New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-02-26
Ainey, of Pennsylvania,
Calls for Action by
the President.
"SITTING STILL DOES
NOT LEAD TO PEACE"
Democrats Silent at Conclusion of
Remarks and Little Applause,
from the Minority.
LFrom Tho TrLhnne Rurcau.l


Washington. Feb. o5-The first direct
attack on the Presidents policy OF
"watchful waiting" i'm Mexico was made
in the House to-day by Representative
William b. Ainey. Pennsylvania Re
publican. who asserted that the time had
arrived for intervention cor some policy
Of efficiency and determination under the
terms of which the intoerable conditions
in Mexico will cease"
Representative Aincy introduced earlier
in the day q resolution asking the Prcsi-
dent TO advise Congress. if not incom-
patible with the public interests, what
steps are being taken to protect the
lives and property Of Americans and other
foreigners in Mexico.
1.-THE time has come" said Mr.. Ainey,
when ! think. the American people are
realizing that Mexico IS filed with de
bauchery. rapine, murder and arson. and
an the catalogue of crimes arc being
committed i'm the name OF the Constitu-
tionalists on the one side and the Federal
lists on the other. Shall this condition con-
tinue. or shall the American people now
say TO the Executive the moment has
arrived when that policy which has
proven its inefilcicncy and its inability TO
cope with the Mexican situation shall
cease?
Where will YOU draw the line be-
tween Huerta and Villa Which viii you
say is the murderer? Which will you say
is the one that is able to establish con-
stitutional government i'm Mexico? What
are the conditions to-day. as compared
with the conditions that existed when the
President of the United States initiated his
policy Of 'watchful waiting How long are
we to wait? How long win it he before
the blood Of those slain in Mexico will
cry out TO heaven for justice?
"The policy of 'watchful waiting brings
no answer to the widow of Benton, any
more than it brings an answer TO the cry
Of the widow of Madero.
The time is here when, n we are TO
maintain our position of dominance, we
must either assert our rights under the
Monroe Doctrine and intervene, or adopt
some policy of efficiency and determine
ton under the terms Of which the in
tolerabIe conditions i'm Mexico will cease.
Mr.. Ainey declared that the American
people are firing of the sitting still"
policy of the administration. This policy,
he said. does not lead to peace in the
present instance, but to war He con-
tinued
mo President ever entered the Presiden-
tial chair or occupied the White House
with greater feeling Of good will that did
the present Executive. No person ever be-
came President Of this great Republic
freer from any of the antagonisms Of
partisanship. and so, irrespective Of party
feeling. when the President has an
nounced his policy, even though we may
have disagreed with him, as many did
concerning this policy, We have given him
splendid opportunity 10 work out his
faith in a Mexican policy and to produce
situation that would be different from
what it is.
The people of this country have wanted
peace and not war. They have not de-
sired Intervention in Mexico But when,
upon the second advent, the great Presi-
| dent visited this hall Of Representatives
and said that there was one cloud on the
political horizon, those Of us who were
conversant with the present situation see
/ that the one cloud-and the small cloud as
/ he said-has grown TO be a great cloud
until it endangers the peace and security
ana good will of this country with the
other nations Of the world
! And it seems to me. gentlemen that
the policy of this administration in Mex
leo has been sitting still policy until
the conditions have become intolerable'
and that the American people are unWlII-
ing that these conditions should longer
! continue
Less than fifty members were present
when Mr.. Ainey spoke. His utterances
were received with slight applause on uie
minority side and with silence 10y the
I democrats