The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1915-08-25
Congressman Fess Predicts
Entrance Into Conflict I'm
less Kaiser's Government
Disavows Sinking, Of Ship.
Chautauqua Speaker Says In
ternational Law Prevents
President From Placing
Embargo on Ammunition.

Severance Of diplomatic relations
between tho United States and Ger
many, II It involves An extra session
Of congress. means war between the
two nations, in the opionion OF Con-
gressman s. d. Tess. Of Ohio. who
yesterday afternoon delivered Z drar
matte and intensely interesting ad-
dress at the Chautauqua before audi
ence Of several hundred people.
III the sinking Of the Arabic is Ger.
many's answer to the president's last
note, and IL not disavowod, Mr.. Wilson
must act The breaking off OF diplo.
matte relations In itself does not mean
war, but II congress 10 called In SEES
sion the hot-headed legislators will de-
msnd war" declared Congressman
Tess
Either Mr.. Wilson must order the
departure OF Ambassador Won Bern
st0r0 Of Germany, or he must sur
render the case he has placed oefore
the world since facts now known indi-
cate that. the Arabic disaster comes
within the meaning OF deliberately
unfriendly," continued the speaker.
Expiains correspsndsnes.
CONGRESSMAN Fess discussed the
subject, "Our Diplomatic Relations,
and covered every phase OF the diplo-
matte situation a. 1t affects the federal
government. He explain the notes,
Diplomatic intercourse and other mem
oranda exchanged between Germany
and the United states.
He laid emphasis upon the lack OF
appreciation and realization OF the
people Of this country Of the delicate
situatiot, in which the United states
fYids itself a. q result Of the sinking
of the Lusitania and the Arabic.
The four or five hundred people IN
attendance applauded several times
when the Congressman made patriotic
references to his country. ana espe-
ciaNy commended his declaration that
he would vote at once for an increase
of our submarines, aircraft for the
army. better coast defense ana speedy
cruisers.
approximately twenty-five veterans
OF the Civil war, representing the q.
A. r. post, and occupying seats m the
center Of the auditorium tent near the
platform. j6insd, ~ the applause. The
members Of the post, and the ladies'
auxiliaries OF the post we're guests OF
the MANAGEMENT during the ooserV-
dnCe Oh ". "A H. Ody y0oSOAooS'
H. critieiSm Depiored.
CONGRESSMAN Tess deplored the al
most general criticism on the part OF
the American people, arising from the
refusal Of the administration to place
and embargo on war munitions order
ed by the allies from the United
States, and it's declination to swerve
from its stand Of the recognition OF the
right Of individuals in this country to
manufacture munitions as a private
enterprise. ...
III we had the right under interna.
tioral law, or could safely do 50, we
would all vote to forbid the expectation
of arms from this country explained
Mr.. Tess, but international law gives
"a individuals the right to raanufac.
ture munitions and to all belligerents
the riRht to Buy munitions Id neutral
country. It would be violation OF In
ferf,ational law il the government for
babe the manufacture and sale Of mu-
nitions. Our nation is peaceful and
neutral and does not have an animuni-
ton plant as a government Industry.
I'VE can not, in self.protection, close
the door open to us under internation-
al law. Because il we must join in
the war, we must have the doors OF
neutral nations open to our trade.
IF we did forbid the manufacture
Of munitions OF war. the action would
compel the placing OF force Of detec-
tives ever every ammunition plant in
the country, because II the rnanufac-
ture was conducted secretly despite
vigilant inspection. the anger Of the
country injured thereby would be
heaped upon u.s."
Bewaiis Peoples Apathy.
The speaker gave some moments to
a TRADE on the woeful lack of concept
ton by the American public on the
possible happenings il the next ten
days or two weeks. He view with
amazement the apathy Of the people
toward the delicate situation" and be-
lieved the people were not thinking on
the subject, preferring to leave the
responsibility to the president and HE
cabinet.
CONGRESSMAN Tess prefaced His ad-
dress BY calling the attention Of the
audience to the parallel conditions
which faced President Madison and HE
cabinet a few months prior to the
war of 1912, and those now, the sub.
ject of diplomatic correspondence be-
tween the United States and Germany
He said that at that time it was pre-.
sunaed that Madison couldn't be kick.
ed into war" The unexpected hap.
pened then. and is not improbable to
happen now.
The war zone laid down by England
in blockading the North Sea, and the
retaliation OF Germany Id her chatrin
and anger in being denied foodstuffs
by blockadinE the British Isles. were
discussed by MIR. Tess before he open.
ed an explanation OF the international
situation, at the time 1t began directly
to AFFECT this country's neutrality. He
showed that Germany desired, natur.
ally, to have American v4ssels break
the blockade in the North Sea ii order
that her people could % TED with AM
erican products. ana that that course
waS not permissible % the part Of TIE
United States under international law
since 4 belliger9nt country has thd
right to esta blish q blockade II 1t was
effective and perfect.
Germany Makes Reply.
Cerr6any's most sweeping and re.
uaartaBie declaration" blockadine the
Hritish Isles was her answer to Crest
Britain. Each country has declared
contrabond those products which the
natt