The Washington times., 1911-04-20

In remarkable speech on the Mexi-
can situation delivered in the Senate
this afternoon by Senator Stone of Mis-
souri, II was urged that. the President
be authorized TO take whatever steps be
necessary for the protection Of Amer
ican citizens on the border and in Mex
leo, even IL to do this 1t might be
necessary to send troops into Mexican
territory.
Senator Stone called the shooting of
Americans at Douglas, Ariz., "bloody
outrage" He said the President should
have whatever authority necessary to
prevent repetition OF 1t. He urged the
adoption of his resolution for an inves-
tigation into the Mexican situation by
the Committee on Foreign Relations.
He discussed the Mexican internal
situation at length, said he had seen
the correspondence in the hands of the
President and he emphatically denied
that japan was in any way involved in
the Mexican troubles. He expressed be-
lief that some great and sinister inter-
ests were trying to foment trouble be-
tween this nation and Japan.
Throughout, Senator Stones speech
was friendly to the course the Presi-
dent has taken with respect to Mexico.
He justified the course Mr.. Taft has
taken.
Limit to Their Rights.
Abiding to the Aqua Prieta and
Douglas incidents. Senator Stone said:
Mr.. President, presume these Mexi-
can people have an inherent right to
fight II they want to fight, and, gen.
Iyfr Al
please on Mexican soil, but I deny that
they have any shadow of right to de-
liberately enter into a furious conflict
or the border line and within easy gun
shot of populous American towns and
cities, thus unavoidably and immInently
endangering the lives and property of
American citizens. II should be a rule
incorporated in the law of nations, II
it is not by fair interpretation already
so-a rule founded on high and just
considerations OF humanity and on the
respect always due a neutral sovereign
that zone of safety should be estab-
lished and observed, within which the
belltgerents should not engage in battle.
But the Presidents restraint In the face
of the exssperating circumstances l
have recounted illustrates his judicial
temperament, and perhaps shows that
he acted more wisely than my sugges-
ton would imply he might constitution
ally have acted. But, without stopping
to quibble about that or about any other
minor consideration, we face the fact
cause the Congress Is in session, no
caus the Congress is in session, no
doubt the President thinks he has al
ready gone as far as he should go with
out Congressional sanction and author
ity, and in that he may be fundameut-
ally right. The question, Mr.. Presi-
dent. is now up to Congress. What are
we going to do about II? I have pre-
sented the pending resolution directing
the Committee on Foreign Relations TO
make speedy inquiry.
Wants Congress to Act.
Perhaps / should refrain from 60
ing further at this time in expressing
an opinion as to what the Congress
ought to do. Nevertheless, I am 60
ing to say, whether l do right or
wrong in saying il, that the Congress
should at once and without delay
authorize the President to employ
whatever force may be necessary to
prevent a repetition Of the bloody out
rage committed at Douglas, AriZ.. and
a repetition of which is threatened at
FL Paso, Tex. Moreover, If any act
done under this authority by the Pres
ident for the proper protection of our
own people on our own soil should lead
to hostile demonstrations against
American citizens resident In the in-
terror of Mexico, the President should