Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-05-15
Especial to The rimes-pispatch.l

WASHINGTON. May 1.-THE con-
sensus of opinion among those states
men now In Washington is that there
is no such emergency as will require
the summoninE Of Congress in speciaI
session. Senators and REPRESENTATIVES,
appear of one mind, that il Congress
were In session the President would be
embarrassed: that the note just sent TO
Germany Involves a diplomatic ques-
ton solely that the President is better
able 10 handle without the interference
OF possible congressional agitation or
action. General support of the note
was expressed to-day By public men
strongly approve the note Of
President WILSON, said Senator Shields.
II is an American presentation Of the
situation. do not think it will lead
to var and do not think our people
should become unnecesSarilv excited
because the President is capable of
settling this question through diplo-
matte channels.
I'm my Judgment, however. this note
should he followed with one equally
strong address to the British gov
eminent calling attention to its vio-
!ation of international law in seiz
ing neutral commerce and preventing
the shipment of noncontraband. as that
government has been doing now for
some time. This oppression also
should be stopped. This country can
not stand for murder and piracy on
nc high seas, and neither should We
stand for the holding up OF neutral
commerce and noncontraband trade
Tennessee and Kentucky are largely
Interested in tobacco. We have about
s3o.o00,o0o worth of that product. Part
OF the crop has been shipped abroad
and seized. and our producers are
AFRAID 10 ship the remainder. Tobacco
certainly is not contraband, and there
should be absolute freedom of trade
In TINS and other products of this
country without Interference on the
part OF any OF the belligerents"
MARTIN SAYS NOTE
MEETS HIS APPROVAL.
The Presidents note meets with nv
cordial approval" said Senator Mar
tin. OF Virginia, chairman Of the Com
mittee on Appropriations. Il do not
see what good il would do for Con-
gress to be here, for there is no
emergency that the President cannot
deal with. do not anticipate war.
for believe the President has left
the way open for reply on the part
of Germany that will obviate such n
situation arising.
Should Germany refuse to comply
with the suggestions OF the President,
and accompany her refusal with some
overt act Of hostility against this coun-
try. the President, without the previous
sanction of Congress, has ample au-
thority TO defend the integrity of the
Union. He is commander in chief, and
could take such steps by way of de-
Tense as he saw fit. II it became neces-
sary, all the money appropriated for
the manufacture of army and navy sup
plies, intended for the next fiscal year.
could he used at once in anticipation
OF possible need. and Congress would
he here in ample time to appropriate
whatever additional sums that might
be necessary"
Senator, Gore. of Oklahoma. declared
that war was one of the worst, but
not the worst. of all evils. There
could be no enduring peace. he said,
that did not involve security.
The national defense" continued
Senator Gore, lis one OF the chief OBJ
jects of government There are two
ways of adjusting international quar-
rels, one by diplomacy and the other
by force The Presidents note went
as far as the present eNigency re-
quires. I hope ii will result in guar
anteeing the rights and safety of our
citizens. and obviate the necessity of
other means than diplomacy. How
ever I do not see how Germany can
afford to disavow the acts OF those in
command of her submarines, and who
have been conducting this war under
her ORDERS
fNhpHS ileIlbeTS OF congress now IN
the city the following views were oh
tanned:
Representative Stone. OF Illinois:
The note is strong, dignified state
ment of American rights, nicely ex-
pressed so as to avoid unnecessary re-
sentiment. and at the same time so
wordcd as not to inname our own
people"
Representative Lloyd, Of Missouri:
II am with the President. and I in
dorse the note. 1t is strong and the
right kind Of stuff. 1t rings true. 1t
states the position of this government
as think 1t should be stated"
Representative Morgan, Republican,
oklahoma: II am for it--all I've got
could not say more than this.
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