The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1914-04-21
That Is Report This Afternoon
at Washington.
Secretary Daniels Would Not
Deny or Confirm.
THE SENATE HAS BALkED
House Resolution ON Mexican
Affairs Held Up.
The President Is Forced to Act
without Sanction.
LODGE MAKES 4 HOT SPEECH
LODGE MAKES A HOT SPEECH
All Thieves and Cutthr0ats
Look Alike to Him.
Opposes Singing Out Huerta
to Be the Goat.

washington, April Z1."At S.1U
o'clock Secretary Daniels said he had
now word of developments at Vera
Cruz. Official cir cles without comment
heard a report that marines had land
ed and taken possession of the Gus
toms house. 1t was said Admiral
FIetcher's orders were to land no men
until the shipment Of munitions had
been landed.
Washington, April 21.-While the
senate was discussing the Mexican
crisis today orders went forward to
Admiral Fletcher to seize the customs
house at Vera Cruz to prevent q large
cargo Of artillery and ammunition
from falling into the hands of the
Huerta forces, to whom they were con-
signed, and which were transported
from Europe aboard a German vessel.
AS there has been no blockade de-
clared the United States could not
seize the ship, on which the war mu-
nitions were being transported, but 1t
could seize the port and prevent them
from being landed. 1t was to acc ,nn-
pIish this obvious crippling of the pro-
visional government of Mexico that
Admiral Fletcher was instructed to act
without waiting the result OF the de-
bates in congress.
Inc OEQ0TS went OuL " TIC nAVaA
commander in Mexican waters at day
break, although the fact did not be-
come known for several hours. Preet-
dent Wilson and his cabinet had been
in constant conference until O'Clock
in the morning. The orders to Admiral
Fletcher it was said conferred the
broadest authority and directed that II
necessary he should take the city OF
Vera Cruz as we'll as the customs house
! in order to prevent the landing OF the
munitions at that point.
Moro Ways Than One.
OFFICIALS here said the admiral might
act in several ways. He might wait
until the German steamer had landed
her cargo unmolested. and then take
the customs house and the munitions.
or when the German steamer comes to
the port, he might seize the customs
house and. IL the guns were landed
they would come into possession OF the
American forces.
That the steamer might take her car
GO to some other port was possibility
of which officials were cognizant.
Some report from the admiral was
news reached the capitol that the or
der had gone to Admiral Fletcher 1t
aroused considerable enthusiasm
among senators and representatives.
Democratic senators believe an order
to the American commander to begin
action on the resolution to back up
the presidents course. Republican
leaders were planning to champion
the substitute, submitted by Senator
Lodge, which refers to the long Sc
ries OF outrages against Americans in
Mexico. This was not accepted how
ever by the Democrats: neither will 1t
be accepted by house leaders. it was
stated The house resolution as
amended by the foreign relations COM
mittee was laid before the senate soon
after it met at noon.
A New Resolution.
A new resolution to accept the apol-
ogies already offered by Huerta as
Sufficient reparation" for the Tam
pico incident was introduced by Sena-
tor Works, Republican. Secretary
Daniels left the cabinet meeting at
1920 o'clock. He was asked about
the orders to Admiral Fletcher.
1T would be very unwise for me
to say anything at this time." was his
reply. Senator Lodge opened the de-
bate.
I'm a situation of high seriousness
such as now confronts congress. 1t Is
well. to remember the responsibility
Of the senate" he began. The power
to declare war rests under the consti-
tuition with the congress.
when the president lays an inter