The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1916-03-07

II WAS1lNI1OGNI NdICu ts--- IOLupl-
ly at II o'clock the House assembled
for the all day fight Of the admfnistra'
ton forces to kill the McLemore reso-
luton to warn Americans of armed
ships of the European belligerents
Speaker Clark was in chair and act
ing Chairman Pou Of the Rules COM
mittee was in his seat ready to submit
the special rules under which the de-
bate will proceed. Prospects OF q SEN
sational debate attracted record
crowd to the House long before the
doors opened. Men, women and chill
dren came ready for a long stay. Lunch
boxes, milk bottles, opera glass and
books formed the principal part of
their equipment. When the Pub
lie galleries were opened there was q
rush and scramble and the galleries
were filled within five minutes.
AS a preliminary to the big fight in
the House there was fight of quite a
different nature in the House barber
shop. Two of the negro BARRIERS there
who cater to the representatives
brought their argument to close with
a fusiIlade of toilet water bottles and
other barber shop accessories. accom-
panied by running fire Of language
which was far from parliamentary.
The House police force ended the
row by clapptng both combatants In
the lookup.
The spirit OF the combat seemed to
be in the air. AS soon as the jour
nal had been read. Mr.. Pou offered the
privileged resolution containing the
special. rule. He asked unanimous
consent for ninety.minute debate
on the rule. There was no objection
and the debate began. Mr.. Pou took
the floor to open the fight. The first
outburst Of applause came at the out
set OF his speech when he said:
IAN the 'imps OF He'll never de-
;yfsed a. more infamous lie than
the declaration that has been
made, that, President Wilson wants
war" 4...
Representative Campbell of Kan
sas, Republican member OF the Rules
committee, announced when Mr.. Pou
concluded that IL the motion to close
the debate on the rules were defeated
he would offer a substitute for the
McLemore resolution which would be
a direct warning to Americans to keep
of armed ships.
At the end OF the debate Of an hour
and one.half on the rule vote on
motion for "the previous question:
a motion to end the debate on the rule
itself, was in order. That under the
plan OF the leaders would be the first
roll cali. Then a vote on the adoption
of the rule itself was in order, taking
a second roll call. The adoption OF
the rule meant, four. hours debate on
the McLemore resolution itself with
another roll call at the close on a mo-
tion for disposition of the resolution.
This generally was expected to be
a motion by Chairman Flood of the
Foreign Affairs committee to table
it .ltsE-l -ssl II II I. s.s
The expectation Of three roll calls
was based on the assumption that the
rule would be carried, aud did not take
into consIderatio lon nSanysunexpected par
liamentaryl tactics from the opposition.
Mr.. Pou attacked the Mel Lemore res
olntions at the outset. tIt means in
effect that-if an American disregards
awarning that the United States GOV,
mentswill fold its hands, said ne,
'Is there Ia single red; ;bIooded citizen
in this House or this country VINO
wants to do that?
"It is charged that the President
wants war. All the imps OF He'll never
devised q more. infamous charge. No
man since Abraham Lincoln has gone
through such a test as the President
has gone through in the last six
months. He has tried to preserve
peace. He5would not sacrifice q sin
gIe life to; make himself president for
a life term. The has the support OF both
sides OF this chamb ber.: Helhas support
on the Democratic and distinguished
support on the other side. Only
the other day read a statement of
former President Taft's supporting
HIM"
Applause on both sides of the Cham
berl followed his remarks.
7 When Representative Cambell, Re
publican, arose to speak be read y q
substitute he said he; would propose
IL motion to end debate, on the Rules
did not carry. twas as follows:
RESOLVED, That In the opinion .
\ iiof the House OF Representatives,