Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-05-04
Poll, Excluding BrousSard
and Shipstead, Lists AZ
Against Plan.
BALLOT LIKELY MONDAY,
WEEK END DRIVE SEEN
Not Likely to Reach White House,
However, Even if Upper
House Adopts It.
BY G. GOULD LINCOLN.


clash with the Senate over the de-
benture plan in the farm bill, has .
shade the better of the situation, but
only shade as the time for voting ap-
proaches. Today it is almost q $3.50
proposition, with the possibility that
Vice President Curtis may be called
upon to decide the matter in favor of
the President.
For more than a week it has been
generally believed that the debenture
clause would be stricken from the farm
bill, following the broadside which
President Hoover fired against it. Only
day or two ago Senator Watson, Re-
publican leader, was predicting that the
debenture clause would lose by q mar
gin of five votes.
But the Democrats have succeeded in
weaving several of their number away
from the NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. who
had been counted upon to vote against
debenture. Among them are Senator
Hendrlck Of wyoming, a member Of
the committee who stood with the Pres
ident when the bill was reported out,
and Senator Copeland of New York,
who at first declared he could not stosn-
ach the debenture plan, but now says he
Will hold his nose and vote for it."
Some Republican BacksIiding.
Furthermore, there have been some
backsliGing on the Republican side OF
the chamber. Senator Pine of OklsA
iona is now counted for the debenture.
So is Senator Borah of Idaho and Sen
ator Nye of North Dakota, in a speech
in the Senate today, said he would vote
for the debenture, although he quail
fed it somewhat by saying that If
President Hoover announced he would
veto the bill if it came to him with the
debenture plan in it, he would vote
against the debenture.
poll carefully made by administra-
ton leaders today showed a probable
lineup of Al Senators against the de-
ben-ure and 46 Senators for it. This
poll, however, does not include Senator
BrouSsard of Louisiana. a Democrat, or
Senator ShipStead of Minnesota, Farm
er-Labor. BrouSSard has not finally in
dicated how he will vote. the Repub-
hcan leaders said. He may vote against
the debenture, sticking with his coll
league Senator RanSdell Senator Ship
stead is in hospital and will be unable
to be present when the vote is taken.
Indeed. he has not yet been able to
appear in the Senate to take the oath
OF office. He is for the debenture plan.
Senator Norris of Nebraska, Repub-
lcan Progressive, who supported AL
Smith for President last Fall. a leader
in the effort to foist the debenture
clause upon the President prevailed
upon the Senate to adopt a resolution
authorizing Senator Shipstead to take
the oath of Office in the hospital. John
Crockett, an employe of the Senate, was
designated to go to the hospital and
administer the oath. The administra-
ton leaders. however. fatty refused to
agree to arrange any pair" for Senator
Shipstead by which his vote for the
debenture clause would be counted on
the roll call This is the first time in
the memory of old employees of the Sen
ate that a Senator has been permitted
to take the oath of office outside Of the
Senate chamber. The rule has been
that the oath must be taken in the
Senate chamber while the Senate Is in
session.
Count on Four Democrats.
The administration leaders are count
ing on the votes of four Democrats,
Walsh of Massachusetts,. Ransdeu OF
Louisiana. Wagner of New York ana
King of Utah. If BrousSard votes with
them also, they will have at least flve
Democratic votes. They count as lost
to the administration cause in this
fight IL Republicans: Blaine of WiScor1-
sin. Borah of Idaho, Brookhart OF Iowa.
Frazier of North Dakota, Howell OF
Nebraska, johnson of California, La
Dakota. Norbeck of South Dakota, Nor
ris of Nebraska, Nye of North Dakota
and Pine of Oklahoma.
No vote is expected in the Senate
On the debenture clause until Monday.
Over the week end it is likely that both
sides will exert as much influence as
they can to win additional votes. The
lines are closely drawn, however. II
there should be a tie vote, Vice Presi-
dnt Curtis will decide the issue in
favor of the administration.
The Democrats are playing deSper"
ate game in an effort to embarrass the
administration and also to be able to
say to the farmers, II the Hoover plan
does not work out well that the Demo-
Gratis supported plan which would
have given them relief.
Not Likely to Reach Hoover.
It is not believed that the House will
stand for the debenture plan, even II
it should be placed in the bill by the
Senate. In the end, 1t is not likely to
reach the President Therefore. a num-
Der of the Republican Senators from
the farm States apparently are willing
to vote for the debenture plan, belieT-
ing it will strengthen them with some
of their constituents. and then let the
House pull the chestnuts out Of the fire
for the administration.
The threat Is made in the Senate to
renew the fight for the debenture plan
when the tariff bill comes to the Senate
for consideration. if the debenture plan
is defeated now in the Senate. Indeed,
1t is said that several Republicans now
standing with the President may fop
over to the debenture If 1t is offered as
an amendment to the tariff bill.