Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1917-03-09

SENATE ADOPTS
CL0TURE RULE
DEBATE MAY De STOPPED HERE
AFTER ~ Two-THIRDs VOTE
OF MEMBERS.
ONLY THREE SENATORS
OPPOSED 70 CHANGE
LaFoIIette, erenna and Sherman, Load
ers in Late Filibustsr, Vote Mo-
cum"'in', wbiI. Supporting Change
Takes Rap at President Wilson Be-
cause Of Criticism Of "ytiiful Twelve"

Washington, March 9.---An amend
ment to the senate rules giving two
thirds of its members the power to
prevent fllibusters and limit debate
was passed late yesterday by the sem
ate.
The vote was 76 to 3, Senators Gron-
ma. LaFollette and Sherman voting
against the change.
The vote followed debate during the
afternoon in which number of the
men responsible for defeating the pres
ident's armed neutrality bill took an
active part.
Senator Norris republican, Of Ne
braska, said he expected to vote for
the rule because he had long believed
in it and only hesitated because he
thoughts his vote might be misunder-
stood in view'of his opposition to the
armed neutrality bill.
Endorsement of the cloture rule was
given by Senator Stone. of Missouri,
chairman Of the foreign relations COM
mittee. who, however. expressed doubt
as to it's efficiency.
Senator Owen, another advocate of
absolute cloture, said he would sup
port the change altho he felt the ma
jority should be able to pass legisla-
ton when it-desired. The change pro-
posed he said, Is desired to pass the
armed neutrality bill and provide for
the existing national exigency."
Calls Plan Delusive.
Senator Thomas. democrat, of Colo
RADIO. said he preferred cioture by a
majority and that the two-thirds plan
would prove ':deiusion and not bring
any real measure of relief"
While the senator was speaking Sec
Rotary Tumulty entered the gallery and
remained to hear Senator Cummins, of
Iowa, one of the "wilful men" named
by the president, sharply criticize the
executive.
IF may he permitted to present an
opinion without being burned in eff1gy
or classified as filibuster / desire to
do So" Mr.. Cummins began, sarcasti-
cally.
cummins Hits Wilson.
II am very earnestly for this cloture
resolution but not because Of the I'M
paralleled and unprecedented statement
which recently emanated from the
White House, nor from the lying rep
reservations which have been spread
thru the country recently In the news
papers, but because believe the SEN
ate should be permitted to do business. :
Mr.. CUMMING recounted how no had
introduced three cloture resolutions
providing for closing debate by less
thanta two thirds vote.
II favor something more effective.
he continued. but with longer than one
hours time, for each senator's debate
after adoption Of a cloture rule. say
this because l do not want 1t under
stood that l am recent convert to the
proposal or by the storm the presi-
dents censure has aroused. Inbound
ed, utterly baseless, Is the charge or
suggestion OF fllibustering 80 far as
am concerned or have any knowledge.
Defends wilfuI Men.
Turning to the neutrality bill. Sena-
tor Cummins referred to 1t as the bill
empowering the president to make
war at his own pleasure in the future
Senator Cummins pointed out that OF
the forty three and one-half hours the
bill was unfinished business of the SEN
ate 1t was considered but thirty five
hours and the senators referred to as
a little group of wilful men" con-
sumed less than eleven hours.