The Olneyville times. (Olneyville [Providence, R.I.]) 1887-1917, 1917-03-09

Washinston-Afte one OF the bit
terest parliamentary wrangles In the
history OF the country, President
wilson's armed ship bill was
strangled Sunday in the Senate.
which. along with the House, passed
into history at noon as the Gath Con-
gress.
The House had already passed
modified form OF the bill by the over
whelming vote OF 403 to l3. The Sen
ate, through the stubborn opposition
OF II pacihsts, failed to reach vote.
Before the bill's failure was made
certain by the adjournment OF Con-
yress. manifesto intended as a
proclamation to the world that the
Senate was sweeplngly in support OF
the President, was signed by the ad-
vocates OF the measure, setting forth
that they favored 1t, but were pre-
vented by a small majority from ex-
pressing their support in votes.
This manifesto was finally signed
BY 70 senator's, while statements
were made that two others would
have signed II they could have
been reached. In all there were 10
senators who for physical reasons
could not sign or were not asked to
do 80. Ten OF the senators, who
made up the savage filibuster that
technically killed the bill, were asked
TO sign the manifesto and refused.
To these 10 mast be added Mr..
Stone OF Missouri, chairman OF the
committee on foreign relations, who,
after fighting the bill in committee,
assailcd il on the floor in a speech
that lasted over four hours. Stand
ing Just behind where Mr.. Stone sat,
Mr.. Hitchcock OF Nebraska, in
charge OF the bill, this morning read
Mr.. Stones name in the list of those
who had had no opportunity to sign.
But the Missouri senator, whose
head was bowed on one hand. made
no move and the record was un-
changed
The wave OF feeling that has rail-
lied the whole country to the Presi-
dents support since the publication
OF the Zimmerman letter broke down
all party lines in the Senate. Each Of
the three groups that made up the
complex situation in the Senate was
divided between the two parties. or
the 20 senators signing the manifesto
As were Democrats and 30 were Re-
publicans. OF the 10 who were not
] 30 gfp five
and five were Republicans. or the
/ IL senators who took responsibility
for indirectly killing the bill, five
we're Democrats and six were Re-
publicans.
The nearest approach to political
solidarity appeared in the six Re-
publican opponents OF the bill. All
OF them were OF the Progressive fac
| ton. Only two Progressive Repub-
llcans, Mr.. Borah OF Idaho, and Mr..
Poindexter OF Washington, signed
! the manifesto.
To many the detection OF Mr..
Stone OF Missouri was the most
astounding circumstance OF the fill
buster. As chairman OF the commit
tee on foreign relations he has been
the Presidents trusted mouthpiece
on many delicate diplomatic matters.
Mr.. Stone himself describes his diff
ference with the President as the
flrst that had proved irreconcilable
though he had shocked the country
before by supporting the McLemore
resolution.
Mr.. Stones opposition to the bill
was emphasized here by the fact that
other senators OF markedly pacfist
tendencies had come TO realize. since
the publication OF the Zimmerman
letter. that they had carried pacifsm
too far, and that the time had come
for a bolder policy. Mr.. Hitchcock
OF Nebraska, who handled the armed
ship bill on the floor In Mr.. Stones
place, was one OF these. lie had op
posed the bill in committee, but Will
the Zimmerman letter before him h,
accepted tho responsibility forced up
on him by Mr.. Stones desertoI
and labored for passage of the meas
urS.
The last phase OF the fight begar
when, following Mr.. Stones loni
speech against the measure. whicl
he said would certainly lead to wal
Mr.. Hitchcock began to ask 70
unanimous consent, first TO shorteI
speeches so that all could be heard
than TO fix various hours for voting
These offers no continued till fey
minutes before the Senate died a
noon. but all OF them encountere
objections with the constantly rs
peated explanation that until the oh
jections In question had been hear
without restriction .e sgreemen
could be reached.