Evening star., 1914-04-21
SENATORS DIFFER
ON WAR SPEECH
Presidents Supporters Com
mend CaImness and Clear
ness of Address.
OTHERS CONTEND BASIS
OF PLEA is TOO TRIVIAL
Criticise Asking for Use of Armed
Forces Against Huerta as
an Individual


gress was received with approval on the
part of some members of the Senate
and with strong criticism on the part Of
others. The supporters Of the Presi-
dent in his policy complimented the
calmness and the clearness Of the ad
dress. and the manner in which the
President had stated the issue. Those
who criticised the address declared that
the President had made a mistake in
asking for the use Of the armed forces
Of the nation merely to compel Huerta,
as an individual, to salute the American
flag. The matter was too trivial. they
claimed, to be the basis OF measures
Lewis Praises Address.
Senator James Hamilton Lewis of Till
address to Congress.
II think he has pointed the way to .
settlement Of the present difficulties
I do not think that there will be war.
am apprehensive that should we rush
into war we would find ourselves in
volved with other nations than Mexico.
Many of my colleagues I know do not
feel as I do about this matter.
There are but two courses to follow.
The one is to pass q resolution giving
the President authority to follow such
course as he deems necessary to bring
about action on the part Of Huerta as Is
deemed necessary for the national honor.
The other is for US to pass measure ex-
pressing our own views of the situation
and to assume on the part of ourselves
to act l think the first course should be
followed"
Kenyon Pledges Support.
Senator Kenyon Of Iowa. republican:
'Of course the Senate will get together
behind the President. We must do 60 in
such a case as this, and give him our sup
port. I do not believe that many of the
republicans, II any. will vote against such
a resolution as is desired by the admin
istration.'
Senator Owen. democrat of Oklahoma:
Il shall support the President, OF course.
However. had I drawn that message I
should have urged the Congress to back
me up in movement which would have
ended only with the deposing of Huerta
l should depose him and hand him over
to his own people for treatment. There
is no law or order there. The people are
with Huerta only because they are afraid
Of him, and. once he had not the power
to kill or imprison as he liked, his sup
port would quickly disappear He OBJ
tained his power by murder, and has
kept 1t by equally illegal methods
Had I been drawing that message to
Congress I would have dwelt more at
length on the imperative necessity for
Intervention and the deposition of
Huerta, but, as have said, shall SUD
port the President. He is right, but he
has not come out 80 strongly as I should
| have done had been writing it
"Acted Wisely" Hoke Smith.
Senator Hoke Smith of Georsia, demo-
crat:
1T was about what I expected Ger
tainly no one can complain that It was
too Aggressive. / believe that the Presi.
dent Is wise in being conservative. how
ever. He has acted with wisdom"
Senator Newlands of Nevada. democrat
declined to discuss the address for pub
| ocrat: ~s'AA-
The Presidents address was a verv
wise statement Of the situation. Ha has
| support him." "-'A
Senator MARITIME Of New Jersey, demo-
crat:
| Il feel much less warlike than bsfore
heard the Presidents address,"
senator Fletcher Of Florida, democrat:
n.
| sltion on this matter. He has acted con-
servatively. but with frmness.'
| Lippitt Criticises Move.
Senator Lippitt of Rhode Island, repub-
ucan:
| The President would put the co,,-
try IN an absurd position. He would have
us place a blockade. supposedly on the
Mexican ports. for he has not reallv told
us what he wants the army and navy
for. His idea in that Is to prevent the
landing by German vessel, which i. due
tomorrow night. Of several hundred piece.
Of field artillery and some quantities of
ammunition, which were contracted for
long ago by the Mexican government but
| which are just arriving.
| In short, We have opened the doors no
as to let the robbers and bandits in the
north Of Mexico get all the arms and
| ammunition they want, and now we are
asked to close the doors along the coast
SO that the Huerta government will be
| unable to get any Of the supplies neces-
sary to carry on a war.
Are we by that to be forced into a war
with Mexico? If so. it is no light thing
and should not be jammed thorugh with
any such absence Of discussion as has
characterized this resolution. I regard
this resolution as a declaration of war
pure and simple. and see no reason for
its being considered SO hurriedly. The
President has told us nothing that was
not already known, and has told US noth-
ing Of his plans for the use of the armed
forces Of the United States
> Senator Hitchcock Of Nebraska, demo
} crat: ''The message placed the issue n
,la very clear way before Congress-