The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-03-08
Senate Takes Up Cloture Fight
This Afternoon.
Curtis Asks Unanimous Coz.
sent for Anti-Filibuster.
SENATOR ATTACKS WILSON
Observation-Disclosures Leader
Bitterly Denounces President.
Declares Executive MiSinfOrmed
Public to Gain Approval.

Washington. March Slight fora
cloture amendment to the senate rules
was begun today when Senator Mar
tin of Virginia, introduced and asked
unanimous consent for immediate con-
sideration of a measure providing linn
itation of debate.
Support for consideration for Mar
tins amendment came from Republi-
cans as we'll as Democrats. Senators
Lodge and Curtis were among the in
fluential Republicans who asked
unanimous consent for action today.
Senator Hollis. New Hampshire.
Democrat. offered an amendment to
the cloture amendment making it pos
sible for a majority instead of two
thirds to bring about a limiting of
debate.
Senator Lewis. Democratic whip.
tried to inject a resolution asking the
senates support of any step the presi
dent might take. Martin, rebuking
Lewis, demanded withdrawal of the
resolution for the present. Lewis con-
scented.
Attacks President.
Senator Sherman-one of the two
Republicans who opposed the pro-
posed gag rule-opened the morning
fireworks with a bitter denuncia ton
of President Wilson's statement that
it would be useless to summon an
extra session until tie senate rules
were revised.
THE president did not state the
entire truth" Sherman declared. He
deliberately omitted a portion of the
truth to convey to the public a false
impression The president knows, and
the senate knows, that no filibuster
could avail in event of an extra ses-
sion. Only in the closing hours of a
to
filibuster succeed. 1t can only last
from two to four weeks at the ut
most, before physical exhaustion.
Il object to making a few senators
the object of the presidents wrath
in an unfair statement" shouted
Sherman. Sherman saw in the cloture
amendment what he termed a dan
ger" He predicted that the two-thirds
cloture amendment would in short
time be amended to a majority clo-
ture amendment.
For Armed Neutrality. But
The president blames the senate
for conditions, said Sherman. II
wish to remind the president that
when he seeks to blame the senate. he
has repeatedly riGiculed the course of
preparedness for our army and navy"
Sherman depressed from rules to
armed neutrality, denouncing the
clothing of the president with power
which would permit him to arm muni-
lions ships. This, he commended. would
be tantamount to "de facto state of
war
IF the president seeks to exercise
this power" Sherman said, II stand
ready to declare war.
Sherman, however, reiterated his
approval of armed neutrality. declar
ing it is justified by the German man.
date of unrestricted submarine war
fare and the kaiser mikado- Carranza
! alfnf hi lor lZa
ficient evidence of hostile intent
whether it would have come to any
| practical end or not"
Takes Shot at Republicans.
He also took fling at Republicans.
who are now heaping abuse upon the
heads of the wilful after they them
selves had connived in the filibuster."
| Since a filibuster could not in an ex-
ira session prevent passage of the
armed neutrality bill. Sherman held
the president is merely taking ad-
vantage of the present crisis to per-
manently alter the senate rules"
He is seeking to absolve himself
from his long delay in protecting
American lives by discrediting the
few men who objected to a hasty de-
cision in the closing hours of con-
gress after his representation had
prevented sufficient time for consider
alton" Sherman said.
of wilfu1 men as doing what they
did because they thought they would
save the unnumbered souls arising
from the battlefield of a possible flu
ture; for the Widows in black and for
men behind the pillow whose red Amer
lean blood might be spilled on a for
; eign strand
Cummins Hits Back.
Senator Cummins, one of the twelve
men who failed to sign the senate
manifest, favoring passage of the
armed neutrality bill declared in the
senate today that Amy man in the
senate or out of it, of high or low
degree, who said he conspired to de-
! feat the bill deliberately falsifies"
Senator Norris reviewed the mass of
legislation pending just before con-
gress adjourned, asserting that appro-
priation bills alone totalled $560,00O.-
/ 900, so voluminous that it was a phys
ical impossibility for them to be read,
let alone considered before adjourn
ment. After what he termed the
presidents pet bill, the neutrality
measure, was brought in Senator Nor
bills were passed.
1T sometimes looks as tho all this
legislation was piled up purposeIy that
we might be forced to swallow the
dose whole or be called filibustees and
traitors he said in conclusion. Jnm
not apologizing in any sense or in 1 Nv
degree If that-asking fair dis, Y 3
sion-1s fllibustering, then I am a IN
buster"
Stone Endorses Cioture.
Endorsement of the cloture rule
was given by Senator Stone, of Mis-
souri,, chairman of the foreign reIa-
! tons committee who, however. ex-
pressed doubts as to its efficiency.
wish merely to say that / am in
| entire sympathy and hearty accord
WITT with the proposed rule" he said.
Tho the form is not as 1 would have
written 1t. am willing to accept it."
No L. 5. Food Probe
Washington. March S-The federal