Evening star., 1915-01-31
SENATE IN RECESS,
ALL ARE WORN OUT
Democratic Leader Asks Co..
leagues to Hold Ship Pur-
chase Fight Up.
ENDS NEAR MIDNIGHT,
AFTER 36 HOURS GRIND
Republicans Declare They Will Con-
tinue Filibuster Until They
Talk Bill to Death.

Talk Bill to Death.
After more than thirty-siX hours o'
Continuous session the Senate recessed
at 11:I7 O'Clock last night until u
o'clock tomorrow morning. The re-
publican ilbuster against the govern
nent ship purchase bill was still un'
broken.
The plan for a recess was agreed u
late yesterday afternoon, follo"lhe
conferences between democratic aho
republican leaders. Unanimous consen'
for a recess was asked by Senator
Kern, the democratic leader, and nc
senator raised his voice in opposltlon
The original agreement was for re-
cess at midnight, but the weary sen
ators left the chamber little carrier
following a brief executive session.
truce. therefore, was declared un'
til tomorrow. The long, hard battle
had told heavily upon the senators ane
only handful remained in the cham
ber until the hour of recess, others
having left the Capitol hours before te
seek their beds.
Opposed to Sunday Session.
The democratic leaders assigned as
their reason for asking recess the
disinclination of the Senate to Sit on
Sunday. The republicans. however
held that the weary democrats were
glad of the excuse for a recess. They
contended, therefore, that first blood
in the strife over the ship purchase bill,
which has narrowed down to test of
physical endurance, has been drawn
by the republicans.
We found a strong disinclination or
both sides of the chamber to holding
the Senate in session Sunday" said
Senator Kern last night He insisted
that the recess showed no weakening
on the part of the democrats in theii
drive for a vote on the ship bill, and
declared that. beginning tomorrow. the
Senate would begin another continuous
session which would result in vote or
the bill.
II expect we shall get a vote on the
bill before another Sunday comes
round" he said.
The republicans. however. took a diff
ferent view of the situation. They con-
tended that as 4 whole they were in
better physical condition than the dem-
ocrats. in spite of the fact that the re-
publicans had done nearly all the talk
ing during the long session. They
pointed out. too, that about twenty Of
the republicans are solidly organized
against the bill and determined to talk
1t to death. With such an organiza-
tion. they said. they expect to be able
to stave of vote not only this week
but next week. They have strong
or two more of such resistance. will
weaken and lay the ship purchase bill
aside to take up the appropriation bills
Democrats May Weaken.
a number of the democratic senators
today are resenting the fact that the
appropriation bills have been laid aside
for this measure" said one of the re-
publicans last night, land i should not
be at all surprised, if this fight con.
tinues through another week or ter
days, to see them vote with the repub.
licans to take up one of the appropria.
ton bills, displacing the ship bill az
the unfinished business of the Senate
The democrats. on the other hand. in.
sist that there is the strongest kind
OF support for the bill. They do not
expect more than one, or possibly two
democratic votes against the bill il
il ever comes to a vote. 1t is known
however. that three or four more dem.
ocrats are lukewarm and would b<
glad of an opportunity to lay the bill
aside.
The contention is made by the re-
tndl tne sentiment In thS
country is overwhelming against the
ship-purchase bill and they expect thai
this sentiment will begin to max.
itself felt within the next few days
This feeling in the country, they be
lieve. will have much to do with weak.
ening the democratic support of the
bill.
During the hours of debate yester.
day afternoon and last night Senator.
Lodge of Massachusetts. Perkins o
fzi ~
Senator Crawford of North Dakota anc
Senator William Alden Smith of Mich
fgan, all republicans, held the floor
Senator Crawford. at the request OF
Senator Perkins, read the speech Of
the Californian, whose physical condt
tion would not permit him to speak a
length.
Gallinger in Fine Shape.
Senator Gallinger, the republicar
leader. left the chamber for his hom.
late yesterday afternoon. He declared
that he felt in fine shape, notwith
standing the fact that he has mad.
speeches Of three. seven and SIX hours
duration during the last few days II.
said that the republicans would sue
ceed in their fight against the ship bill
At the opening of his speech. Senate
Lodge remarked that he regretted no
seeing Mr.. Tumuity. the President
secretary, In the chamber.
He was here last night when I wa
here and again this morning" said Sen
ator Lodge. "As we are acting at tn.
direction of the chief executive nova
DAYS II is just as well TO have the visi.
Bile symbol OF that authority present
IT would be too much to expect tn
President to attend our meetings him
self, but while he is watching the re,
panorama unfold in Mexico. 1t might b.
well to have his secretary watch her
to see that none of the lambs stra
out of the fold
Senator Lodge turned his attention
TO the proba bility of buying the Ge-
man ships now interned in this coun
try, under the provisions of the bill
He insisted that IL the interned ship
were bought by the United States /
would plunge this country into inter
national complications of the graves
character Great Britain had alread
nrotested, he said, against the trans
Ter of the Dacia-
..Can the Senator tell u.s. queried Sen
.ator Gallinger. why the Dacia does no
eail?"
Could Not "Rend the Veil
THE senator asks me to rend the vel
of mystery which hangs over our for
eign relations. but I cannot do 1t,
answered Mr.. Lodge. What I know j
that Great Britain has proteste
against this transfer; Russia an