Evening star., 1914-04-20

committed.
The House went back to routine legis-
lative business to await the time for the
joint session.
Rev. Forrest ]. Prettyman. chaplain of
the Senate, pleaded for peace with
honor In his Invocation today.
Unborn generations depend upon the
issues that arise from day to day in the
conduct Of a great nation" he said.
20 Lord our God. do Thou lend Thy
aid and Thy blessing. that without mis-
take with firmness in the right as Thou
dost give us to see the right and with
charity, which is the fulfilling Of the law,
Thy servants may discharge the sacred
with honor and brotherhood with univer-
sal justice. For Christ's sake, amen"
President Backed Solidly.
Representative Underwood, Speaker
Clark and Chairman Flood Of the House
foreign affairs committee took charge
of the House program. Representative
Flood. who returned from the honey
moon which began Saturday afternoon,
was in his Office in the Capitol early.
and sought an interview with Represent
ative Underwood:
Whatever the President wants will
be asked for In this resolution. which
will be introduced Immediately after
the President reads his message. We
blockade ports and protect American
lives and property in Mexico"
This view is shared generally in the
House. In advance of the message lead
ers are shy of expressing their opinions
for publication. but composite view of
the situation. II expressed, would be this:
The situation means war. There is
no other construction to be placed upon
but to land troops and marines and block
ade ports Is nothing but war. We did
not say we We're at war when we entered
China, but it was war
Representative Underwood was in his
office early. in touch with the White
House Secretary Tumulty asked him to
arrange for a joint session of Senate and
House at 3 pm Meantime Chairman
Flood of the House foreign affairs COM
mittee consulted with his committee
members as to forms and possibilities of
resolutions to be introduced.
The resolution to authorize the Presi-
dent to do whatever he asks probably
will be considered Immediately after it
Is introduced, as unanimous consent for
this will be asked. and Mr. Underwood
said today he expects no difficulty on
that score. Leading republicans expressed
themselves OF the opinion that the House
would uphold the President. Regardless
of opinions as to whether the admins
tration is doing the right thing, repub-
Hcans laid aside partisanship to prepare
to present solid front to Mexico.
Solid Front to Mexico.
ITS my impression said Representa-
tive Harrison of Mississippi. a democratic
member of the House foreign affairs
committee, just after a conference with
Chairman Flood of the committee. as the
House was convening. that the Presi-
dent will not ask Congress for declara-
ton Of war. but merely for authority for
blockade of the Mexican ports. the au-
thority to use the troops, from either the
army or navy. and such other authority
as may be necessary to compel Huerta
to comply with the Presidents demands
for reparation for the insult offered to
the American flag and to protect the
American lives and property. 1 am for
whatever the President asks for.
IF he asks authority along this line
Congress should grant it. The foreign
affairs committee certainly will grant
it. If he should want a declaration of
war, Congress should grant that We
are with the President in whatever he
wants in this matter. because 1 be-
lieve he is prompted by the highest
quality of patriotism. The foreign af-
fairs committee, which meets this aft
ernoon, will sustain him, and the House
will pass anything he wants in this
connection