Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1914-04-29
WILSON'S COURSE
GIVEN APPROVAL
Congress Justifies the Use Of
Armed Forces Against the
HuertiStaS.
DEBATE IN SENATE IS LONG
Lodge, Root and Others Criticize Ad.
ninistratlon's Policy Before Res
oIution is Adopted - PresI.
dents Statement Made
Personally TO Joint
Session

Personally TO Joint
Session.
Washington, April 23.-President
Wilson now has the congress OF the
United States back OF him IN his ac-
ton against the Huertlstas I'm Mexico,
for a joint resolution justifying him in
the employment of the armed forces
OF the nation to enforce his demands
was passed by both houses Wednes-
day. A similar resolution was
adopted Monday by :ae house Of rep
resentatives after a short debate, but
the senate INDUCED in a lively and
long drawn out debate in the course
OF which many OF the Republican
senators. led by Lodge and Root, Sc
verely criticised the policy Of the ad-
miuistration Finally, early Wednes-
day morning this resolution, later ac-
ceeded 10 by the House. was adopted
by vote OF 70 to 10:
In view Of the facts presented by
the president of the United States I'm
bis address delivered in congress In
Joint session on the twentieth day Of
April, 1914, In regard 10 certain af-
fronts and indignities committed
against the United States in Mexico,
be il
Resolved, That the president is
justified in the employment OF the
armed forces OF the United States to
enforce his demands for unequiyocal
amends for the affronts and indlgni-
ties committed against the United
States; be It further
Resolved. That the United States
disclaims any hostility to the Next
ran people or any purpose to make
var upon them"
Presidents Message 20 Congress.
F-esldent Wilson personally pre-
sented ms a?Deal to congress for justi-
fication at a JOINT session on Monday
The text OF his message follows:
Gentlemen Of the Congress: II is
my duty to call your attention to
situation which has arisen in our deal
ings With Gen. Victoriano Huerta
at Mexico City, which calls for action.
and 70 ask your advice and co-opera-
ton in acting upon IT, On the 9th
OF April, paymaster of the United
States steamship Dolphin landed at
the Iturbide bridge landing at Tam
pico with whaleboat and boats
crew to take OF certain supplies
needed by this ship, and while en-
gagged in loading the boat was arrested
by an officer and squad OF men OF the
army of General Huerta. Neither the
paymaster nor anyone OF the boats
crew was armed. Two of the men
we're in the boat when the arrest took
place and were Obliged 10 leave II
and submit to be taken into custody,
notwithstanding the fact that the boat
carried. both at her bow, and at her
stern, the flag OF the United States.
Men Are Later Released.
"The officer who made the arrest
was proceeding up one OF the streets
OF the town with his prisoners When
met by an officer OF higher authority,
who ordered him TO return to tie
landing aud await orders; and with n
an hour and half from the time Of
the arrest. orders were received from
the commander OF the Huertita forces
at Tampico for the release OF the pay
master and his men. The release was
followed by apologies from the com
mander and later by an expression OF
regreat by General Huerta himself.
General Huerta urged that martial
law obtained at the time at Tampico:
that orders had been issued that no
one should be allowed to land at the
Iturbide bridge ana that our sailors
had no right TO land there.
"Our naval commander at that port
had not been notified of any such pro
hibition: and even IL they had been
the only justifable course open to the
local authorities would have bean to
request the paymaster and his crew to
withdraw and to lodge a protest with
the commanding officer OF the feet
Demands Salute Of u. S. Flag.
admiral Mayo regarded the arrest
as SO serious an affront that he was
not satisfied with the apologies OF
fered, but demanded that the flag d
the United States be saluted with spe
cial ceremony by the military com
mander of the port.
''The incident cannot be regarded RI
a trivial one. especially as two men o
the men arrested were taken from IN,
boat itself-that is to say. from thu
territory OF the United States; but ha,
It stood by itself It might have beer
attributed to the ignorance or AFRO
gance OF a single officer.