The Logan Republican. [volume] (Logan, Utah) 1902-1924, 1915-01-19

from Massachusetts, gave an illumin
ating address on the Mexican situa-
ton on the floor of the Senate on the
9Th instant. The address is historic
and touches on some fine points of
international law, in which the state
department of our government fig
ures very prominently. In speaking
to an amendment in the matter of
appropriations incident to the Vera
Cruz affair Senator Lodge said:
This amendment, which is purely
formal, proposes to strike out the
clause supplying the deficiency in
the appropriations for the war. de
partment caused by the leasing OF
transports to take troops to Vera
Cruz. II Is an honest debt, honest
ly incurred; but think, Mr.. Presi-
dent, it is not amiss at this time and
in this connection to review briefly
the circumstances which have led to
the necessity for this appropriation,
will lead to the necessity Of other
appropriations to cover other deac.
iencies arising from the same source.
I wish. in a. compact q manner As
possible. to call attention to the
events In Mexico which have led to
these appropriations and to the con
dition Of Affairs In Mexico at the
present moment.
The great war In Europe has OBJ
scured that question, as 1t did many
others, in peoples minds. The MeIi.
can situation has been largely pushed
aside and forgotten. Although one
of the most important transactions
in which this country has been en-
gagged in the last two or three years,
it seemed so unimportant to the
President that he did not even allude
to 1t in his annual message. But, Mr..
President, although in comparison
with what We are witnessing in Eur
ope it may not be serious, think
that in Itself it Is extremely serious
and very serious to the United States
whose territory adjoins that of Mex
leo.
II ] may go back for a moment, 50
that we may get simply the order
Of events, would remind the Sen
ate that in the autumn of 1910 the
Madero revolution, directed against
the long established government OF
President Diaz, began. President Di'
az left Mexico City on May 20, 1911
and Francesca Madero, the leader OF
the successful revolution, arrived
there on June of the same year. He
took the oath of Office as President,
November G, 1911.
When the revolution broke out, as
everyone will recall. President Taft
sent an army OF 1000 men to the Dor
der to maintain peace in that region
After Madero had taken the oath as
President and become President de
facto of Mexico, the disturbances still
continuing, President Taft issued a
proclamation OF neutrality March z
1912.
On March IA, 1912, Congress pass
ed a resolution giving the President
power when he found that in a.
American country conditions OF do
nestle violence existed which wers
promoted by the use Of arms or mu
nitions of war procured In the Unit
ed States, to forbid the export OF
such arms or munitions OF war, and
on the same day President Taft eI
ercised this power and laid an EN-
largo ON the export OF arms to Mex
leo.
Mr.. President, at the time 1t seem
ed to me that the action of Congress
was reasonable. | made no opposl
ton to it. | think 1t was generallS
agreed to on both sides. But subse
uuent events Ill NcNlNO NSH'''N~ "
of the unwisdom of Congress plnc
ing such an authority in the fresi
dent. The Constitution reserves u
Congress the sole right to declare
war. To put in the hands of the TX
ecutive the opportunity to alter neu
trality laws which have been in eH
istence more than a hundred years l
going far toward impairing the autf
ority OF Congress in the great tune
ton OF declaring or maintainin
peace. We see how 1t operated Il
this case. President Taft impose
an embargo on the export OF nun
tons of war and arms, and 1t was
direct aid to the Madero government
which was then facing an Insured
ton. Then President Wilson, at
later period, lifted the embargo an
that was a direct aid 20 the insurt
ents who were opposing the govern
ment Of Gen. Huerta.
thinE tbig &c a nowpr thai ChOul