Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1916-04-07
Vote in Senate Is So Close as
TO Justify Fear That Volun-
teer Provision May Lose in
Joint Conference
PARTY LINES BROKEN
WHEN TEST COMES
Nearly as Many Republicans
as Democrats Support Po-
sitiOn of President and Sec
retary Of War;

washington, April 6.--The senate
,etained the federal volunteer provis-
inn IN the army bill late today by a
yotn Of 36 to "a. rejecting Senator
Lees amendment to strike the section
from the bill The vote ended four
day debate on the section
Advocates of the national guard, as
the first line of defense behind the
regular army, supported the admin
istration vigorously and the struggle
was one of the hardeot fought in the
senate at this session of congress. IT
began after the defeat of the mill
tary committee last week. when a
proposal TO create a national guard
section of the army general staff was
written into the bill
Nav Lose in Committee.
The narrow margin by which the
federal volunteer provision was re-
tanned makes ii doubtful that it will
be in the measure finally framed by
the conference committee between
the two houses. An effort during de-
bate on the house army bill. TO insert
this section. which is designed to pro-
vide such a force as the continental
army proposed by former Secretary
Garrison, was decisively defeated.
without republican support the
volunteer section would have been
voted out by the democratic senator's
despite the fact that II was unani-
mously recommended by the military
committee. Twenty-four democrats
and ten republicans, including nearly
all the progressive republicans. voted
to strike it out
Nineteen democrats and seventeen
republicans voted 10 retain il.
The vote follows
Those Against Preparedness.
Voting TO eliminate the section
Democrats -- Ashurst, Bankhead,
Clarke, of Arkansas; Culberson. Gore,
Hardwick, Hughes, Kern, Lee OF
Maryland Lewis, Martin, Overman,
RansdeI Reed, Robinson. Shafroth.
Simmons. Smith, Of Georgia, Smith,
Of South Carolina; Stone. swanson,
Taggart, Thompson and Vardaman--
"a.
Republicans Clapp, Cummins,
Curtis, Jones, Kenyon. McCumber,
Norris, Page, sherman and Works
10. Total 81.
Those Eavoring Volunteers.
Voting to retain the section:
Democrats Beckham, Broussard,
Chamberlain, Hitchcock. Hollis, Hust-
ing, Johnson, Of Maine: johnson, Of
South Dakota; Lane, Newlands.
VGorman. Pittman, Pomerens,
Salisbury, Sheppard, Smith. of Mary
land; Thomas, Walsh and Williams
19.
Republicans Borah, Brandegee.
Catron. Clark, of wyoming; Dilling-
ham, Dupont, Gallinser Lippitt,
Lodge, Nelson, Oliver. Poindexter
smoot, Sterling, Sutherland, Warren
and Weeks---l7. Total, So.
National Guard Lobby.
The vote followed charges that the
national guard organizations through
out the country were conducting
lobby against the federal volunteer
plan. Senator Chamberlain, chairman
Of the military committee, warned
the senate, in the course Of the de-
bate, that If the national guard is 10
become politically active and endea-
vor to influence legislation as it had
done in this case, he would in future
oppose any further federal aid for
the state soldiers.
Counter Charge Made.
Champions of the guard retorteu
mat the Military Training Camps
association had been equally active
IN behalf Of the federal volunteer sec
uoh They pointed to- the mass OF
te'egrams shown before the senate to-
uay by Senator Chamberlain to sus-
taln their contention.
The struggle had little bearing on
me general question Of preparedness
oeyond the fact that the advocates of
me volunteer plan asserted ii was
Nllal to any scheme to back up the
regular army with citizen soldiers,
"hlle opponents declared ii would
serve only to dsintegrate the national
suard All senators who spoke on the
subject declared in favor Of prepared
ness and many urged even more lib
erdi provisions Tor the regular army
ana national guard than the bill