New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-03-09
Refuses to Resign and
Chances of Custer
Are Slight
Public Clamor Is Vain
sacred" Seniority Rule and
Fear of Branding Him
Traitor Deter Colleagues
lr,nm The rrhune Ruresnl

Washington, March S.-Senator Will
lam ]. Stone. Of Missouri, will continue
as chairman of the Foreign Relations
Committee. There is no chance what
ever Of his colleagues deposing MN
and he will not resign.
The popular camor for his removal
NAV grow great deal stronger than
il has so far without working enough
of revolution in the Senate to bring
about his decapitation; for 1t would
take a revolution to muster a majority
in the Democratic caucus in favor OF
ousting Mr.. Stone from his chairman
ship.
There arc several reasons for this
In the first place it would overthrow
the entire system of seniority rule. To
vote for the deposing of Stone would
mean the weakening of the position OF
all other committee chsirmen. 1t
would take away their right to rule
by seniority alone and place them IN
the perillous position Of having to de-
monstrate merit-an idea so closely
connected with civil service as 10 be
little short of shocking to many Sena-
tors.
Thus the votes Of all Senators OF
any length of service may be counted
on against any move TO Dust Mr. stone
Caused Cannou's Downfall
There are many politicians who think
that if "Uncle Joe" Cannon, despite all
the public shrieks against him, had
only not touched the sacred seniority
rule, he might never have been un-
horsed, certainly not until the Demo-
crats won the House.
I, was Mr.. Cannon's removal OF Keep
resentative Cooper, of Wisconsln-the
same pro-German Cooper who was one
OF the thirteen in the House the other
day TO vote against the armed neutral
ity bill-from the Insular Afairs Con-
mittee which cost him Mr. Coopers
support in the final contest IN when
Mr.. Cannon lost out.
In the second place, Mr.. Stone Is very
popular. Despite his sarcastic COM
ments on the floor TO his colleagues
he is loved by considerable NUMBER,
many. Of whom would go TO great
lengths, from the purely PERSONA
standpoint. to prevent his humills'lOh'
He is a willy politician, one OF the
sbrswdest in the country, which brings
In the element Of fear on the part OF
some of the weak sisters.
To Force Stone Into Open
When the Democratic committee on
committees makes its report OF COM
mittee changes TO the Democratic eau
Gus, several Senators are thinking OF
asking Mr.. Stone whether he Will sup
port the Presidents foreign policy,
which they think will force negative
These Senators. and some others VINO
would not go so far, think that Mr.
Stone should resign voluntarily from
tho cbairmanship. This, however, would
nrecipitate another interference with
The seniority rule, as the next ranking
member. Senator Hitchcock, Of Ne
braska. is considered pro-Gernan. Mr..
Hitchcock was the only Senator. two
wears ago, who advocated an embargo
ON munitions. His advocacy OF the
armed neutrality bill was the occasion
of much comment. especially as he had
voted against it in committee
some of Senator Stones friends de-
clare that to force him off the com
nittee for his actions of last week
would compel him to resign from the
Senate. as it would virtually amount
70 conviction by his colleagues OF
treason.
Asked to-day if he had any intention
of resigning from the committee, Mr..
Stone replied:
"No, | shall not resign-,here is no
occasion for it, / will retain the posi-
ton Of chairman of the Committee on
Foreign Relations in the reorgani1a-
ton Of the Senate"