The Kendrick gazette. [volume] (Kendrick, Idaho) 1892-1968, 1914-05-08
BURTON |. FRENCH
NOW NAILS A LIE

Washington, D. C. May 7th.-Re-
preventative French, today gave out
the following open letter:
"To the people of Idaho: A few
of the newspapers Of the State have
published the statement that I op-
posed sustaining President Wilson
in maintaining American Honor
against Mexico, and have made such
utterly untrue assertions that the
people entitled to know the facts.
81 am not quick to believe that any
newspaper would purposley make a
mistatement and l assume they have
acted in good faith.
What Are The Facts?
"On April goth the house consid-
cred the Flood Resolution touching
Mexico. When the Resolution was
reported to the House by the Com
mittee, it struck me as not tending
to promote peace, but war and dis
cord.
Ist-I believed that President
Wilson already had all power that
the Resolution conferred and that
his exercise of power would not be
regarded as a declaration of war,
but that resolution of congress in
the language used would be such
a declaration.
"2nd-I favored specifically that
the resolution was not declaration
of war. l voted for the following
amendment: provided, that moth
ing hreein contained shall be con-
strued as a declaration of war;
Amazing as it may seem now in
view of the fact that the Senate
adopted a similar amendment, the
majority of the House voted this
amendment down. "On the Flood
Resolution, | voted mo-, as the
press reported on April 21st. "The
Resolution now went to the Senate.
The Senate amended House Resolu.
ton; "1st By striking out all men
tion of Huerta. "2nd-By broad.
ening the Resolution. 3rd-By in.
serting the specific statement that
the Resolution was not a declaration
of war, in the following language
Be it further resolved. That the
United States disclaims any hostility
to the Mexican people or any pur'
pose to make war upon Mexico. In
short, Democrats and Republicans
alike united in branding as ridicu
lous the Flood Resolution of the
House which l had opposed. AZ
amended, the Senate passed the Re
solution on April 21st, some sen
ators voting against it. Resolution
as amended came back to House OF
April 22nd, and it contained thu
essential modification that l hat
stood for on April Goth on the Hous'
side. The position that the Hous'
had taken after a few hours consid
GRAFTON was so untenable that tn
Democrats themselves abandoned i
and the Democratic Chairman o
the House Committee made the mo
tion to concur in the Senate amend
ments, and l voted for the resolu
tion with Senate amendments, a
reported in the Press of April 22nd
This was the Resolution that Con
gress passed and which Presiden
Wilson signed. l voted for it, no
against it. | am ready to defen
my position anywhere and at an
time, but l want the facts stated an
not untruths. | do not pride my
a self on always being right, but | d
pride myself on trying to be right
In the above matter after thinkin
l it all over, l believe | was right.
e have seen the Senate confirm m
position. l have seen the Hous
accept the Senate amendment.
! And l am glad and proud to a.
= knowledge a multitude of assurar
ces of approval of the course that
n have taken. Very sincerely,
v BURTON L.. FRENCH