
of the Senate by the same organiza
ton which had decreed the shipping
bill as party measure.
"He desired that honor" Senator
Stone declared, waving his hand to-
ward the Arkansas Senator. at was
not thrust upon him."
Senator Clarke, sitting within six
feet of the Missouri Senator, listened
TO Senator Stones remarks,
by that time directed almost entirely
at him. It was apparent that a serious
breach in the Democratic ranks had
come, and confusion throughout the
chamber followed Stones personal ref
erence to Clarke's election as Presi-
dent pro tempore. When it subsidized,
Mr.. Stone continued:
eve granted the ambition of the
Senator from Arkansas by electing
him to this high office and now before
him to preside, which he has done
with exceeding grace, he is here lead
er of a performance intended to un-
horse the Democratic party"
Senator Clarke, by that time, had
risen and asked recognition. Senator
Stone with wave of his arms yielded.
The Arkansas Senator insisted he
had never violated a caucus pledge.
"When this shipping bill was under
consideration" said he, l went into
a meeting of Democrats, warning
them that I was not to attend eau
Gus and l stated then that the Demo-
cratic party had never been committed
to a plan such as this, that no con-
vention ever had indorsed a plan for
the Government to conduct ship lines
at public expense.
II served notice on the Democrats
then that I could not be deprived of
my right to vote against this bill. So
long as / am in this body I will net
be deprived of nay right to vote and
act as 1 think to be right"