Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1914-04-21
FLETCHER ORDERED
To TAKE VERA CRUZ
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Continued From First PageJ
thus keep them from going to Mexico
City.
Officials declared that President
Wilson had ample authority for his
action without the approval of Con-
greSs.
Meanwhile both House and Senate
recohVened and the Senate went to
work on the resolution of approval of
the Presidents course.
ORDER ISSUED EARLY
Ihc orders went out to Admiral
Fletcher at daybreak after President
wilson and Cabinet officials had been
III conference since 4 u. M. mostly
over the telephone.
me orders TO the Admiral, IL was
said. conferred the broadcst authority
uopn MIN and directing that, II neces-
sary, ne take the town of Vera Cruz
as wen as the CuStOmShOuSe. to pre-
vent the landing of the munitions
onicials here said the Admiral might
act In several ways. He might wait
uhtii the German steamer had landed
ncr cargo unmoleSted and then take
the customshouse and the munitions.
OF When the German steamer comes TO
the port he might seize the customs
mouse, and III the guns were landed
they would come into possession of the
American forces. That the steamer
might take her cargo to some other
port was u possibility of which officials
were cosnizant.
Some report from the Admiral was
being awaited momentaIily.
| ENTHUSIASM IN CONGRESS
"hcn news reached the Capitol that
the order had gone to Admiral
Fletcher 1t aroused considerable en-
mlsiasm among Senators and Repre-
lsentativcs.
Democratic Senate leaders believed
an order to the American commander
TO begin actual operations would sery G.
10 hurry action ON the resolution to
back up the Presidents course.
hepubncan leaders were planning
to champion the substitute submitted
by Senator Lodge, which refers to the
long series OF outragcs against Ameri-
cans In Mexico. This was not ac-
lceptcd, however, by Democrats.
Neither will 1t be accepted by House
leaders, it was stated.
The House resolution as amended
by the foreign relations committee
was Laid before the Senate soon after
1t met at noon.
a new resolution to accept the apol-
ogies already offered by Huerta as
sufficient reparation" for the Tam
pico incident was introduced by Sena-
tor Works, Republic an.
DANIELS WILL NOT TALK
Secretary Daniels left the Cabinet
meeting at 1920 O'Clock. He was
asked about the orders to. Admiral
Fletcher.
| 1T would be very unwise for me to
say anything at this time," was his
reply.
Senator Lodge opened the debate.
In situation of high seriousness
such as now confronts Congress-, IL is
well to remember the responsibility
OF the Senate" he began, 1.-The power
70 declare war rests under the Con-
sttution with the Congress.
when the President lays an inter-
national controversy before Congress
he takes the last step that precedes
war;" continued Mr.. Lodge. ..Thc
President might have taken further
steps, but he has come TO the body
which alone has power to declare
war. i think he has done well.
Senator Williams asked how long it
took Congress to pass the Spanish War
resolution.
Senator La Toilette replied that Con-
gTess took from April II and April 10
to pass the resolution In 1898,
Members of the House filed into
the Senate chamber and crowded the
rear of the hall. Majority Leader
Underwood took seat on the Demo-
cratic side.
ARMED INTERVENTION
Senator Lodge took up the pending
resolution.
"This resolution uses the word
Justify instead of authorize
he said. "The result will be the
same. This resolution does not
contemplate the declaration OF
war. The President I'm his mes
sage disclaimed any hostility
toward the Mexican people. But
this resolution carries with it
armed Intervention.
"The consequences of armed in
tervention are I'm many respects
precisely the same as war. But
they present task less capable
of speedy completion; less fertile
in speedy glory of VICTORIES won,
and may bring a long period of
the exercise of what would be the
police power in foreign coun-
try, involving vast expenditures.
| great loss of life, perhaps, and
after months and possibly years
| possibly only the satisfaction of
feeling that we had brought back
| peace and order and liberty to
| distracted country"
| Reviewing the Tampico incident,
Senator Lodge continued:
| There Is no doubt i'm my mind
that that incident at TampicO
| constituted an insult to the
American flag and the American
uniform. No nation can allow
| such an insult to pass unnoticed.
II Is Its duty to seek proper atone
ment and reparation. The form
OF such atOnement Is universally
recognized. 1t Is a salute to the
flag OF the offended nation. But
that salute Is a governmental
action. All party lines disappear
i'm the demand for amends for
such an insult and we all stand
! behind the Presidents demand for
atonement."
The Cabinet meeting broke up while
the Senate debate was on and Secre-
tary Tumulty and some of the Cabinet
| members hurried to the Senate cham
ber to hear speeches.
"Nothing new I'm the situation was
the way Postmaster General Burleson
| put ii.
Senator Lodge resented any imputa-
tons that the Republicans were ''lack-
ing In proper regard for the honor of
the flag"
but WE MUST ALSO THINK
| OF THAT WHICH THE FLAG
| COVERS-THE CITIZENS OF
THE UNITED STATES" HE
| SAID, $50 AMERICAN CTTI-
ZENS HAVE PERISHED ON
MEXICAN SOIL. CANNOT, IN
DEMANDING ATONENfENT OF
THE INSULT AT TAMPICO
OVERLOOK THESE OUTRAGES.
| CANNOT PASS THESE MUIR
DERS SILENTLY BY WITHOUT
SAYING THAT. HERE is \
| GREATER WRONG TO BE
ATONED AND A WRONG