Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1916-03-03
WILSON FIRM
FOR u. S. RIGHTS
Although House FaYOrs Warn
ing He is UEm0yed'
BRYAN ENTERS The FIGHT
Writes to Democrats Americans
Should be Kept OFF Armed Ships.
Lodue Defedns President.

The fight in congress over warning
Americans off armed ships marked
time" with the parliamentary sltua'
ton and other developments laVor ng
President Wilson's position.
At a conference with house leaders
the president was told that If restlu'
tions to warn Americans could be
forced to a vote now they would be
passed in the house by majority Oh
two to one.
President Wilson, nevertheless, finn
ly and emphatically reiterated the un-
yielding position he outlined in his
letter to Senator Stone. The leaders
went back to the house pre- ared to
hold the situation in check for the
present, at least.
Former Secretary Bryan's influence
came openly into the fight, when Rep
resentativc Bailey, OF Pennsylvania,
gave out a telegram from Mr.. Bryan
opposing the presidents position and
supporting the agitation in congress,
In the senate, Mr.. Lodge, the rank
ing Republican of the foreign rela
tions committee, openly declared his
support of the presidents posit1 n.
Senator Gore, Democ: at, introduce
his resolution war.i1g Ain -ficins OF
armed ships, and Senator jones, Re
publican introduced a resolution to
require a break in diplomatic rela-
tions to be referred to congress. Tn re
was no discussion.
The cabinet discussed the situation
thoroughly, and officials said the men,
bers were standing solidly behind the
president.
Secretary lansing said he hal NO
new information from Berlin, anu
while reports were discussed TIA.
Germany might postpone the op ra
ton of the new submarine camrai5E
no basis for them was discussed.
Senator Lodge, who is ranking Re-
publican member of the foreign ie
lations committee, said:
"The president takes the precise
position that | have taken, and Rave
been urging in public speeches for the
last eighteen months. OF course,
shall stand by him. agree fully with
what he says. | believe it would Ero-
claim us to the world as towards to
tell our citizens that they must not
exercise their undoubted rights aid
that if they do we shah not project
them. A nation that will not protect
it's citizens cannot protect itself, AID
if democracy fails to protect Itself,
how can we hope to live?
"The president says What we are
contending for in this matter is OF
the very essence of the things that
have made America sovereign ma
ton. She cannot yield them wit out
conceding her impotency as a nation
and making virtual surrender of he:
independent position among the ma
tions of the world
"With this also l am in full accord.
It is the doctrine l have preached al
my life and | am with the president
who sets it forth and stands by It,"
The Jones resolution was to express
the sense Of the senate that ans issue
affecting national honor should be re-
f,.rred before decision to congress and
that no ultimatum should be s-nt to
a foreign power, nor severance 0. DIP
lomatic relations be permitted without
reference TO congress.
The resolution set out that it wa;
contrary to the fundamental principe es
of the government to involve the GEO.
pie in war by the act or decisl OF
one man. 1t was presented without
any discussion and Stone asked TIA:
It lie on the table. When Ceres re
luton was presented it took the same
course.
Bailey made pubic the Bryan tele'
gram, after a conference with MaJ1rl'
ty Leader Kitc..in. It read:
az honestly hope that congress will
speedily announce legis alton refusing
passports to Americans travelling cn
belligerent ships, or sill better, r.
fusing clearance to belligerent saip:
carrying American passengers.
mo owner of he,ligerent sh ps will
claim that he has tie right to sa e
guard cortraband cargo with Ameri'
can lives aud no citizen should be per
mitted to enGanger the peace OF tie
nation at a time like this. Ours is tie
greatest OF the neutral n9ticLs and
will prcbaE,y be the me'iatcr when
the time comes for med alton. 1t
would be a crime ans! ciVi.iza-onr
as we'll as ainst our own people, to
become involved in this war and thus
lean our army and navy to a European
monarch to use in settling his q"aF'
rels.
"If congress has the right to declare
war, l. certainly has the right to pro-
mote peace by restraining citizens
from taking unnecessary risks. A ma
yor KEGS the people of his city cut
of the danger zone during riot. Can
our government do less when the
world is in riot?"
100 Reported Killed in Berlin Riot.
The Amsterdam Echo Beige, a
.zI, :--11