Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1914-12-23
HITCHCOCK Bill
DOOMED 70 DEFEAT
PARADOX PRESENTED IN ATTl-
TUBE OF UNITED STATES
TOWARDS EUROPE.
WILL NOT STOP SHIPMENTS
OF MUNITIONS OF WAR
Legislation in Interest Of Peace OPP
posed by Both Wilson and Bryan,
Peace Advocates, Because Il Would
CompIieate Situation and Take Away
Influence United States May Exert.
Especial Correspondence

Especial Correspondence.
Washington. Dec a3.-Metaphysics.
or the science of thought, gets itself
mixed when il tackles the situation
the bill of Senator Hitch
cock. OF Nebraska, to prohibit Ameri-
cans from selling the munitions OF war
to Europe. This bill, which is before
the committee on foreign relations, was
introduced evidently without pre-
vious consultation with the president
of the United States or the secretary
OF state, the senator from Nebraska
not being on speaking terms with the
secretary and not being a blind fol-
lower of the president. Its purpose is
TO make il unlawful and to be treated
as a breach of the neutrality laws OF
United States. The sale by any Ameri-
can person or concern. during the eX-
istence of the war, of any arms or
ammunition to be used against a coun-
try with which the United States is
at peace. Violation of the act would
be visited with a fine of no more than
100000 and Imprisonment of not more
than three years. in addition to con-
nscatior OF the goods. one half OF
which (the goods to be forfeited to the
use of the informer and the other half
10 the United States.
President Non cemrittal.
All attempts to place" President
Wilson as TO his attitude toward this
measure have been met with smile
and non illuminating response. How
ever, If the attitude Of senators accus-
toned TO bask in the presidential smile
can be taken as rejecting that of the
president. Mr. Wilson would see to 1t
that the bill Is killed. 1t would appear
a little contradictory. TO say the least,
that person so earnestly DESTROYS OF
peace a the president should frown
upon o suggestion that the lighting ma
ions be derived Of arms. or that one
so ardent in pursuit Of the Nobel peace
prize as the secretary or state should
fear as a hostile act any proposal 50
innocent or It's face a. that contained
in the Hitchcock bill.
Nevertheless. 1t appears to BE true
that ts. evident unwillingness Of the
president TO strengthen the neutrality
laws in the manner prescribed by M
hitchcock IS due TO his sincere belief
tina; THE passage of a bill forbidding
the shipment of arms to Europe would
be construed al once by the allies. and
not inconceivably by Germany. as al
most if not quite a hostile &C; and GER
,ainly as a breach of the spirit Of neu-
traiity ii not Of actual law. Thus the
paradox is presented OF neutral
country refusing to forbid the ship
rnent OF war materials 10 combatants
because the prohibition might en-
courage war.
Would Sacrifice Influence.
The overw heiming reason wny the
president presumably discourages the
Hitchcock bill and why. notwiths iand :
Ing the petitions of the peace societies.
the committee on foreign relations Is
expected to pigeonhoie it is that should
the bill become law the United States
might as we'll abandon all hope that it
ever could act as mediator in the Euro
pean struggle. II is more than a sur
! mise, II IS a fact. well known al the
ca itol, tina: for the United States to
prevent the shipments Of war materials
/ to Europe would be bitterly resented
and thereafter no proposition that
| President Wilson should serve as
mediator between the belligerents
would be entertained for moment by
:. any Of the offended nations. By the
| passage OF this bill, according to the
construction put upon European opin-
| ion here, America would sacrifice her
! influence in the cause Of peace and
would stand convicted, although
! inherently innocent, OF an offense
against neutrality. The allies have
agreed together to make no peace
terms separately. and should any one
OF them be prevented from strength
ening his military resources by buy
ing arms in the United States. the ef-
feet upon American mediation would
be as deadly as if deliberate insult
had been offered to all.
Hitchcock Loses Hope.
|; This point CT view probably has not
been advanced in the public meetings
held to advocate the policy embodied
in the Hitchcock bill. Indeed, this
view may be ridiculed by speakers be.
fore such gatherings. nevertheless II
is the extremely practical factor tina
! is putting the brake upon this we'll
intended legislation. The foregoing
consideration aside. it would seem thu
most natural thing in the world fol
the United States to try to stop wal
by shutting off war supplies. Instead
liz is found that nothing could compli-
cate an exceedingly delicate situation
more effectually or Illustrate the hopes
of ambitious peace makers more com
pletely than to try to stop fighting mer
from fghting, by this means.
Already. 1t is understood. Senator
hitchcock has given up ali hope tina
Ibis bill will be favored by the com
tmittee on foreign relations. No parti
san division appears in the situation
lon the contrary, the committee is be-
llieved by the Senator to be exhibitini
La rather remarkable unanimity owe
ihis bill, with his democratic colleagues
whether close to the White House O.
mot shaking their heads and admittin,
that the measure is practically dea'
lalready.
The resolution of Representative