Mountain advocate., 1914-04-24

/ Accredited 10 the united STATES 10
diplomatic conference at the state de-
/ partment
Secretary Bryan said just before en-.
tering the cabinet meeting that there
was a general exodus Of Americans
from Mexico City to Vera Cruz and
that many Americans at the latter
place we're getting aboard the Ward
liner Esperanza
Washington. April 22.-While excite
ment was intense the senate engaged
In long debate over the preamble Of
fered by Senator Lodge to the reso-
luton giving President Wilson full
power to act in the Mexican crisis.
This preamble recites that atrocities
have been committed against Ameri-
cans in Mexico. instead of combining
| the issue 70 the insults directed at the
American flag, as does the preamble
of the resolution presented by the SEN
ate foreign relations committee.
Senator Lodge spoke for half an
hour in support of his preamble and
was opposed by administration sena-
tors, led by Mr.. Shlvely of Indiana
and Mr.. Williams of Mississippi.
Because the spectors in one OF the
galleries of the senate burst into ap-
plause during Senator Williams
speech, that section was cleared by
order of Vice-President Marshall, the
first time such action has ever been
taken in the history OF the United
senate.
The senate session began at IL
o'clock, and three hours later it looked
as II the debate would drag through
the entire afternoon.
Marshall Calls Senate to Order.
At - O'Clock sharp Vice-president
Marshall called the senate to order.
| Immediately Senator Lodge of Massa-
chusetts suggested the absence of a
quorum and the roll was called.
Senator Lodge, who was to open the
debate, Senator Shiyely OF Indiana,
acting chairman OF the foreign rela-
tons committee and Senator Calm.
! ger. the Republican leader, Senator
/ Chamberlain of Oregon, who intro
duced the bill appropriating $4,000
] 900 for national defense, all were
pointed out as the moment approached
when the next chapter OF military his
tory OF the United States was to be
inaugurated.
AS the senate had already met for
the day at ten minutes after midnight
and had merely recessed until noon.
prayer by the chaplain was omitted.
Senator Lodge Speaks
Amid impressive silence Senator
Lodge began his speech.
In a situation such as now con-
fronts congress" he said, cit rs well
TO remember that the responsibility
OF the senate is greater than that Of
any other branch OF the government!
War can be made only by the senate
and the house Peace can be declared
only by the senate and the house.
Neither peace nor war can be- made
except with the consent OF the senate.
The power 10 declare war Is vested
by the constitution in congress alone.
The president alone can institute
negotiations for peace. The weapons
OF diplomacy are his alone. But when
we come to the threshold OF war
that power is vested in congress.
President Has Power. o.,
Il am aware that the president has
more power under the constitution
dealing with the present situation
than he has seen fit to exercise. but
he has come to us TO ask our support.
think he was right to do so. / am
sure ne would not want to expose
himself to the indictment uttered by
Webster when he said Nobody de-
made it.
once before during my term OF
service In congress a president trans
mitted 10 congress a request that he
be empowered TO conduct a foreign
war, At that time resolutions were
duly presented in both houses, were
referred TO committee, were discussed
there and we're reported out and
passed after a debate"
Does the senator know how long
Il took TO do all that" inquired Sena-
tor Williams OF Mississippi.
Senator LaFollette interrupted
The message OF President McKin-
ley was received in the senate on
April eleventh" he said. 1T was re-
ferred to the foreign relations commit
tee on the same day after a brief de-
bate. Resolutions were reported back
70 the senate on April thirteenth.
They were debated until the clcTe OF
! the session on April 16. and were
passed late In the Afternoon OF that
day after debate. They were approved
by the house with an amendment on
April 10 and were reported back from
conference OF the two, houses and
adopted late On the same day"