Evening star., 1915-01-25
SAYSBR|T|SHSH0T
At j. s. WARSH|P
Speaker at Pro-German Meet
ing Declares the Texas
Cleared for Battle.
ADMINISTRATION SCORED
FOR NEUTRALITY POLICY
Resolutions Demand That Congress
Prohibit Shipment of War NUM-
tions to All Beligerents.

President Wilson and the entire al
ministratiou We're denounced at 4 pro
German meeting i'll Polls Theater last
night as maintaining neutrality in
word but not in fact. and the senst-
tional statement was made that the
United States had suffered :. British
shot to be fired across the bows of the
warship Texas
This meeting was called to arouse in
terest in Representative VolImer's bill
placing an embargo on the expectation
of all munitions of war. More than
1000 persons. mostly of German an
ceStry, were present
The climax of invective was reached
when Alphonse Koelble of New York
assailed the President as an "un-
American President, lacking red blood
There were mutterings of shame" and
treason" from all parts of the house.
Representative Lobecll of Omaha
arose in defense of the President say
ing he could not stand on the stage and
listen to such talk against the Presi-
dent of the United States. There was
mild applause of this, but the temper
Of the meeting was decidedly against
the administration.
Admirer Of the President.
Representative Vollmer said today
that he had also spoken in defense of
the President, stating that he respect
ed and admired him greatly as a man.
personally; that he had followed him
as a leader in everything since he has
been in Washington, and that he was
not yet ready to desert him. Mr.. Voll-
mer said that he demanded that the
neutrality of the nation be genuine and
not merely a practice.
The principal speeches were made by
Representative Vollmer of Iowa and
by John Dewey. editor of the Gaelic
American of New York. The latter de-
clared that the battleship Texas, when
approaching New York recently, was
ordered to stop by the British cruisers
Suffolk and Essex. and when Capt.
fred across the battleship's bow.
This act Of hostility" the speaker as
serted, caused Capt. Grant to strip his
vessel for action, and an engagement
between the cruisers and the Ameri-
can man-of-war was narrowly avert
ed"
News to Secretary Daniels.
When Mr.. Dewey told of this the
audience applauded loudly. He added
that he had since heard of a severe
reprimand being given to Capt. Grant.
The audience hissed. One man in the
back Of the house cried out, 81 don't
believe It."
Secretary Daniels. when informed Of
Mr.. Devoys statement, said that he had
seen Capt. Grant on Saturday. but that
he had not heard of any such OCCUR
renee as that related by the speaker.
Considers Story Absurd.
The Secretary declared that he con-
siders the story too absurd to justify
statement. No such incident has ever
been reported to the Navy Department.
he claimed. and he does not consider
the story worth further investigation
It is preposterous, he asserts, that ans,
such event could happen without being
reported to him or the department
Mr.. Dewey said that he referred to
the Texas incident and the absence Of
publicity concerning it to show that the
American press would not print any
but pro-English news.
One version Of the story is that
the British cruiser apologized before
steaning away. It's captain is sup
not see the flag Of the Texas in the
snowstorm and had thought her to be
German cruiser. But according to
the weather report the day was clear
and there was no snowfall.
The meeting was presided over by
Daniel W. Baker, former United States
district attorney.
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