The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1917-03-09
La Toilette and GrOnna De-
serted by Others of
"Little Group"
PRESIDENTS ATTACK
IS TERMED DISLOYAL
Norris and Cummins Deny
Their Stand Was Tn
patriotic.
SAYS MEASURE WAS
NOT DUE TO CRISIS
Plan Drafted Some Time
Ago, Declares Smith,
of Georgia.

WASHINGTON, March s.--The Senate
Of the United States, turning its back
upon a century old custom maintained
heretofore in the face of bitter strug-
gle adopted to-day rule. by a vote
of &c to 8, making possible the limita-
ton OF debate
This action, taken by AN extraor-
dinary majority, constituted an even
more emphatic notice to the world
than the manifesto signed by the SEN
ators supporting the armed neutrality
bill on the eve of the adjournment
that Congress Is back OF the Prcsi-
dent in the submarine crisis.
OF the twelve Senators constituting
tho little group which opposed the
armed neutrality bill only two were
recorded to-day as voting against the
cloture resolution, making the prompt
reconsideration of the measure DOS
siblc. These We're Senator's La Toilette
and Gronna. Senator Sherman of ILL
nois, who supported the armed neu-
trality bill, opposed the limitation Of
debate on general grounds.
senate With Wilson.
For the comfort OF certain Senators
statements were made on the door OF
the Senate that the ClotIrc res olution
was proposed and faNora hIv r, ported hy
The Rules Committee long before the
submarine crisis became acute and the
President proposed the modification OF
the Senate rules gov cruug debate. But
the action of the Senate was generally
interpreted. even by members of that
body. as another declaration of purpose
on the part of the legislative branch of
the Government tn act in accord with
the executive branch i'll dealing with the
present International situation
The group OF twelve rccalcitrant Sem
ators did not yield their ground without
"A show of defiance. Most of thom an
nounced that they supported the cloture
rule, but not because Of the stormy
events or the past few days with the
exception of Senators La Toilette and
Gronna, however they wcre much mora
suhdued than during the filibuster
against the armed ship bill and in their
explanations echoed a sentiment Of
loyalty which made even moro striking
the virtual announcement of purpose on
the part of the Senate
There was no sign whatever Of fili-
buster against the resolution amending
been the occasion for many long and
futile struggles In the upper house In
giving up absolute freedom rf dcrata
the SENATE yielded It's most cherished
prerogative and by "A majority thar
would not have been possible under any
other circumstances.
Minority StiII Defiant.
Before the victory was acbioyod tho
President and tho Administration lead.
erS did not entirely escape criticism.
senator La Toilette. in a vehement
speech which left him hoarsc and breath
less intimatcd that an organized effort
10 plunge the country into war was
largely responsible for the support of the
armed neutrality bill. He likewise de-
nouhced the cloture rule as a prctext for
bringing about the enactment OF the
FORMER measure. and referred to the SEN
ate as a rubber stamp used only To
carry out the autocratic DEGREES of the
executive branch of the Government
senator Gronna likewise reiterated his
opposition to the armed neutrality hill.
Whlcn he SAID was nothing less than n
declaration of war But senators cum
Minis. Norris and others laid the ra.,,or
sibility for the failure of the neutr,iity
plll largely upon the shoulders OF IN,
majority leaders OF the Senate, who he
said, were responsible for the unnrere~
drnted Jam OF legislation during tho lakt
-four days of the session
Even Senator's who had stood hy the
Administration in the submarine crlsi,
bitterly criticised the President for find
ing fault with the Senate. Among these
were Senator sherman of Illinois. who
read extracts from President Wilson'S
own writings commcndng unrcSt,i icted
debate in the Senate Senator rownsand
OF Michigan declared that the Presidents
attack upon the little group" of Sena-
tors was UNJUST, unwarrantcd and ur-
constitutional and sayored of the meth-
DDS of the ward politician. II do not be-
lieve, he said that II was ever c1nt.nl-
plated that the President should treat
this body so contemptuously"
Senator Smoot also attributed thA fail
ure OF the neutrality bill to the friends
of the measure, The Congressional Rec
ord showed. he said. that they had con
aumed forty-siX and a half pages OF de-
had taken up only little more than
twenty-eight pages. not counting the
speeches of Senator's Stone and Lane.
La Toilette Takes Floor.
Tho opposition IN the cloturc rule,
| though defiant. was mild in character
until the Senator from Wisconsin took
| the floor Even he began with the
statement that he would not discuss the
neutrality bill. that he would have an
| opportunity 10 do that in more ample
way at some other time.
But he had not proceeded far before
ha st