Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1916-03-02
Demands of Wilson in the
Armed Ship Question
Causes Upheaval.
STIRRING TALKS MADE
congressman Rally to Sup.
port of President and Bat
ter Down "Antis."

Washington, March THE armed
ship issue suddenly blazed up in the
senate today with the most sensational
debate of the session in which Senator
Gore, democrat, and author of a reso-
luton TO warn Americans off bellig-
erent vessels, repeated what he char
acterized as a report that President
Wilson had told certain congress lead
ers that war between the United States
and Germany might not be migrate
ilization by bringing about the end OF
the European war by midsummer"
Chairman Stone of the foreign re-
lations committee twice emphatically
denied that the president ever had
expressed any such sentiment in his
hearing, and Senator James, another
administration leader, demanded to
know why Senator Gore had not
sought 10 confirm the report from the
president himself.
Had Hoped Report Untrue.
Senator Gore responded that he had
hoped the report was untrue; that he
had repeated it only as a report sur
rounded by circumstances which gave
It credence in his opinion, but that he
was glad to hear it denied.
= . The storm broke in the senate when
Senator Stone, announcing that he
was not in accord with the presidents
demand for defeat Of the armed ship
resolutions, proposed means to let
the Gore resolution come to vote
and Senator James announced that
the administration forces had the votes
TO defeat it.
Senator Williams of Mississippi
spoke in support Of the president, as
did Senator Lodge, the ranking repub-
lican Of the foreign relations commit
tee. The debate ended without action
and the senate passed to other bus1-
ness with the prospect OF taking up the
Gore resolution tomorrow.
Meanwhile the situation in the house
was unchanged, with the adminlstra-
ton leaders apparently making no
Roadway toward vote there.
Stones View OF Situation.
AZ desire to state the international
situation as | understand it," said
Senator Stone.
"A sharp issue has been defined be-
tween Germany and Great Britain as
to the status of armed merchantmen
Germany contends that armed mer-
chant vessels are the equivalent OIL
auxiliary war vessels and has an
nounced her policy to be, that after
March / armed merchantmen would be
regarded as warships and subject tc
the rules of war.
ION the other hand Great Britain
contends that under international Law
merchantmen have the right TO bt
armed for defensive purposes and ina
armed merchantmen are entitled undel
the law to the same immunity as IN
armed ships, without regard TO cargo
She has announced her intention u
carry out that policy.
Now, where does the United StAte'
come in? In this way. II both persls
in these courses, neither yielding U
each other. nor to the opportunities o
neutral nations and If Germany at
tacks an armed merchantmen and an!
American citizen is injured. the ques
ton is presented to this government
what our attitude would be. II nj
American citizens were on board VI
would have no cause TO interfere un
less we proceeded on the altruistl'
theory Of obligations to humanity.
Should Wear Hearts on Sleeves.
This emergency Is of high impor
lance. The president, senators an'
representatives should speak witt
each other and with the country fre'
from political bias. We should wea