To pass S. 5259. (p.3923)

On Feb 16, 1915, the House voted 215–121 (S 5259). Result: passed. By party: Democrats 228–20, Republicans 5–115, Others 2–5, Independents 0–1. It was a party-line vote: most Democrats and most Republicans voted on opposite sides. 25 members voted against their own party.

During the 63rd Congress (1913–1914), Woodrow Wilson was president, and Democrats held majorities in both the House and Senate.

Yes: 215
No: 121
Did not vote: 77
Date: Feb 16, 1915

By party

Democrats228 yes · 20 no · 56 didn’t vote
Independents0 yes · 1 no
Republicans5 yes · 115 no · 19 didn’t vote
Others2 yes · 5 no · 2 didn’t vote

Who broke with their party

John Ignatius Nolan R-CA voted yes
George John Kindel D-CO voted no
Charles Martin Borchers D-IL voted no
Ralph Wilbur Moss D-IN voted no
Martin Andrew Morrison D-IN voted no
Victor Murdock R-KS voted yes
Samuel Andrew Witherspoon D-MS voted no
Claude Kitchin D-NC voted no
Robert Newton Page D-NC voted no
John Joseph Fitzgerald D-NY voted no
George White D-OH voted no
John Jefferson Whitacre D-OH voted no
Elsworth Raymond Bathrick D-OH voted no
William Gordon D-OH voted no
James Sanford Davenport D-OK voted no
Abraham Walter Lafferty R-OR voted yes
Michael Donohoe D-PA voted no
Melville Clyde Kelly R-PA voted yes
Arthur Ringwalt Rupley R-PA voted yes
Peter Goelet Gerry D-RI voted no
Martin Dies D-TX voted no
Oscar Callaway D-TX voted no
James Luther Slayden D-TX voted no
William Atkinson Jones D-VA voted no
Edward Watts Saunders D-VA voted no

How each representative voted: Yes

How each representative voted: No

Did not vote

Other votes

From Voteview roll call records.

Cite or embed this page

Capitol Receipts, “To pass S. 5259. (p.3923): House Vote, Feb 16, 1915,” https://www.capitolreceipts.com/vote/63-H-266/to-pass-s-5259-p-3923 (accessed 2026-10-15).