The Daily Missoulian. [volume] (Missoula, Mont.) 1904-1961, 1917-03-08
Both Parties Favor Measure
to Prevent Filibusters
by Small Group.
OPPOSITION IN SIGHT
FROM REPUBLICANS
Two-Thirds Vote Will Shut
Off Debate-Owens for
Majority Vote.

Washington. March 7.-Democrats
and Republicans Of the senate in cau-
Gus today cleared the way for eariy
modification of senate procedure SO
as to make fiiibusteis such as defeated
The armed neutrality bill impossible in
the future
The Democrats voted unanimously to
support rule under which debate
could be limited by two-thirds vote,
recommended by a conference commit
tee of ten, five representing each party,
as the best way to solve the filibuster
problem. The Republicans voted 30
to to support the same change.
The resolution embodyiug the pro-
posed rule probably will bc reported to
tho senate tomorrow by Majority
Leader Martin. with n view to press
ing fov prompt adoption.
Two Senators Absent.
Senators la Toilette and Cronna.
Republicans, who were among the 1c
who failed to sign the manifesto ap-
proving the armed neutrality bill, did
not attend their party caucus. How
much Significance Is to be attached
to that fact neither Republican nor
Democratic leaders could foretcli to-
night, although the demands had n
distinct Impression tfat the appear
ance OF the rule would bc tho signal
for speeches by these two senators on
armed neutrality. There were few
Democrats who had views different
from the large majority, but while they
may contribute n few speeches on
the subject of changes in the rules, no
prolonged opposition is expected.
I'm the Democratic caucus there were
moro than 40 senators, and with the
20 Republicans who voted for the
change this makes about eight mere
than two thirds OF the senate. Several
senators OF both parties arc absen.
from Washington, SO tkat tho propor-
overwhelming.
Two Ne0ativ. Votes.
Senators Sherman OF Illinois and
France Of Maryland were the two Re-
publicans who cast thu negative votes.
Senator Sherman declared the Repub-
lieans would be put lii the position of
acceding to 1t because OF the demand
by President Wilson In his public
statement on the defeat OF tho ncn-
trality bill and in his conference to-
day with Democratic members OF the
conference committee.
=. Senator France said he opposed any
kind OF cloture rule
The resolution is changed only
slightly from that virtually agreed
upon last night by the conferences COM
mittee of ten. and which was approved
by the senate rules committee several
months ago. The most important
change was the addition today OF the
provision that except by unanimous
consent amendments will be In order
after the clo:ure hns been ordered
Senator owen gave notice in tho
Democratic caucus that he expected to
address the senate tomorrow on ma
jority rule in the senate. which nc ad-
voeated against the two-thirds plan,
hut later he apparently abandoned the
idea.
Steering Committee.
The Republicans named Senators
Warren. Smoo.. Brandegee. Borah.
Poindexter, Fall, Weeks. Harding and
Wadsworth to constitute their steering
committee for the session. Senator,
cummins and Gronna, two OF those
who opposed the armed neutrality bill.
were members of the COMMITTEES last
year and the report was current te-
night that the caucus failed 10 re-
elect them as a rebuke. Republican
leaders, however. said this was ridic-
ulous as the committee personnel was
changed every year.
There also was talk at the capitol
of movement to prevent Senator
Stone from retaining craftsmanship of
the foreign relations committee.