The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1917-03-09
AIMING OF VESSELS
CERTAIN, THE REPORT
THAT IMPRESSION IS GAINING
GROUND AT CAPITAL
President Wilson Today Had Conference
With Committee Named BY the Sen
ate Democratic Caucus to Discuss
Change Of Upper House Rules That
Would Prevent FiIibustering Such As
Took Place Saturday and Sunday
Associated Press plspateh.l

Washington, March IA definite
impression hat American merchant
men would be armed in the near flu
ture gained ground today following
a conference between Wilson admin
istration officials and democratic
senator's.
Washington, March president
Wilson had a conference early today
with a committee named by the
senate democratic aucus and dis
cussed the proposed changes in the
senate's rules which would prevent
unlimited debate and f~libustering,
such as killed the armed neutrality
bill. Members of congress generally
are looking for an extra session to
be called not later than June as the
result of hints said to have been
thrown out by officials close to Pres
ident Wilson.
Committee to Draft Rules.
limited Press Dispatch.l
Washington, March 7.-Senator
Thomas J. Walsh of Montana, demo-
crat, presented at the opening of the
session of the senate this afternoon,
a resolution providing for the appoint
ment of a committee of seven, con-
tanning four majority members and
three minority members, to draft a
new rule for the senate, whereby de-
bate may be closed by vote. 1t is pro-
posed that the new clOture rule take
the place of the present rule, permit
ting unlimited debate.
Country Deeply Aroused.
ASSOCIATED Press Dispatch.1
Washington, March AFTER the
conference, which was held at the
White House and in which Secre-
taries Lansing and McAdoo partici-
pated, the democratic senators hur-
ried to the capitol for a conference
with the republican leaders to lay
before them the plan for a modified
cloture which the democrats hope to
bring before the senate tomorrow.
The democrats said they expected
prompt action. Senator Owen said
the senate rules could be changed
by a majority vote. All of the SEN
ators agreed, however, that they
would not haggle yer the details If
a reasonable cloture plan could be
agreed upon. The president told the
senators that the country was deep
ly aroused over the situation, and he
is anxious for action as promptly as
possible.
Committees Reach Agreement.
The democratic and republican
cloture committees agreed at their
conference to- recommend to their
party later today the
change of rules so that by a two
thirds vote in the senate the debate
would be shut off and dilatory prac-
tees prevented. When the senate
met Senator Walsh introduced a res
olution to provide for the readoption
of the old senate rules, with the
exception of the rule concerning
precedence of motions and for the
appointment of a committee to re-
wise that rule.
Still Talking of Aiming Ships.
UNITED Press. Dispatch.1
Washington, March This after
noon it was the expectation that
President Wilson would within a few
hours that merchant ships
of the United States would be armed
1t was stated that he was about to
give this instruction to Secretary OF
the Navy Daniels. 1t is under
stood that he has obtained legal adj
vice to the effect that he had the
power to arm merchant ships, ever
though that power has not been eX-
pressly given to him by congress as
he requested.