Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1914-04-16
President Consults Leaders
of Both Parties About
Plans for Future
ALL ASSURE HIM OF
FULLEST SUPPORT
Will Avoid War, But Not a.;
Price of Submitting to
Continued Insult

4, washington. D. c., April 15.-While
the fighting ships of the Atlantic feet
we're turning their prows toward Tam
pico today to refer President Wilson
demands on Huerta for public salute
to the American flag, senator's and
rep esentatives were summoned to the
white house to be informed of all
phases Of the situation that congress
might be prepared for any further
steps. President Wilson told the con-
gressmen that he stood first for peace,
but that if Huerta did not comply with
the American demands, the first step
to enforce them would be the seizure
of Tampico and Vera Cruz for which
he considers there is ample precedent.
Acting Chairman Shively Of the senate
foreign relations COMMITTEES; Senator
Lodge, the ranking republican of that
committee; Chairman Flood of the
house foreign affairs committee and
Representative Cooper, the ranking re-
publican of that committee had an
hours conference with the president
at which Mr.. Wilson outlined all the
details of the now historic Tampico
incident, in which a Huerta comma1l-
der arrested American bluejackets and
refused to salute the stars and stripes
as an apology.
No Desire For War.
President Wilson impressed upon his
caller that while he sincerely hoped no
occasion would arrive for the use of
force, contingency might follow as
the result of the American demand for
a salute, and he wished members of
congress to be prepared.
All four men who saw the president
said no steps would be taken of a
serious nature. such as the landing Of
marines or the shelling of a-town
without authorization from congress.
Marines have been landed before"
said Chairman Flood, without author
ization and towns, have even been
she]led, but inasmuch as congress is
in session, it would be more regular
to get authorization from congress.
The president gave us the history of
the Tampico incident and explained
Just what had been done, but future
developments depend entirely on the
attitude Huerta takes. Congress, l
I'M sure will stand by the president"
To Be No QuibbIins.
President Wilson, according to the
congressman who talked with him, de-
claled he had given reasonable time
to Huerta and that while the time was
without any fixed limit there would
be no quibbling and that prompt ac-
ton would follow Huerta's failure to
comply.
The exact status Of affairs today,
Senator Shively characterized as I'M
changed, except that the United
States will insist with all the power
Of this nation upon reparation for the
defiance of the Huerta government"
The senate foreign relations COM
mittee Informally discussed the situa-
tior today, but no action was taken,
general approval being expressed over
the new turn in the attitude of the
United States.
Marines Taken From Boat.
One new fact brought out at the
white house conference was that two
Of the American Dluejackets arrested
at Tampico actually were taken from
the Dolphin's boat.
The bluejackets arrested had gone
to the Tampico wharf to load gasoline.
Two Of them were in the boat. The
Mexican soldiers after seizing the men
on the wharf boarded the American
boat and took the two bluejackets fore
ibly into custody.
IF it is not actually an act OF war,
said a senator today in discussing the
incident, "it comes very near it, The
incident in any event disposes OF
Huerta's claim that there is no ground
for reparation because the men arres-
ted were on Mexican soil, where it is
maintained they had no right to be.
Discussion of the possibility of block
aiding the Mexican coasts surrounded
official circles. Secretary Daniels call
ed for information on what additional
vessels were available for service on
the Pacific coast The cruisers Cleve-
land and Chattanooga are ready to
ioin the vessels already doing duty of
tho west coast.
These ships already are there; the
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