The Clio messenger. (Clio, Mich.) 1907-current, 1912-04-26
.|SMAY IS BRANDED
|. COWARD IN SENATE
SENATOR RAYNER SAYS WORLD
CALLS FOR PROSECUTION OF
HIM AND HIS COMPANY.
RELIES ON BRITISH JUSTICE TO
DEAL WITH GUILTY OFFICIALS.
says He Does Not Believe lsmay Left
Titanic en- Last Life Boat
and Says He Is Coward
II He Did.

An indictment rarely equalled in its
vigor of j. Bruce Ismay. managing
director, and other officials of the
White Star line, holding them respon-
sible for the Titanic disaster, was de-
livered In the senate by Senator Ray
ner. of Maryland. who pictured Ismay
as the officer, primarily RESI- onsible
for the whole disaster who has
reached his destination in safety and
unframed"
Senator Rayner pointed out that
while there were no civil nor criminal
remedies available in the American
courts. criminal and civil suits could
be brought in the British courts and
that a congressional committee would
have absolute authority to subpoena
every one connected with the disas.
ter and that if any one should refuse
to answer questions he could be in
dicted and imprisoned for contempt.
Doesn't Believe lsmay.
"Mr. Ismay claims, according to re-
ports, that he took the last life boat"
cried Senator Rayner. 81 do not be-
lieve it. and if he did. 1t was cowardly
to take any life boat, for the manag-
ing director of the line. with his board,
is criminally responsible for this APP
palling tragedy.
IF this had happened on an Ameri-
can vessel, there would be no question
that an indictment would be found
and If the facts were sustained, the
officers of the company could be con-
victed of manslaughter. II not of muir
der, because the evidence is clear that
the vessel was not properly equipped
with efficient life-saving apparatus.
II have not the slightest doubt that
the northern route was taken in obe-
dience to Mr.. Ismay's direct orders
and that with full warning he risked
the life OF his entire ship to make
speedy passage.
"Fix the Responsibility"
IT care not what the rules OF the
English admiralty are. Here you have
the spectacle of the head of the line
failing to see that his ship was prop
erly equipped with live-saving appar-
atus, needless OF the warnings that he
was sailing in a dangerous sea, for
saking his vessel and permitting 800
OF her passengers and crew to be
swallowed by the sea- The martyr
dom and the agonies OF separating
that took place on board the sinking
ship are too fearful for the mind to
contemplate. but Ismay, the officer
primarily responsible for the whole
disaster, has reached his destination
in safety.
mo legislation can bring back to
earth a single life lost upon that fatal
night What we can do, is to help
to fix the responsibility, II possible,
and rely upon British justice to bring
TO bay the guilty directorate Of this
company.
All World Will Applaud.
"All civilized nations will applaud
the criminal prosecution of the man
agement of this line. If they can be
for them, and If il does, it will be
mentation that today re-echoes
throughout the world. for the victims
Of their culpable carelessness, a reck-
lessness that sent hundreds of their
fellow-beings into eternity, desolating
homes and firesides, and turned this
land into a house of mourning.
''In this hour of our calamity we
appeal to the majesty OF the law to
uedi out TelllDutoTV Justice 10 lnlS
guilty company to the last degree"
Two more bills framed on the les
son drawn from the Titanic di/ster
were introduced In the house. One OF
them. by Rep. O'Shaugnessy, Of Rhode
Island, would compel all ocean-going
steamships to or from the United
States to carry constant and adequate
wireless. Representative Parran, of
Maryland, offered a measure to appro-
pirate 100000 for naval target prac-
tice in destroying icebergs, by the
guns of the warships and by dropping
explosives from airships.