New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-03-09
La Toilette, Cronna and
Sherman Cast Only Votes
Against New Rule
Five Senators Join
In Assailing Wilson
Resent Charge of Wilful-
ness; Illinoisan Says Ship
Bill Is War Act


ate tonight voted to adopt the
closure rule approved yesterday by
the party caucuses, providing that
two-thirds of the Senator'S may vote
at any time, on proper notice, to
limit debate thereafter TO one hour
for each Senator. The vote was 76
to 3. The three Senator'S voting
against the rule we're La Toilette,
Gronna and Sherman.
The only sort of flibuster now pos
sible would require the backing Of
more than a third of the Senators.
This was the answer of the Senate
to the country's Indignation at the
talkfest which killed the armed neu-
trality bill with the death of the 64th
Congress, leaving, as the Senators
themselves thought, the Administra-
tion powerless to protect American
shipping from German submarines.
Stone Displays Chsgrin
There were many denisls that the
adoption Of closure to-day had any con-
nection with last weeks events. Sens.
tor Hoke Smith, who fathered the es-
sential parts of the rule just adopted,
was placating Senator Stone by declar-
ing that there was no connection, and
pointing to the fact that the rule was
reported last June, when Mr.. Stone. re-
alizing how few of the public would
believe this assumption. rose and said:
AT least. Mr.. President, it can II
said that IL this change in the ruie
did grow out Of last weeks event,
thus making it possible for the Senati
TO do business. last weeks events will
not have been in vain"
OF the new rules three opponents,
La Toilette and Gronna played an ac-
tive part in last weeks flibuster. Mr..
Sherman rather likes 10 ilibuster ST
times, and insisted that the fault for
the failure of the armed neutrality bill
lay with the President for not coming
before Congress sooner, and not with
Senator's who discussed the measure.
Ex-Filbusters Vote for Rule
Senators who aided Mr. La Toilette
last week b. long discussions and who
to-day voted for closure were Stone.
Cummins. Norris and Jones. Three
others. who refused to sign the mani
festo fayoring the arming OF ships
Kenyon. Lane and Nsrdaman-also
voted for closure. Two Of the ilibus-
ters Of last week-Works and Clapp
are no longer Senator'S, while Nr.
O'Gormsn, who also refused 70 sign tn.
manifesto. and opposed the bill in com
mlttee and by questions on the floor, has
also retired to private life.
All Of the new Senators. even Mr
France, OF Maryland. who yesterday.
with Sherman, voted sgains. closure in
the Republican caucus. to-day voted for
the rule. In addition 70 the seVenty-six
Senators who voted for the rule, it was
announced by colleagues that fourteen
others would have so voted had they
been present, which would have made
the total vote 30 TO 3.
Senator La Toilette made the only
real plea for closure. Most Of the tim.
was occupied with discussions by Sena-
tors who are being pillored for their
part in the killing Of the armed ncu.
trslity bill.
Stone for Stronger Rule
Mr.. Stone talked at length, but his
principal fear was that the new rule
was not sufficient He feared il would
be ineffective. and said what ought 10
be done was to have majority closure
instead of the two-thirds rule proposed.
Mr. Cummins defended his position, a.
did also Senators Norris and Gronna.
Mr. sherman attacked the President,
declaring Mr.. Wilson was trying 70 ab-
solve himself by passing the blame to
Congress He said the Presiden, had
delayed action until u Was almost i'm.
possible to get the measure through.
Mr.. La Toilette made the same charge.
81 am ready TO vote for the armed
neutrality bill" said Mr.. Sherman. "bu,
Senators should vote for il with tn.
full knowledge that il provokes a stat.
OF de fac,o war"
could the President have forcseen
the sinking Of the Laconia," inquired
Senator Lewis.
Gle could have foreSeen that when
Belgium WAS invaded" rctorted Sher-
man. "lIe could have forescen il vher
the Lusitania was sunk II has been
waiting with Germany as
well as Mexico"
In De Facto War
81 wisn TO remind the President"
said the Senator. when he seeks 20
blame the Senate and the Senate rules
and few Senators. that during q large
part OF tn. time he has ridiculed pre-
paredness. lie has ridiculcd II in the
army and in the navy"
Mr.. sherman declared there vas no
doubt in mis- mind that the armed neu-