Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1915-12-12
BATTLE In SENATE
OYER U. S. RIGHTS
Lodge Demands Investigation Of
Loss Of American Lives Be In
oluded in Trade Probe.
GEoReIAEs LANGUAGE BITTER

WAShiNGIONs Dec. IL Tue
iong-expected storm in congress over
the administrators conduct Of the
defense OF American rights on seas
iroke yesterday when Senator Hoke
Smith. democrat, demanded an in
vestigation OF Great Britain's inter-
ferences with neutral trade. and
Senator Lodge. republican. replied
with demand that any investigation
include the loss Of American lives.
THE body OF an innocent child,
floating dead on the water, the vic
tim Of destruction OF an unarmed
vessel. is 10 me a more poignant and
a more tragic spectacle than an I'M
sold bale OF cotton" declared the
Massachusetts, senator.
offers Amendment.
To Senator Smiths resolution for an in
vestigation OF trade interfs-enees Senator
Lodge. who is the rankisg minority mem
Der OF the foreign relations COMMITTEES.
offered an amendment for Investigation
OF the law and the facts In the submarine
attacks on the Lusitnnia. Falsba, Hes
perian. Arabic, Outright and Ancona. and
Of the plots and conspiracies against the
neutrality Of the United States to which
President wilson referred Ia unmeasured
terms In hls address TO congress Tuesday.
Both resolutions we're referred 20 the
foreign relations committee. upon which
further action VIII depend. Their intro
duetion. however. had served TO bring out
the first debate Of the session OF sub
Jeet to which all minds had turned
Senators on both sides OF the chamber
we're drawn into the discussion, which
vas participated in by Vigorous speech
BY Senator Smith In support Of his resolu-
ton.
smith's Retort.
Senator Smith. replying 20 Senator
Lodge, intimated that there had been an
effort made TO bury eli objections TO in
terforence with American shipping by
sentimental protestations OF horror at
losses Of life" and that some OF these ef-
forts az least had been influenced BY
profits from the sale Of ammunition.
Thoae who have considered il most
mercenary to criticlse Great Britain for
interfering with neutral trade" said the
Georgia senator. nave been persons who,
20 say the least. have not lost anything
In their trade"
Il wish 70 extend the scope OF the reso-
luton by my amendment" said Senator
Lodge. because n we are to take up
this question Of the violation OF our
rights. ] want 70 put II not on the lowest
ground alone. but on the highest ground
as we'll.
Protection 60 Citisens.
u think II y OF great Importance that
we should vindicate our riEhts. az neu-
trail In trade II those rights have been
violated. but I think II IL far more inn
portant that we should extend protection
ana assure security 70 American citizens
wherever they rightfuIly are for do
not believe that any government can long
retain the respect Of its own people n n
Goes not give them the protection to
which they are entitled.
4 think Americans should be proteetea
IN their lives and In their liberty every
where. do not think they ought 90 be
numbered In detail and obseurely IN
Mexico or openly by wholesale on the
high seas
''Although I am a. anxious a. anyone
can be TO care for our rights In trade IL
thcy ara violated. 20 me American lives
are more important than American dol
lars. II this investigation Is 70 go on.
and. especially IL congress Is 10 take
action. ] want Il 70 take In all the viola,
lions OF all our rights that may have
occurred.
The Most Important.
The most important IL the violation
which has affected American lives or the
security Of an American cltlsen, man.
woman OF ehiid, and the next Inost i'm
portant are those pointed out by the
president Of the United States IN his mes
sage the other day referred 10 the de-
straction Of property accompanied by
destruction OF life in the United states
and stated that conspiraoies in alien in
terests are going on within our bordera.
4 think that II we are 60 investigate
and Inquire. with view 10 action, such
deeds a. these should not be omitted.
am not willing 70 get IN = passion over
an infringement OF our trade and then
allow American citizens 10 lose their
lives and have Il 80 BY IN frigld silence.
think the United states stands for
something higher in the world than mere
trade and mere dollars, do not wan,
10 see our citiEens wronEed IN their prom
critics but ! think We should also stand
above all for morality and humanity an
ne dealings % nations with each ether"
- y