The Washington herald., 1917-03-05
fight in new SESSION
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sible to force the proposal through both
session. 3
signed a Manifesto.
Before the Presidential authorization
bill died, seventy-six Senators, Demo-
Gratis and Republicans, signed a mani
festo declaring that they favored the
and would vote for it IL a vote
could be secured. Eleven Senators-La
Toilette. Clapp. Cummins, Kenyon, Gron-
ma, Kirby. Lane, Norris. o'Gorman, Var
daman and Works-refused to sign the
and continued their obstruct-
i've tactics. As President Wilson sat in
ing the Senate chamber, the fnibuster
ing the enate chamber. the filibuster
drove the armed neutrality bill to de-
feat through debate that bristled with
bitter personalities and acrimonious
charges.
''Bi1 Done to Death"
This bin designed to place in the
hands Of the President of the United
States the power and authority to safe
guard American lives and American
rights declared Senator Hitchcock, of
Nebraska. as he closed the ruthless de-
bate that had kept the Senate In con-
tinuous session for twenty-six hours,
has been done to death here by the
most reprehensible filfbuster the Senate
of the United States has ever known. -
Senator La Toilette sought to secure
an opportunity to make a dramatic
speech closing the debate, but the sup
porters Of the bill Unanswered him OF
the floor. and barred him from defending
his course. Thoroughly angered, the
short, chunky Senator from Wisconsin
took his place in the center aisle and
fought for an opportunity to be heard.
Senator Robinson. Of Arkansas, made q
point of order, asserting that La Toilette
had no right to the floor at all. For q
few moments the two Senators, within
arms length. engaged in a bitter inter
change which threw the Senate in wild
disorder and forced the Vice President
to use vigorous means to restore quiet
Demanded to BE Heard.
Il demand my right to be heard on this
BILL" shouted La Toilette.
You don't want to talk about this bill, -
said Senator Smith. Of Georgia, In an
aside
The Senator from Georgia states a
falsehood.' restorted the Wisconsin SEN
ator, Il very much want to be heard"
Firmly. and with apparent bitterness,
the great majority of the Senate blocked
all Of La Follettes efforts to speak Twice
he appealed from decisions Of the chair,
taking him OF the floor. Twice his own
vote was the only one recorded. in his
favor. Not until the clock struck twelve,
and the gavel OF the Vice President clos
ed the session, did he give up his effort to
secure the floor
Three times during. the long night that
kept the weary, bedraggled Senate in the
soggy atmosphere Of the chamber, SEN
ator Hitchcock sought to secure agree
ments that would allow a vote on the
bill. Senators La Toilette, Norris and
Summins objected to all these efforts.
This experience" said Senator Hitch
the doom OF the measure,
has demonstrated that even II an
enemy were at our gates. It would be
possible for a few members Of this Sen
ate to prevent action on the needed
measures to meet that enemy
Spectators sullen.
When the Senate session ended at noon.
the big crowd that had filled tho gal
leries filed out with mutterinSs and head
shakngs. The Senators and a large
group Of members of the House who
had watched the dramatic ending Of the
session from the floor made their way
from the chamber in ominous silence
Both Democrats and Republicans plainly
showed their perturbation. and there was
none Of the usual end of-the- session gay
ETY..
Five minutes after the Senate adjourn
ed, the great chamber was empty and
a large majority Of Senators, both DEM
nNrQfQ
portunity to demonstrate that they were
prepared to support the President. Sew
eral stopped at theS. Presidents room,
where the Executive was signing the
ollls passed just as the session closed,
to assure him Of their support.
The unprecedented manifesto placed IN
the Senate record by Senator Hitchcock
during the excitement of the final ses-
sion, was drawn UP and circulated to
demonstrate that the Senate would have
passed the authorization bill II the fill
buster could have been broken. For the
first time in history, the Senate was plac-
ed on record as to a legislative proposal
which could not be voted on. Seventy
six Senators, Democrats and Republi-
cans. signed the historic document.
"o1d GIoryn Cheered,
contrasted to the grave and solemn
Pei I'll oaliOh Which marked the Closing
of the Senate session. was a patriotic
demonstration as the House drew to the
end Of the Congress. A great American
flag lowered over one of the House gal
leries evoked a scene such as the House
chamber has seldom witnessed The 400
members on the floor, and the crowded
galleries Joined in an outburst of cheer
ing which resounded through the Capitol
Then from the Speakers gallery rang out
a woman's voice in the stirring star
Spangled Banner" and the whole as
semblage Joined in the singing. America"
and Columbia" were sung as the hands
of the clock slowly reached the hour Of
noon. Fifty members crowded into the
well of the House and shouted the ma
tional song with will.
With Congress out of the way, the in
ternational situation was last night en-
tirely up to the President" Complete
plans for arning american sailing ships
have been made by the Navy Department
and are now on the Presidents desk.
Only formal order is necessary to start
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