The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-05-12
Practically All Agree With Underwood's Declaration
 in Age-Herald Sunday
VARDAMAN SPEAKS
 IN BEHALF OF PEACE
Abercrombie Says Wilson Is Having the Most Trying and Precarious Administration Since That
 of Lincoln
Ky HUGH w. ROBERTS

Chattanooga May .-(Special.)-Some days ago Senator Underwood expressed the opinion in The Age-Herald that in the light of an international complication the sinking of the United States ship Gulflght was more serious than the Lusi- tania disaster.
 Yesterday when the first officer of the steamer Gulflight testified that the Amer ican flag was flying when the German submarine fired it's accurate shot, the statement of Mir. Underwood appealed with a remarkable significance. Other members of Congress, in Chattanooga to- day, agreed with the Alabama senator that while the Lusita nia's destruction was hundredfold more horrible than that of the Gulflight's, the latter was per haps to be regarded more seriously when one ponders on the possibility of war.
 The visiting members of Congress, how ever. like MT. Underwood. are insistent that peace with honor be maintained. Representative Adamson of Georgia, ap- prehensive of the outbursts of those he considers ''jingoes,' gave expression this afternoon to the following sentenced:
 Tt is now time for men of intelligence to aid by their counsel the President in his moment of greatest trial, and the time for men without brains to keep their mouths closed''
 Vardaman's Comment
 Senator Vardaman of Mississippi spoke in behalf of peace. For The Age-Herald he commented as follows regarding the destruction of the Lusitania:
 "'rhe incident is regrettable beyond ex- pression. but 1 see no reason why serious | complications between the United States and the belligerent governments of Europe should grow out of 1t. It is one of tho horrible incidents of cruel, brutal, mex cusable and indefensible war. Admitting that Germany is responsible for the de | struction of the Lusitana, she is onl, l guilty of retaliation for the damage to he own commerce by England The German | government had declared the waters il which the L.usitania was destroyed in tn, war zone. As an additional warning t | Americans, Germany published advertise ments in both the American and Brtisl 1 press warning neutrals against the use O DelnSefenl Snlps. lney ulSfeSdfueu IL a l their peril and they must suffer the con l sequences. l wish from the depths of m, | heart that Americans would stay ava, | from the war zone. No, don't think tha | this one act would justify war, but Pres l ident Wilson is on the iob-he is in pos session of all the facts and have faitl | in his prudence and good judgment il dealing with this delicate situation
 Greatest Fraud Yet
 In regard to the recent more or les werlike utterances of Theodore Roosevelt Senator Nardaman declared that the for mer President was the greatest frau' ! America has ever produced 1 Practically all the members of Con gress who are inspecting the Tennesse | river believed that President Wilson vii manage to solve the problem without tn necessity of calling Congress into spe cial session. It is true, nevertheless, tha everyone is more or less apprehensive. "It is very fortunate, said Represen tative Abercrombie of Alabama today that Mr. Wilson is President of tn | United States. He has had and is hay ing more trying, precarious administra | ton than any other President since Lin ! coin. The time will come when the en tire nation irrespective of political diff ferences, will exclaim in unison, Than God for Wilson, '
 Senator Bankhead while his colleague were indulging in an informal discussio of the situation, repeated the comment h made through The Age-Herald of las | Sunday.
 Tt will all end well,' he said, If Wi son is permitted to handle the problem b l himself But the danger will be greatl increased should he call Congress to | gether'