The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-02-04
Insurgents Denounced as ''Recreant Democrats Who Have Endeayored to Un- horse Their Party"
PLANS TO SAVE THE
 BILL FROM DEFEAT
 NOT YET COMPLETE E
Both Factions Working tA Line Up Forces for Ex-' pected Battle on the Ship Purchase Bill

Washington, February 3.--Pinns et administration democrats to drag the government ship purchase biii out of danger in the Senate had not been com- pietcd tonight, but champions of the measure had not abandoned hope that n wny would he found tomorrow, to re- commit the bilI with definite instrue- tions for it's amendment.
 Recalcitrant democrats natly refused to yield to concessions agreed upon by the majority in secret caucus Tuesday night and administration leaders found that they could not muster enough votes to defeat the coalition of republicans and insnrgent democrats who insist on send ing the bin back to the committee with out instructions. That would mean it's l death for the session.
 l Instead of pressing their plan to re- commit with instructions. therefore the party leaders contented themselves with | castigating in the open Senate the seven democrats who overturned the shipping bil programme last Monday. Senator | Stone, selected for this undertaking, held the floor several hours. bitterly denounc ing the seven insurgents as the 'fecreant democrats who had endeavored to uA- horse their party
 Senator Stone particularly attacked 1 Senator Clarke of Arkansas whom Inc de- seribed as the leader in the rspolt and Senator Camden of Kentucky IAe charged l mi fnp ntst- l..I ,rf.. GUS pledge That the Arkansas senator denied explaining he had warned his col leagne that he would not be bound t, any action which would deprive him of his right to vote asaiuss the bill.
 Forestall Vote
 While Senator Stone was speaking Senators Kern, Simmons, Fletcher, Mar tin and others were at work to forestau a vote until absent members could re- turn to Washington, or assurances could be secured that enough progressive re- publican support could be counted on to insure a majority.
 Tonight the democrats are counting on Senators Norris and Larollctte to vote with them, but had ceased to hope for the support Of Senator Kenyon. Son ators Lewis and smith of south Caro- lima, absent democrats, are expected back tomorrow With these votes leaders hope the bill may be recommitted limiting to one year the term for which the govern ment might lease ships to private cor porations. and prohibiting purchase of ships which might menace neutrality.
 Republican senators tonight were hope fu that Senator Penrose would be able to reach Washington tomorrow. adding one more to their forces Hts presence they declared, would give them enough votes to recommit the bill without in- structions. Should the effort to amend the bill and return it within IS hours sue ceeded, however, republican leaders de- clare it will be resumed and kept up until it either is withdrawn or its passage blocked by the death of the session. March 4
 We are through caucusing.' Senator Kern, the majority leader. declared to- night, and expect to make progress tomorrow The shipping bill is not dead by any means
 In denouncng his seven democratic colleagues Senator Stone charged them with open hostility to their party lie also made vigorous defense of the adminis- tration, asserting he would rather fol- low President Wilson's leadership than that of '.Eiihu Root, Henry Cabot Lodge
 
 rah, Jacob Gallnger or any reercant al- legged democrat who goes about with dagger in his sleeve.'
 Doubling Thomases Referring to Senator Camdens secret conference with opponents of the shipping bill" the speaker said there had been doubting Thomases who whispered that |if the issue were sharply drawn between the vested interests and the masses of the people the senator would be most ac- Istive." Senator Camden replied briefly saying he was willing to leave his leg isatlve sluggishness to his friends and neghbors to determine, but that when it came to "denounoing secrecy, it comes with i'll grace from the senator from Mis- souri. who Is known tho world over as Cum Shoe Bill." Earlier in the day tho Senate debated without action resolutions offered by Sen ator Burton. asking the Secretary of tho Trea sury what ships had been offered to the government i'll connection with the shipping bill plan. and requesting Sec retary Bryan to state what intimation, if any, the state department had as to tho probable attitude of beiligerent govern ments toward purchase of informed ships
 Senator Hoke Smith Issued a statement tonight denying that he was opposed toA the shipping bill.
 When the vice president ruled that the motion to recomnlt was out of order because call had been made for tho yeas and nays I voted against slIstain- ing the ruling of the chair.'' he said be cause the rules of the Senate expressly provide that a motion to recommit can be made at any time before final action in the Senate upon a bill. I have co-op- erated with the democratic caucus in ev- cry way to support this measure, and | expect to continue to do so, and earn be ls,ria al I'm mn aea1t