Evening journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1888-1932, 1917-03-08
FIGHT OPENS IN
SENATE OVER A
CLOTURE RULE
Sherman, Republican, Scores
President Wilson's Re-
marks About Congress
SAYS EXECUTIVE DIDN'T
TELL entire truth
By Tho united Press.

BY Tho United Press.
WASHINGTON, Mar. Slight for
a cloture amendment to the Senate
rules was begun today when Senator
Martin Of Virginia. introduced and
asked unanimous consent for immedi-
ate consideration Of a measure pro-
viding limitation of debate.
Support for consideration OF Mar
| tins amendment came from Republi-
cans as we'll as Democrats. Senators
Lodge and Curtis we're among the in
fuential Republicans who asked unan-
/ imous consent for action today.
Senator Lewis, Democratic whip
tried to inject a resolution asking the
senate's support OF any action the
President might take. Martin, rebuk-
ing Lewis, demanded withdrawal OF
the resolution for the present. Lewis
consented.
; Senator Sherman-one OF the two
: ! Eepublicans who opposed the pro-
posed gag rule-opened the morning
s fireworks with a bitter denunciation
OF President wilson's statement to
; the press that It would be useless 10
! huAllAUn hiA 1AAAh hNnnA'A
( Senate rules we're revised.
3 THE President did not state the en-
: tire truth" Sherman declared, "he de-
81 lHberately omitted a portion OF the
IS truth TO convey to the public false
= impression. The President knows and
the Senate knows that no 1lihustel
could avail in event OF an extra ses
sion. Only in the closing hours OF
Congress where time is limited, can
Rlibuster succeed. Il can only las
II from two, to four weeks, at the u
most before physical exhaustion.
III 81 object to making few Senator
the object OF the Presidents wrath
AN unfair statement" shouted she
20 man. ,-.. ,.,
mont what he termed danger.
predicted that the two.thirds clott
amendment would in a short time
amended to a majority cloture amer
ment.
"The President blames the sena
for conditions" said Sherman.
wish to remind the President tn
n when he seeks to blame the Senai
~ he has repeatedly ridiculed the couri
OF preparedness for our army an
AL. navy"
IA The united support of Republican
,.o and Democrats insured early passag
and leaders today predicted tn
vas scarcely longer than a week VIII
md necessary to shatter the Senate tr
ditions and make deadly filibusters
ov- thing of the past.
1 ", While an incipient fillbuster mi
90 delay proceedings on this proposal
"a strip the Senate OF a time-honorl
80 privilege, the opposition to the chan
President Wilson asks is so small
,cb 10 make any such move short-llved.
&c Only Senator Sherman and Sc
, in ator France are openly recorded
caucuses in opposition TO the clotr
plan. Two men cannot last long
a filibuster except in the closing de
, of session: and even II they WI
q to have the support OF LaFollei
lali, Gronna and others, they could
anu now thwrat the will of the Senate.
ient Meantime. oficialdom awaits wi
ing President Wilson has TO say or
IA on arming merchantmen. His d
ans tors orders are that he shall We
her little. If any. now. because OF
heI cold. This may not prevent h
ana however. from framing his course
tne once.
buI- Opposition to retaining Sena
Stone in the Foreign Relations CO
mittee craftsmanship still runs hi
m But today there is less indication
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