Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1916-02-25
CONGRESS IN REVOLT AGAINST
PRESIDENT ON GERMAN POLICY

! This would give us more time for con-
sideration Of the situation.
| we assured the President that in the
| event Of such postponement all action In
| Congress certainly would be postponed
and that meanwhile these various resolu-
| tions would remain exactly as they are. -
Under the present parliamentary situa-
! ton the Speaker said that II would be
some time before the warning resolution
could be placed in a position where a
vote could be forced In the House. There
was no chance. he said. Of the resolution
being brought up today. It would be inn
possible to get unanimous consent to con
slider the measure, he pointed out.
no SPECIAL CONSIDERATION.
A motion to discharge the Foreign Az
fairs ComVittee from consideration Of the
resolution and thus force it on the floor
would only he in order on the first and
third Mondays of the month, the Speaker
said There was no means, he said Of
obtaining special consideration for the
resolution.
"tf the measure Is reported by the
Foreign Affairs Committee" he said, ut
would have to go to the foot of the cal
endar. That would mean we could not
reach 1t before July or August unless the
rules committee would provide special
rule for its consideration The rules com.
mittee is the only means by which early
action on the resolution could be secured
The Presidents letter to Senator Stone
was expected to have great influence
on public sentiment II was pointed out
that in It the President insisted that he
had mo reason to question the good faith
and fidelity to their promises of the
Teutonic Allies and that this seemed eff
fectively to dispose of the contention of
the anti-Administration leaders in Con-
gress that the nation was headed directly
into the war"
The action of the President in declaring
that the entire submarine question was
one affecting the national honor instead
of struggle to force action on a techni-
Cality also was expected to have a strong
influence in permitting the executive
branch of the Government to settle the
question free from legislative Interference
LETTER FROM STONE.
Senator stones letter to the President,
TO which Mr. Wilson replied, was as fol-
lows:
Dear Mr.. Presdent-Since Senator
Kern. Mr.. Flood and | talked with you on
Monday evening, / am more troubled than
! have been for many n day. | have not
felt authorized to repeat our conversa-
tion, but have attempted, in response to
numerous inquiries from my colleagues
to state to them, within the confidence
that they should observe. my general un-
derstanding of your attitude l have
to be substantially as follows
"That while you would deeply regret
the rejection by Great Britain of Mr.
Lansing's proposal for the disarmament of
merchant vessels Of the Allies. with the
understanding that Germany and her
allies would not fire upon merchant
ship if she hauled to when summoned
not attempting to escape, and that the
Germany warships would only exercise
the admitted right of visitation and cap
ture, and would not destroy the captured
ship except in circumstances that rca-
sonably assured the safety of passengers
and crew. you We're of the opinion that
if Great Britain and her allies rejected
the proposal and insisted upon arming
her merchant ships she would be within
her right under the international law.
Also that you would feel disposed to
allow armed vessels to be cleared from
our ports; also that you are not favora-
bly, disposed to the idea of this govern
ment taking any definite steps toward
preventing American citizens from em-
barking upon armed merchant vessels
Furthermore, that you would consider
it your duty, if a German warship would
fire upon an armed merchant vessel of
the enemy upon which American citizens
were passengers, to hold Germany to
strict account
Numerous members of the Senate and
the House have called to discuss this
subject with me ! have felt that the
members Of the two houses who are to
deal with this grave question were en-
titled to know the situation we are con-
fronting as | understand it TO be- | think
! should say to you that the members of
both houses feel deeply concerned and
disturbed by what they read and hear.
I have heard of some talk to the effect
that some are saying that after all it
may be possible that the program of
preparedness, so called, has some relation
TO just such a situation as we are now
called upon TO meet
Il have Counseled all who have talked
with me to keep cool ; that this whole
business is still the subject of diplomacy
and that you are striving to the utmost
to bring about some peaceable adjust
ment. and that in the meantime Congress
should be careful not to ball up a
diplomatic situation by any kind of hasty
and ll-considered action. However, the
situation in Congress is such as to ex-
cite a sense of deep concern in the minds
of careful and thoughtful men. | have
felt that it is due to you to say this
much
II think you understand my personal
attitude with respect to this subject As
much and as deeply as ! would hate to
radically disagree with you, l find it diff
fcult for my sense Of duty and RESPONSE
DIllty to consent 10 plunge this nation
into the vortex of this world war because
of the unreasonable obstinacy of any of
the Powers upon the one hand, or, on
the other hand, of foolhardiness amount
ing to a sort of moral treason against
the Republic of our people rIcklessly
risiing their lives on armed beligerent
ships, ] cannot escape the conviction that
such would be so monstrous as to be
indefensibe.
Il want TO he with you and to stand by
you, and I mean 10 do so up to the last
limit; and l want to talk with you and