The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1915-05-11
by the Associated Press.

Washington, ID. c., May S.-PreSi-
dent Wilson, upon whom the eyes OF
the world are focused al the present
moment, studied in quiet seclusion to-
day the aspects Of law and fact in
connection with the sinking by a Ger
man torpedo of the British liner Lu-
sitania with a consequent loss of
many American lives.
n great human tragedy coupled
with the responsibilities of the hour
caused the President to deny himself
to all callers, evenkto members of his
official family, while he turned over
in his mind the course to be pursued
by the United States government in
one of the most serious crisis in it's
history.
The only glimpse of the workings
of the Presidents mind was given
when the White House tonight issued
its first formal comment on the disas-
ter. The announcement was made
that the President realized the coun-
try expected him to deal with the sit
uation with ~deliberation as well as
lirmness."
Presidents Statement.
After a conference with the Presi-
dent at the White House this evening,
Secretary Tumulty said:
"'Of course the President feels thu
distress and h gravity of the sit.
uation to the utmost and is consider.
ing very earnestly, but very calmly
the right curse of action to pursue
lie knows that the people of tn
country wish and expect him to &C
with deliberation as we'll as with firm
ness"
The official data upon which for
NAL action will be based had not ar
rived The President therefore dit
not communicate with Secretar.
Bryan or officials of the State Depart
ment, nor did he consult members 0
the cabinet or Congress. He has bee
giving such close personal %attenti
in the asst few weeks to the particu
lar question involved that he wa
thought to be determined first to Sit
for himself the various questions an,
shape a policy to be submitted to tn
cabinet, probably on Monday o
Tuesday.
Waiting on Public Sentiment.
in the meantime public opinion wa
expected to crystalline n help polr
the way. Members of the cabinet hel
themselves in readiness for the pres
ident's call. At the State Department
when Secretary Bryan was asked
there was any advice to
to the American people at this TIM
he replied hat he did not think tn
was needed for the country understood
wv SltudtlOH.
This is no time to rock the boat
he said. 1t was the same SentimeI
which Chairman Stone, of the Sena1
Foreign Relations Committee, had e.
pressed earlier in the day. The sir
gle phrase expressed the desire of TT
Washington administration that pr
JUDGES and passions be not thrust in
the unstable equilibrium while tt
government e~ndeavored to learn a
the details.
one important fact was definite
ascertained by the Washington go
ernmen today from the port author
ties at New York, who gave clearan'
To the LuSitania-that she carried !
guns, either mounted or
in accordance with the caution OF Il
State Department and British go
early in the war. This Oh
posed in the minds of officials of Il
claim that the German submarine h;
a right to attack the Lusitania b
cause she was an auxiliary or CONVEX
ed cruiser. The officials of the Cuna
Lin are understood to have stat
that the Lusitania was not conveyed
No Excuse For Germans.
These facts, in the opinion OF Ia
officers of the American gOvernme1
left the German submarine no excu
under law or reason for an alta
without warning on a ship with hu