The Washington herald., 1917-03-07
LOOKS TO CLOTURE rule

might be attempted as a means Of block
ing cloture.
Meantime the cloture fight had made
great strides. A conviction that a fight
to change the Senate rules was doomed
to defeat changed to an apparent feeling
that action in that direction was ex-
tremely probable. Both Republicans and
Democrats of the Senate met in caucus
and discussed the cloture question.
Each caucus named a committee to take
up he subject and last night the COM
mlttees Joined in a bipartisan discus
sion of tho international crisis which
confronts the country and its relations to
the Senate rules
II think we will get somewhere" said
one member of the committee after the
conference. The discussion was entirely
informal. but conditions look favorable -
Senators James. owen. Reed. Hoke
Smith. and Swanson. Democrats, and
Senators Lodge. Borah. Penrose, Cum
minis. and Brandegee. Republicans. form
ed the joint committee. They will meet
today and continue their efforts to reach
an agreement on a form of modified
cloture which will be acceptable to the
rank and file of both parties In the
Senate. After the discussions in both
party caucuses yesterday 1t was stated
that a clear majority OF the Democrats
favored cloture and that q substantial
minority of the Republicans. led BY
cloture proposal.
Temporary Remedy.
one suggestion forthcoming last night
after innumerable quiet conferences
among Senate leaders was that a lirnita-
ton on debate designed only to meet the
present crisis might be adopted. Under
otrxhN 70 Inn
pose cloture just long enough to put
through the Presidents armed neutrality
bill at an extra session, or might impose
a cloture rule to extend only until the
beginning of the next regular session of
Congress. This plan, 1t was stated, would
meet the present international emergen-
cy, and at the same time would not en-
tirely eliminate the Senate's coveted un-
limited debate.
When the President yesterday called OF
his Cabinea meeting, Washington had
been convinced that he was ready to
move at once to arm ships. Secretary Of
State Lansing and Attorney General
Gregory had submitted their views on the
legal phases of the question. 1t was
learned that Secretary Lansing, before
the President in his original address to
Congress had expressed his confidence
that he had the necessary authority with
out Congressional affirmation had di-
gested all of the legal precedents. This
included the statute of 1919. which since
has been used to demonstrate that the
President has not the needed authority.
But the dismissal of the Cabinet changed
the outlook. The expected order to the
Navy Department was not forthcoming.
Visits State Department.
President Wilson left the White House
and went to the State Department, whore
for nearly an hour he went over the situ-
alton, where, with Secretary Of the Navy
Daniels, he discussed the final technical
details OF the plan to arm ships-when
the order is given. When he returned to
the White House 1t was stated that there
would be no announcement on the sub
ject. In the meantime the White House
had been notified Of the Frightening pros
poets for cloture action in the Senate.
The fight over armed neutrality began
as soon as the Senate met. Senators who
had been denominated by President Will
son as little group of wilful men,
who had made the great government of
the United States helpless and contemti-
ble," began their defense. Senator Ken
yon, of Iowa, in a voice that shook with
passion, arose to brand as false the
statement of anyone who says I flibuster-
ed against the bill"
THE plan seems to be-" he said "to
hSidNO III 1AAO hAiONSbCI VINO EeIuSeu
| to sign a paper supporting the bill. I
did not talk one minute against the
measure. 1 would have voted for it in
its final form, trusting to the President
not to arm munition ships. The state
ment that I attempted to block a vote ON
the bill Is unqualifiedly false"
Senator Vardman, of Mississippi, dis
avowed any intention of filibustering, de-
claring he had used only sixteen minutes
Of the Senate's time on the bill He Of
fered to cooperate to secure cloture
complete Endorsement of the Presi-
dents attack on the filibuster was voiced
by Senator Williams, of Mississippi, who
declared that the fllisbuster had made
! the country contemplate before the world
| in q great crisis
The cloture supporters made their first
open efforts when Senator Owen, of
Oklahoma, fought to prevent any rules of
the previous Congress being enforced In
the present Senate
The Senate as legislative body Is not
continuous he said. 1T is not bound
by the rules Of any previous Senate"
The dispute that followed WAS finally
settled by a unanimous agreement to pass
the resolution which started it, naming a
committee to notify the President that
the Senae was ready for business. Sem
ators Martin, Walsh, and Warren were
named. and when they returned they re-