The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1915-07-27
GIVE CONGRESS A CHANCE

When we comment on what the
administration at Washington does
or fails to do in the handling of
disputes with foreign countries, we
should keep in mind just what it
can do. 1t can call an extra session
of congress. That is all.
The president or the secretary Of
state can make protests if Ameri-
can rights aer trampled on. They
can write letters innumerable and
discuss the merits of the questions
in controversy but they can't do a
thing. In its foreign relations the
executive department of the gov
eminent is the talking department
while the legislative department Is
the acting department. If war is de-
clared the positions of the two de-
partments are reversed. The exc
cutive department becomes the act
ing department while congress can
do all the talking it wishes to.
The president cannot declare war.
If this is done congress must do it..
He cannot impose an embargo with
out authority from congress. While
this is true the president has a won
derful influence with congress. The
particular president now in office
has peculiar influence but. any
president in Office at a time when
this country is becoming involved
in serious disputes with foreign ma
tions has great influence on con-
gress. He is the one official who is
taken as representing the country
and many who oppose him on ordin-
airy occasions support him at such
times because they feel that in de-
ing so they are loyal to their coun-
try and that they would not be if
they did not support him.
Only in one way could President
Wilson act promptly and decidedly
He could call congress to meet in
special session and he could lay his
views before that body. If he wish
ed to take decided steps to enforce
respect for American rights there is
no doubt of the fact that congress
would sustain him in it. But if this
should not betaken for granted the
president could learn the sentiment
of congressman and take his stand
accordingly. He could find out
what congress would sustain him in
doing in advance of the meeting Of
that body, but it is entirely safe to
say that congress would sustain
him in any measures he might take
to enforce the rights of the people
of the United States.
The note to Germany reasserts
the position of the United States
government but does not necessar-
lily call for reply. 1t merely warns
Germany that any repetition of the
offense will be construed as de
lfberately unfriendly." So we need
not wait now for Germany to reply
We wait for Germany to act. If she
does nothing further that is object
ionable the cases that have already
arisen will be settled automatically
Hf any further act is perpetrated
Germany can expect from the United
States whatever this country will do
in resentment for a deliberately I'M
friendly act. We do not know what
this will be,
t The note says the United States
Will continue to contend for the
freedom of the seas from whatever
quarter violated without compromise
and at any cost. We are continuing
too long to contend in words for we
have already found that this kind
OF contention is unavailing. The
president should call congress to-
gether and make his demands for a
respect for American rights both by
Germany and Great Britain. If
congress were in session and ready
to act the Germans and British
would both. find the American argu-
ments much stronger than when the
president and secretary of state are
presenting them without power to
do more than complain.-Times-
Union.