The weekly tribune and the Cape County herald. (Cape Girardeau, Mo.) 1914-1918, 1917-03-08
FILIBUSTER IS
TRAITORS AID
SENATORASSERTS
Walsh of Montana Declares
Unlimited Speech Would
Halt War Action.
MIGHT MAKE NATION
HELPLESS, HE SAYS
Cloture Committee Agrees on
Plans Approved by Presi-
dent Wilson.
Bv International News Service.

by International News Service.
Washington, March SENATOR
Walsh of Montana. urging revision of
the Senate rules this afternoon, hurled
a torrent of denunciation upon "the
little group of willful men," who kill
ed the armed neutrality bill Sunday
afternoon.
at is not inconceivable,," he said,
that the obstructionistS-the filibus-
ters-nay be actuated by traitorous
sentiments. What say you, can the
| Senate make 4 rule under which it
may be held at bay by treachery un-
til a foreign foe shall have prevailed
over supine nation?"
| He called attention to the fact that
I in 1861 ten Senators were expelled
for treason.
"The people whom, in our feeble
way, we are trying here to represent"
said Senator Walsh, "are evidently re-
solved to take upon themselves bur-
dens for providing and maintaining a
naval and military establishment
greater than ever heretofore borne IN
time Of peace and rivaling those rem
dered necessary by the exirencies of
the Civil War
"A gneral alarm pervades the coun-
try lest some enemy may, in the very
near future, attack Us. Imagine the
time at hand and the foe bearing down
upon us. The crisis involves the very
life of the nation. The occasion brooks
no delay. Actioa-irlnediatc action
by Congress is imperative.
Congress is empowered by the Con-
stitution to declare war. Congress it
is that is to raise and support armies.
Congress is to provide and maintain 3
navy. Congress is to provide for call
ing forth the militia to repel invasinn5
and to organize armies and discipline
them to that end. Congress it is tlat
must levy and collect tares to meet
the expenditures of way end that aust
borrow money on the credit OF the
United States for the vigorous pccce-
cution of var.
at IS scarcely conceivable that war
should be precipita1ed or be importing
without an appeal from the Prcsidsr.,
both in his civil s;,nacity and as Com
mander-in- Chief o. the land and naval
forces of the nation, for some hurried
action by Congress? Such an appeal
comes to this body. 1t finds a ieady
response except from small coterIa
of Senators, who spell each other OIL
the floor until the enemy thunders st
the gates of our cities and the reppn
lie has had its death blow. They rcny
be honest but misguided peace-at-any-
price men who continue to hope that
the awful horror of armed conflict
may be avoided by further peacefn'
overtures.
"What say you. can the Senate make
a rule under which it may be he'll. at
bay by treachery until foreign f2e
shall have prevailed over a sup.ne
nation? ! repeat, a rule Of the Sen
ate, the effect of which is or may be
to deprive it of the power, under cry
circumstances, of bringing debate to
a close is void.
81 am not one of those who, being
baked by some law, organic or other
wise, would rushlessly, having the
power, sweep it aside to attain this
end. Reverence for law is the sure
foundation upon which government
and society alike rest. If in our con-
duct it is not inculcated where shall
we look to find it exhibited? l shall
vote with a clear conscience that we
violate no law in fixing time on
which debate on any subject before
this body shall ,elose?"
The Senate adjourned Immediately
after Senator Walsh had concluded his
address until noon tomorrow.