New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-04-07
Volunteer Army Provision
Adopted by Close Vote
of SO to "a.
EACH PARTY SPLIT
ON MERIT OF BILL
Senators Denounce Activity OF
Lobbyists and O'Gorman
Rcsents DictatiOn.

Washington. April G.-Thc militia
lobby. which las been working here
Tor weeks. first to get Federal pay for
itself, and, second, 20 prevent the or
ranization Of any volunteer force wnieh
MIGHT prove more efficient and thus
come between it and the Treasury, met
its first defeat to-day, when the SEN
ate voted SO to "a TO retain the volun-
teer army provision of the Chamber
lain army reorganization bill. The
vote came at the close Of over three
DAYS debate, which often was bitter
end during whi,h Senators were flooded
with appeals from both sides
The volunteer army provision Is in
tended TO give the United States a
single second line force, controlled by
the United States, instead of forty
eight different little armies now fur
nished by the militia. The section
thus saved temporarily, at least-is a
blanket provision giving the President
power TO organize volunteers in time
Of peace. 1t meets in large measure
the plan presented by eX-Secretary or
War Garrison, but with the widest pos
fble freedom in working out the de-
tails so as 10 assure the most success
and efficiency. II was IN the hight over
this provision, which the President
first indorsed and then abandoned, that
Chairman Hay of the House commit
tee forced the resignation OF Mr.. Car
Tison.
The vote to-day is not final. The
margin is so close that an effort by
The militia controlled Senators to get a
reconsideration is likely. Even if the
provision remains in the bill when II
RAISES the Senate, the opposition 10 II
in the House probably will result in
ITS being lost in conference, since there
Is danger that some of the Senators
will not stand firm through a disagree
ment.
The vote was almost equally divided
between the parties. the pacifistPro-
gressive Republicans voting with the
Bryan following against the volun-
teers. The vote was as follows:
To eliminate the section-Democrats
-Ashurst, Bankhead, Clarke Ark,
Culberson, Gore, Hardwick, Hughes,
Kern, Lee (Md), Lewis, Martin, Over
man, Ransdell, Reed, Robinson, Shat
roth, Simmons, Smith (Ga), Smith
IS. c.), Stone. Swanson, Taggart,
Thompson ard Wardman. Republicans
-Clapp, Cummins. Curtis, Jones, Ken
yon, McCumber, Norris, Page, Sherman
end Works-34.
To retain the acknowledgements
Beckman, Broussard, Chamberlain.
Hitchcock, Hollis, Husting, Johnson
(Me0, Johnson Is. D.. Lane, Newlands,
O'Gorman. Pittman, Pomerene, Sauls-
bury. Sheppard, Smith (Md0, Thomas,
Walsh and Williams. Republicans
Borah, Brandegee, Catron, Clark
(Wyo), Dillingham;, du Pont, Gallinger,
Lippitt, Lodge, Nelson, Oliver, Poin-
dexter. Smoot, Sterling, Sutherland,
Warren and Weeks-36.
The activities Of the militia lobby
we're apparent throughout to-day's de
bate, as previously. Scarcely a Senator
spoke against the plan who did not
have on his desk sheaf of kilograms
from the militia officers Of his home
state, while the agents who have rep
resented the militia here were busy in
the lobby. Several such messages were
read, only one Senator. Mr.. Smoot, OF
Utah, refusing 10 obey the demand
from the militiamen, which he had put
in the record.
Senators Denounce Lobby.
Several Senators-even some OF
those who voted for the militia de-
mands-denounced the lobby privately
Senator Borah expressed the opinion
of many when he said that in all his
experience in Congress he had never
seen a more infamous attempt TO in
fuence legislation than that now being
made. Only one Senator, however. ex-
pressed mis- sentiments on the floor
That was Senator O'Gorman, OF New
York.
Something was said yesterday By
certain Senator'S" said Mr.. O'Gorman,
regarding an extremely offensive
propaganda organized by certain citi-
zens who are especially interested in
the national guard. | hold a letter in
my hand addressed 20 me. signed II. s.
Sternburger, Colonel, on the letterhead