The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1917-03-05

Fought For Floor TIL End.
Firmly and with arparen, Bitterness
the great majority - the senate block
ed all Of La Fo1'ette's EFFORTS TO speak
Twice he appealed from decisions Of
the chair taking him on the floor
Twice his own vote was the oniy one
recorded IN his favor Not until ths
clock struck u. and the gayel 4 the
vice president closed the session. cid
he give Up his effort to secure the floor
Three time during the long nigh
that kept the weary. hedraeRIed sen
ate IN the soEgy atmosphere OF the
chamber Senator Hitchcock sought 20
seeure agreements that would allow q
vote on the bill Senators La Toilette
Norris and Cummins objected to all
these efforts.
This experience" said Senator
Hitchcock. as he shook his head. grave
ly recognizing the doom Of the meas
ure, has demonstrated that even II
an enemy were at our gates II would
be possible for a few members OF this
senate to prevent action on the needed
measures to meet that enemy"
when the senate session ended nj
noon. the big crowd that had sll ID
the galleries filed out with mutterings
and headshaklnes The senators and y
iAfE group OF members Oh the mouse
who had watched the dramatic ending
of tho session from the floor, made
their way from the chamber in ONT
nous silence. Both Democrats and Re-
publicans plainly showed their pertur.
baton. ana there WAS none Of tn,
usual eud-ag-t the session Eaiety.
senate Would Have Passed Bill.
Five minutes aft q the senate ad.
3ourned the great ehaV per was empty
and 6 large majority oR senators. both
Democrats and Republicans. sought ar
oppcrtunity 70 demonstrate that they
were prepared TO support the president
Several stopped at the president
room, where the executive was signing
the bills passed just as the session
closed, 10 assure him Of their support
The unprecedented manifesto. placed
I In the Senate Record by Senator Hitch
cock during she excitement of the
fnal session. was drawn w and cir
culatcd 70 demonstrate that the senate
would have passed the authorization
bill IL thu fliIhuster could have been
broken.
For the first timc IN history the sem
ate was placed on record as 10 legis-
lative proposal which could not be
voted or. eeventy-eix senators. Demo-
Gratis ana Republicans. signed tho his
Patriotism In the House.
Contrasted to The grave and solemn
perturha'lon which marked the closing
Of the senate session WAS 4 patriotic
Demonstration as the house drew to the
end OF the congress A great American
flag lowered over one Of the house
galleries evoked q Sccne such as the
house chamber has sci ON Witnessed
The four hundred members on the fool
and the crowded galleries Joined ir
an outhurst OF cheering which re
sounded through the Capitol tt er
from flio speakers gallery rang out =
wofnans voice in the singing OF tn
'star -Spangled Banner" and the Who'll,
assemh1age Joined IN the singing
America" and columbia, the Gem o.
the Ocean" were sung as the hand'
81 the clock slowly reached the hour
OF noon Fifty members crowded intC
the well OF the house and shouted tbs
national songs with will.
with congress out of the wav, the
international situation was entirely "ur
TO the president" Complete plans fo'
arming American sailing ships have
been made by the navy department
and are now on the presidents desk
Only formal order is necessary ~
start the navy department machine
at work installing guns and gunner,
of the country's merchant vessels.