The evening herald. [volume] (Albuquerque, New Mexico) 1914-1922, 1915-01-25
ROOT LEADS ATTACK
ON Ship PURCHASE.
BILL IN SENATE
Democratic Caucus Denounced
for Making Measure a Par.
ty One; Legislation Not Dis
cussed, He Says.

Washington. Jan .s.-senator
Root led the Republican attack on
tho administration ship hill In the
senate today with a denunciatlon Of
the Democratic caucus which made
the bill a party measure. OF the par
iiamcntary tactics by which the Dem
ocrats have 81 far forced the Repub-
licans 10 do al the debating and n
naily with denunciation Of the bill
itself
The attitude Of the Democrats he
characterized as "an conspiracy OF
silence" to put through fhe bill by
pressure OF physical weatufss." For
ten days. ne said. the minority has
been compelled to face tn prospect
OF eight hours continue falking
without word of discussun from
tho majority side and without more
than half q dozen Democratic mem
bers In the chamber.
"it docs not seem 10 me that this
bill. which would put the government
into the business Of foreign shipping.
Is receiving tho kind OF discussion Il
should have" he said ~ ia An
portant not merely because IL IN
wolves vast expenditure M time
when We have been forced Ia make
up q deficit hut also because Il em-
barks the government on new de-
pnrture based on reversal OF pfiu-
ciplc OF government long maintained.
No such change In policy was con-
templated by the people when they
put the present administration vi
power.
The fact that this measure can
not have that kind of discussion
which II demands at this short seq
sion of congress-" continued senator
Root shows that II ought not To
pass at this session.
II have been present In Legislative
bodies he said when no voice was
clear enough. no courage hiEh
enough 60 break away from the Gus
toms which accepted and regiatcr,d
the direction ~ chief executive
Let VA not be too confident that W.
are proof against .ha process.
I'VE abandon today mo perform
ance of our functi ~ su 1iscussl if
this measure amone ourselves a. tn
oniighten the people con ruinT 81.
and have taken one step farther han
ever before In the process nat makes
us a registering body rather than
Legislative body. We have taken
step fraught with dangers and fatoi
results to representative govern
ment We can Justify our existence
as body only by the performance
OF our duty
THE liberties Of a tree people de-
pend ON the courage and persistency
Of minority They depend also ON
tho independence ~ thought or ac-
tiOn OF all members Of legislative
body. II we are but to register and
smother our own Judgment. we are
contributing our part 10 process
more fatal TO our country than any
legislation that We can devise"
senator Root discussed the declar-
alton of London and read from IN
structions to German naval com
manders nj the outbreak Of the war,
the statement that ships OF the enemy
transferred To neutral fag were TO
be- regarded as enemy ships unless the
commander of the German vessel
stopping them was convinced that the
transfer would have occurred even
II the war had not broken out
The Interpretation Of the rule was
very plain. senator Root said. The
ordinary trade Ia ships was not To be
prevented" he said. "0ut n"n" -
these great powers viii permit the
citlzens of the enemy 10 rob them OF
their trade by the transfer Of ships
they are entitled to capture oi' the
high seas to a neutral hag."
senator Root pointed out that al
though American delegates hnd con-
tended to have their Views on trans
fers Of ships incorporated he the Lon
don conference declaration. hat was
not done and the United sreed
Ia the Anal report
In closing senator Y .t tucaied t'
/ the senate to consider .nr act that
thousands of men ot German ana
! English blood went 90 make the
American people. men whose minds
we're tense with the struggle abroad.
~ YOU precipitato this country into
au international controversy wnen
Europe may feel that We nav, taken
sides he asserted, 1--WE will r"nd uat-
selves The ,nly safe course 10 to
keep out OF such controversies
Il deeply regret that any shade of
party politics hHs fallen on this hill.
There is no crime 80 wicked az com
sideratiou Of our foreign affairs viii
view 10 PARTY advantage"