Evening star., 1915-02-24
WANTS j. s. SHIPS
kEPTFROM DANGER
Representative Butler Thinks
They Should Avoid Euro
pean "War Zone"

States could see it to be his duty to
warn American shippers to keep away
from the war zone," said Representa- a.
tive Butler of Pennsylvania, one Of the
republican leaders, in a speech in the
House late yesterday.
bIr. Butler. one of the few men now
IN Congress who were there at the time
OF the sinking of the L. s S. Maine,
Grew vivid picture of the gradual
eulm1nation of public sentiment which
resulted in war, and warned those
who heard him against the use of in
temperate speech at this juncture in
the worlds affairs. Representative
Suffers speech was received with
marked attention and punctuated by
loud and long applause
MT Butler suggested the wisdom of
tne resident issuing a proclamation
IN winch he announced to shipping men
.hat III tney invaded the war zone they
oio SO on their CSn risk, no matter
~nat the rights in the case may be.
Said Mr.. Butler:
Would Warn Traders.
Why does he not say to these market
men. if You lose your ship il goes down
as your ship and we will not redden
oiood OF American soldiers and sailors
in order to make good what Won have
lost? Why does he not saw to these
oeiIigerents, you are avoiding and vio-
iating the laws of neutrality, the spec-
inca ons and stipulations found in
your agreements with us. and when
ms war IS over, when peace once more
comes and brings return of the COM
posure ana calmness which you had
you responsible IN the tribunal ALREADY
esta ohshed, % the end that you will
make soc3 the loss you have put upon
our ArIerfcan people? The cotton man
cora to sell. every American has some
>ding to sell. 1t is much better that it
SHOULD waste and rot where it grew,
even our nation paying the grower in
10 involve ourselves in a war by en-
deavoring to deliver it to these beliig-
egent nations.
DO not think, my friends, that 1 am
begg1ng the question or that l am TAX
ing the part of cowardice 1t is not
true 1 strive to do no more than call
Your attention to the great danger that
conrronts us and one we are likely to
De IN at any minute because of the per-
sistent attempts which these men of
tfaoe may bring to us. 1t seems to me
that our statesmen and our great men
IN whose hands our safety lies should
90 IN order to avoid even the possibil-
ny or trouble on account of our trade
with these belligerents
Let Others Take Risks.
III these belligerents want our goods,
contraban or otherwise, let them come
in their own ships, with their own
crews. and get the loads on our
vAarves- Is there no one but me to
advocate the use of the strong arm to
prevent the risk we are running? Yes,
ttee fofce. il it can be legally employed.
% keep us from the place we are told
ot to enter. / am perfectly willing
stand by what I have said, if I
tbAnd alone. Let me repeat, the young
American ought to understand that he
Ill not be expected to enlist to punish
either Of these belligerent nations for
ootS committed in this death zone upon
Sur commerce which We are endeavor-
ing to carry on with them. They are
pad and in great anGer-nauons that
observe their treaty rights in time of
peace, but can scarcely be expected to
observe them under present conditions
dt is beyond reason to expect it,
II have seen it stated somewhere
that the owners of the Evelyn claim
she was lost at their own risk. Thus
we have escaped Anyhow, l do not
imagine that our government would
hold the destroying power responsible
another. Perhaps the next day still an
other How long will the Americans
remain patient? Do not put them to the
test with too frequent experiments. 1t
her crew were lost. Poor fellows, their
destruction did not provoke much
comment. But why further tempt US?
After while p|rhaps one of these
belligerents may charge the other with
the commission of these wrongs upon
our people and our commerce. Oh. the
1-h
should throw her power would win in
this war Can it be possible that any of
these helligerents would purposely in
20 come to US.
Not Time for Reason.
rs there no one TO speak? Is there
40 one in authority strong enough to
say the right word now, SO that the
nations may understand and the bel
iiserents may know that if our ships
are torpedoed in those waters into
which these madmen warn us not to
come the sons of America shall not for
mat cause alone enlist to punish the
guilty. and thus perhaps take the part
OF some belltgerent These belligerents
are not affronting us. They have not
invaded our territory, disputed our
boundaries, nor willfully assaulted U.S.
IT is true they agreed we should go
into the North sea They made the
contract that the ocean should be open
10 US upon certain conditions. Are We
not reasonable men? Can we not un-
derstand that when men are mad and
Unnamed with passion they will not
reason? We cannot expect these bel
Igerents to parley with now. They
are beyond that point. They are spill
ing the blood of each other They
have defined this death zone. They
have told to stay away from it
Then. in the name of Gods service, for
the safety of our people and for the
love of humanity. let some one. and
the right one, tell these American