New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-07-30
Southern Senators Openly
Defy Wilson for His
Attitude.
REPUBLICANS URGE
THEIR OPPONENTS ON
Georgia Member Denounces the
Measure as Monstrous and
Demands Its Defeat.
[rrom me Tribune Bureau

Washington, July 29.-Defance to
President Wilson on both child labor
and immigration was sounded to-day
by Southern Democratic Senators, who
oppose the first and favor the second
Of these measures. Attempts by Ad-
ministration Senators to curb the fiery
comments and sarcastic illusions
proved not nearly so successful as Re-
publican attempts to egg" the In
surrectionists on.
Senator Poindexter, Of Washington,
began the discussion by announcing
that he would move at the earliest con-
venient moment to take up the imml-
grafton as we'll as the child labor bill.
Senator Borah then explained the
amendment he had offered, which would
couple the immigration and child labor
bills together. He said he thought
there were enough votes in favor OF
the two measures TO put both through
over the Presidents veto should he
veto them because Of the literacy test
in the immigration bill.
Flood Gates Are Opened.
So far the Southern Senators had
taken no part in the discussion; but
when Senator Reed followed Mr.. Borah
and charged that the Southerners were
advocating the Borah plan in order to
kill the child labor bill the food gates
were opened.
Senator Hardwick began by telling
what had happened in the Democratic
caucus which favored the child labor
bill.
"Of course. in conferences of the ma
jority," he said, smiling pleasantly al
angry Administration Senators, there
is no effort to bind a Senator to sup
port any measure which he consider:
unconstitutional, or on which he is in
structed differently by his constituents
"The Senator from Missouri is mis-
taken about this plan Of tying the
child labor bill and the immigration
bill together being mine. | have no
yet made up my mind whether | will
vote to add the immigration bill tC
the child labor bill as an amendment
am so strongly opposed TO the chile
labor bill that even If it and the imml
grafton bill were tied together | shoulC
vote against both. | admit the charge
that if voted to tack the immigration
bill onto the child labor bill it woul'
be in the hope of beating the chile
labor bill.
AT present I am dubious as T.
whether it would be wise to tie tn
bills together or not. | do not know
whether placing the bills together II
one act would defeat them both or pas
them both. | do not want to do either
want to pass the immigration bil
and defeat the child labor bill"
Doesn't the Senator know that t
tie the bills together would defea
them both ?" inquired Senator Thomas
of Colorado. Doesn't the Senator
know that President Wilson woulC
again veto the immigration bill"
"If he does | am prepared to vote Il
put the immigration bill through ovel
his veto" asserted Senator Hardwick
"And more than two-thirds of the mem
bers of both houses would vote with
me on that measure and against the
President
Does the Senator think that on thu
eve of an election, in the midst of ,
campaign, the Democrats in eithel
house would vote to pass a measur,
over the veto of their own President 2
inquired Senator Thomas in surprise
81 don't believe they would"
Shouldn't Boss Senators.
members Of Congress should not b.
willing to let any man, even the Presi
dent, when he is the head OF thei
party, tell them to vote against tn
wishes of their constituents" replied
Senstor Hardwick.
At this point Senator Stone sarcas
10 Il 10
did not think the majority should settl
these questions in private conference.
"Oh, | don't know that secret eau
cuses are required to settle thes
things" retorted Senator Hsrdwick. ="
have always thought the people Of tn
country disapproved Of secret eau
cuses."
Senator Hardwick then defended tn
President for attempting to infuenc
legislation, on the ground that he wa
not only the executive but the leader o
his party, and in this capacity shoul
throw out suggestions as to legislation
Mr.. Hardwck then turned to the i'm
migration bill, urging that now, whel
there is no pressure from any quartz
to get immigrants in, was the acceptel
time TO readjust the laws without CIV
ing offence TO any country.
(Which is the more necessary" in
quired Senator Smith. of South Caro-
( lima. "for Congress to act upon a
this session-the immigration bill, Of
which there can be only Federal &C
ton, or none, or the child labor bill, Of
which forty-six states have already II
whole or in part complied with the idea
contained in the pending bill?'
"The child labor bill" replied Sen
ator Hardwick. ais a monstrous, un
A,or;cop propnsalr