The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-03-05

squarely behind the chief executive in
his plans for placing the United States
on a basis of armed neutrality.
Not all the efforts of an over
whelming majority of the senate
could sway the little group of obstruc-
tionsts, who by parliamentary trick
and device filibustered the measure
10 death in what will be remembered
as one of the most bitter sessions of
the senate the United States has ever
known.
No announcement was forthcoming
from the tall grave man in the White
House Sunday night as the Sixty
fourth congress wendell its way home
ward Whether he will seek to secure
the authority he deemed necessary
from an extra session of the Sixty
fifth congress is a matter of doubt.
The president had already made clear
his belief that his authority under the
constitution was sufficient to enable
him to arm American merchant ships
and protect American rights Today
it was apparently certain that despite
the failure of congress to reafflrm his
authority, the president would act on
his own responsibility to take the
fateful next step" to meet the Ger
man campaign of ruthlessness, which
has already cost American lives in it's
zone of death and destruction.
Fight Was Bitter
The presidential authorization bill
died after seventy-siX senators, Demo-
Gratis and Republicans, had signed
manifesto declaring that they favored
the measure and would vote for it if
vote could be secured. Eleven sem
ators, LaFollette, Clapp, Cummins,
Kenyon. Gronna, Kirby, Lane, Norris,
O'GOrman, Vardamari and Works re-
fused to sign the declaration, and con-
tinued their obstructive tactics. AS
President Wilson sat in the little red
presidents room adjoining the senate
chamber. the filibuster drove the arm
ed neutrality bill to defeat thru a de-
bate that bristled with bitter person
alities and acrimonious charges.
This bill. designed to place in the
hands of the president of the United
States the power and authority to
'afeguard American lives and Ameri-
1an rights" declared Senator Hitch
cock of Nebraska as he closed the
fruitless debate that had kept the SEN
ate in continued session for twenty-six
hours has been done to death here
by the most reprehensible fihbuster
the senate of the United States has
ever known"
Senator La Toilette tried to secure
an opportunity to make a dramatic
speech closing the debate but the sup
porters of the bill Unanswered him off
the floor, and barred him from de-
Tending his course. Thoroly angered.
the short, chunky senator from Wis
consin took his place in the center
aisle and fought for an opportunity
to be heard. Senator Robinson. of
Arkansas, made point of order as
Sertlng that La Toilette had no right
to the floor atall. For a few moments
the two senator's. within arms length
engaged in a bitter interchange which
threw the senate in wild disorder and
forced the vice president to use Wig
OrouS means to restore quiet
II demand my right to be heard on
this bill, shouted La Toilette.
GU don't want to talk about this
Dill, said Senator Smith of Georgia.
in an aside.
Every Effort Failed.
The senator from Georgia states a
talsehood,' retorted the Wisconsin
senator. Il very much want to be
heard"
Firmly and without apparent bit
terneSs the great ma ority of the SEN
ate blocked all of LaFollette's efforts
to speak. Twice he appealed from
decisions of the chair taking him off
the floor Twice his own vote was
the only one recorded in his favor
Not until the clock struck IL, and
the Savel of the vice president closed
the session did he give up his effort
to secure the floor
Ihree times during the long night
that kept the weary. bedraggled SEN
ate in the soggy atmosphere of the
chamber, Senator Hitchcock fought to
secure agreements that would allow a
vote on the bill. Senators LaFolIette
Norris and Cummins objected to ali
these efforts
This experience" said Senator
Hitchcock, as he shook his head
gravely, recognizing the doom of the
measure has demonstrated that even