Omaha daily bee., 1917-03-09
senate PASSES
RESOLUTION TO
BAR F|L|BUSTER
Gronna, La Toilette and Sher-
man Vote Against Amend
ment to Limit Time of
Debate.
CUMMINS LAsHEs WILSON
Says Armed Neutrality
Would Give President Ris x
to Make War at Will. -
DENoUNCES FALsIFIERS

Washington, March S.-An amend
ment to the senate rules giving two,
thirds OF its members the power to
prevent filibusters and limit debate
was passed late today by the senate.
The vote was rs t o3, Senators
Gronna, LaFollette and Sherman vot-
ing against the change.
During the debate, endorsement Of
the cloture rule was given by Sem
ator Stone of Missouri, chairman OF
the foreign relations committee, who.
however, expressed doubts as to its
efficacy.
Senator Cummins, one of the twleve
men who failed to sign the senate
manifesto favoring passage of the
armed neutrality bill, declared i'll the
senate today that ANY man in the
senate or out of it, or high or low
degree" who said he conspired to de-
feat the bill, deliberately falshes.'
Debated 1t Hour.
q debated the amendment which |
presented a little more than one
hour" said Mr.. Cummins, "and then
my part in this drama-this tragedy
as it would have been-ceased and
any man, whether III the senate or
out of it, whether of high or low de-
gree, who intimates that attempted
or conspired to prevent vote on this
bill, deliberately falsifies. ! wish |
could use a stronger term and still
be within the rules of the senate"
Senator Sherman said he failed TO
see any reason to be "precipitate" in
the matter and pointed to the sinking
of the Lusitania nearly two years ago
and the sinking of other vessels since
to show that the president had not
been in a hurry to demand action.
Il wish to remind the president"
said the senator, when he seeks to-
blame the senate and the senate rules
and a few senators, that during a
large part of the time he has ridiculed
preparedness. He has ridiculed it in
the army and in the navy"
Bill Means De Tacto War.
Mr.. Sherman declared there was no
doubt i'll his mind that the armed neu-
trality bill would give the president
the right to arm munition ships and
furnish warships to convoy.
when We do that" he said, I'VE
are in de facto war without the for
mality that precedes the clash of
arms. Bear III mind that | will vote
for this bill and am prepared to vote
for war whca the president exercises
the power given in this bill"
HE said he hoped war could be
avoided and declared himself in favor
of "conscripting ever New York edi-
tor who is advocating War in his edi-
torial columns"
Secretary Tumulty entered a gal
lery and remained to hear Senator
Cummins of Iowa, one of the "wilful
men" named by the president, sharply
criticize the president.
Cummins Sarcastic.
"If | may be permitted to present
an opinion without being burned in
efligy or classified as a filibusterer, /,
desire to do so,' Mr.. Cummins began,
carcastically. 81 am very earnestly
for this cloture resolution but not
because of the unparalleled and un-
precendented statement which re-
Gently -emanated from the White
house, nor because the lying misrep-
resentation which have been spread
through the country recently re-
Gently in newspapers, but because l
believe the senate should be permitted
to do business"
Mr.. Cummins recounted how he had
introduced three cloture resolutions
providing for closing debate by less
than a twb-thirds vote.
Not Recent Convert.
Il favor something more effective"
he continued, "but with longer than
one hours time for each senator's de-
bate after adoption of a cloture rule.
81 say this because | did not want
to be understood that | am recent
convert to the proposal or in the
least dismayed by the storm the presi-
dents censure has aroused. Unfound-
ed-utterly baseless-is the charge or
suggestion of filibustering so far as |
am concerned or have any knowl-
edge" u
Turning to the nuetrality bill, SEN
ator Cummins referred to it as the
bill empowering the president to
Continued on Page Two, Column Three.)