Lincoln County times. (Jerome, Idaho) 1911-1919, 1917-03-08
Vol. J No. 3.
ENDS IN DISGRACE.
Regular Session OF the oath Congress
Closes Amid Scenes OF Tumult

Sunday last at noon marked the
close of the Gath congress and II re-
mained for a dozen senators to SO
obstruct legislation, as to make the
closing hours of the senate one of
disgrace and humiliation to the
country. 1t all came about through
the debate over the bill giving the
president authority to arm our mer-
chant ships, which had already pass
ed the house by an almost unanimous
vote.
Under the rules OF the senate un-
limited debate is allowed by the
members, and Senator LaFollette. of
Wisconsin, took advantage of this.
and being opposed to the measure.
gave warning to the senate that he
would never allow a vote to be taken
on the measure He had as follow
ers eleven other senators. among
which were five democrats and six
republicans as follows.
Democrats - Kirby. Arkansas;
Lane. Oregon; O'Gorman. New York;
Stone. Missouri; Vardaman. Mississ-
ippi.
Republicans - Clapp. Minnesota;
Cummins. Iowa; Gronna. North Da-
kota; Kenyon. Iowa; Norris. Nebras
ka; Works. California.
,b., ha rnto
where the senate stood on this Ques-
tion. and that the stigma of the de-
feat OF this important bill might be
charged directly to the opponents. 76
OF the senators signed manifesto
that they were In favor OF the bill.
and the same was Incorporated In the
minutes OF the senate.
AS this measure had presidence
over any other legislation. the flli-
busters not only succeeded In defeat
ing the passage OF this bill. but many
other important measures went down
TO defeat through the inability to OBJ
tain a vote on them.
LaFollette, however. was denied
the privilege OF delivering his pre-
pared speech on the question. though
he attempted to get recognition from
the speaker at several intervals. Sen
ator Hitchcock being on the floor
talking In favor OF the measure until
the hour OF adjournment arrived.
These IL senators are receiving the
condemnation OF the entire country,
and the various legislatures In ses-
sion throughout the states. have
passed resolutions condemning this
action.
The following resolution was In
troduced In the house OF the Idaho
legislature on Tuesday; and received
the vote of the entire membership
excepting four: "Be 1t resolved b,
the house of representatives. the sen
ate concurring:
THAT we condemn in unmeasurec
terms the attitude OF the IL senators
who by their ilibuster In the senate
OF the United States congress, pre-
vented that body from enacting mea
sures to uphold the hands OF th'
president in the present internationa
crisis. This is not the time for per
sonal and selfish motives to promp
the act OF members OF the nationa
congress, thereby throwing a stun
bling block In the way OF our chic
executive in his efforts to protect tn
rights of American citizens on tn
high seas. as guaranteed to them b.
international law.
BE IL further resolved. that
copy of these resolutions be sprea'
upon the journal OF the house an
senate of the legislature OF the stat
of Idaho, and the governor Is hereo
authorized to transmit a copy o
these resolutions to the president O
the United States of America
1t is likely that a special sessio
OF the Gath congress will be called
although President Wilson insist
that the rules OF the senate must b
changed before he will call such
session.