Evening star., 1914-09-28
Underwood, Alexander, Sher-
ley and Page Ten Wilson.
; No Need of Haste.
PRESIDENT LISTENS, BUT
EXPRESSES NO OPINION
Tells Other Callers He Does Not
Know When Congress Will Be
Able to Adjourn.

President Wilson was in conference
an hour today with Representative
Underwood and Chairman Alexander OF
the House committee on merchant ma
rine and fisheries regarding the ship
purchase bill. Prior TO this conference
the President said he did not believe
the necessity for such a bill had passed,
inasmuch as he thinks that this coun-
try ought to develop trade and com.
merce in quarters where private capi-
tai will not invest in ships.
The President admitted that oppose
tion to the bill had apparently In
creased and said later on he would
consult with House democrats as to
the reasons for the opposition. He
would like to know the real reasons
for the opposition, and he would then
be in better position to know whether
the measure ought to be pushed at this
time. He is not now in position to say
that whatever opposition there is was
because of belief that the emergency
for it had passed or because Congress
wanted to adjourn and believed the
measure could be taken up. later as
well as at this time.
Wilson Listens to Objections.
MessrAs and Alexander
found that the President was willing.
to consider all the objections made to
the bill and that he would not decide
whether it was to be part Of the ad-
ministration legislative program until
further talks, one of which he held
later with Representatives Sherley and
Page, who are leading the light against
the bill. These two representatives
were with the President nearly an
\ foly YNdA
wood and Alexander had departed.
The. House leader and the chairman
of the committee told the President
that there was much opposition to the
arose from the deep-seated desire Of
representatives to get to their dis
tricts for election. Mr. Underwood and
his companion are both for the bill
they feel. it was said. that the bill can
be taken up for consideration at the
next session Of Congress without in
jury to the commerce of the country.
dent fs sams oplniSn he 20 has Eisen
to newspapers-that there Is now no
urgency for the bill and that If the
United States is to aid shipping in
this way little time will be lost in post
poning the bill to the next session 50
that representatives may get to their
homes.
argue al 1AOu1s
Representatives Sherley and Page
spent close to an hour. arguing with
the President that the Shipping bin
should not be- drought TO- vo$ at tffs
session OF Congress. but if the Pfesfs
dent expressed any change of mind on
the subject it was not evident in any.
thing the visitors said on leaving the
White House.
The President. it twas believed after
the conference. would carefully con-
slider all the objections to the passage
Of the bill made to him and would an
nounce his stand in q, day Or SO. He
realizes. it is said: that -Cohgress. Is
restless over being held here and that
if the program Of the adminfstrat ton.
is pushed too strongly for all bills
there may be small rebellion Against
this. though. is the belief of the White
House that the golden opportunity for
building up American commerce is here
and that the opportunity should not be
delayed.
The President today told visitors that
he had no idea when Congress would