Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1915-08-20
Goodness of President
in Grave Emergencies
Shown in Trip Today


act quickly following the news Of the
disaster did not reckon upon his cool
ness under the critical circumstances
presented to him and his policy, under
any and all circumstances, to obtain
the facts before reaching a conclusion.
An example of the Presidents keeping
his head was shown in the fact that he
left Washington this morning at 1880
with the country ringing from end to
loss, for Philadelphia to consult the
eye specialists who have looked after
his eyes for a number of years.
He went in his automobile. too, being
accompanied only by DR.. Cary Grayson
and the secret service men who follow
him on all occasions. The big White
House machine speeded through Balti-
more close to o'clock. and right be-
hind it was the machine that carries
the secret service officers. The expec-
tation at the White House, which was
as calm as possible, was that the Pres
ident would return in the machine to-
night.
1t was thinking ride" the Presi-
dent took. 1t is a saying of those who
know Mr.. Wilson's habits that when he
is hard pressed to solve knotty ques-
ton he always gets in his machine and
takes a long ride in the fresh air.
May Not Call Cabinet.
call a cabinet meeting tomorrow or
for some days. He will wait for all the
facts. so that what may be his last step
in the disruption of amicable relations
with Germany may be taken with every
available iota of information in his
hands.
the President will conclude that the
Arabic disaster comes within the SOL
emn warning he gave Germany in his
last note that her next attack upon an
unarmed passenger vessel CARRYING
friendly act" Men high in official life
could not see how the act Of Germany
could be other than one OF defiance of
the position of the United States and
therefore an invitation to do whatever
cratic and republican senators in
Washington took that view.
On the contrary. however. it was
pointed out that the Presidents whole
been one of insistence that Germany
should comply with international laws
of warfare. Did the German submarine
commander do so in this case? 1t was
asserted today that he may have been
within his rights under the circum-
stances, although the question raised
is a technical one and it's settlement
will be made in the light of all facts.
Would Spurn Technicalities.
There were hundreds of persons in
and out of official life today who held
that technicalities should not be con-
sidered by the President as to the
question of convoy, for instance. They
declared that the Arabic, an unarmed
vessel, was compelled to accept this
convoy, the same as a man whose life
is threatened by an assassin relies upon
an escort OF armed detectives or OFF,
GERS. But if he is killed. the assassin
is none the less responsible in the eyes
of the law and humanity.
A prominent republican senator who
is in Washington told a representative
of The Star today that he could not
see what course the President will fol-
low if he finally decides that Germany
has been deliberately unfriendly. 1t
is practically impossible for the
United States to attack Germany or do
her any physical harm, and Germany
can do little to this country. The
breaking off of diplomatic relations
with Germany-sending her ambassa
dor home and recalling our own
would be. he admitted, a moral step
that would influence fair-minded ma
tions the world over. but it would ac-
complish nothing beyond this. Ger
many has already defied the moral
thought of the world, he pointed out,
and appears to care little what other
nations think so long as she is carry
ing out her war policies.