Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1916-03-01
VOTE ON ARMED SHIPS
WILL BACK WILSON

Continued from Page Ono
Senate floor, although the motive behind
the fight was plainly obvious.
CONFUSION IN HOUSE
In the House everything was con-
fusion. Excited conferences were in
progress in the corridors, IN the cloak
rooms, In offices and in all corners
Chairman Flood, of the House Foreign
Affairs Committee, caused a mild stir by
circulating among the members IN the cor
ridors and cioal<rooms tentative draft of
resolution giving a blanket Endorsement
to tnc Presidents position. The object ii
was explained was to sound out the senti-
mont and get definite information on Just
what chances such measure would have
OF passing
spaake" Clark and Majority Leader
EitcD.n Coz. fred with dozens of perturbed
members iu their Offices The attendance
was greater than 1t has been for weeks.
FEARS EFFECT ABROAD.
The conference today like that of last
Thursday was sensational. President
Wilson informed the leaders that the
policy of the Government was most
seriously menaced by belief widely
circulated abroad, that the country was
not behind the President. This belief
was seriously hampering the diplomatic
negotiations between this country and the
central European powers, the President
said. In addition, It is understood that
the Executive intimated that the German
Ambassador and the Austrian charge have
been influenced by the agitation in Con-
gress to such an extent that they have
become convinced that their governments
could decline to meet the views Of the
United States.
The President explained that the slight
est sign of weakness on the part of the
United states at present would destroy
the influence of this country abroad rob
the nation of the fruits of its many
months of strict neutrality and instead
of acting to keep this nation out of war
would be almost certain 10 involve 1t.
There was not the slightest doubt in
the minds of those who heard him that
the President is absolutely convinced that
If he is not backed up by Congress at the
present time the result will be very dis
astrous to the country.
JONES TO BALK IN SENATE.
The Senators explained to the President
that there was no doubt that the great
majority of members of the Upper House
were willing to permit the exhaustion of
diplomatic measures before taking any
action at ALL 1t is understood that they
took the position that at no time have
there been more than 25 votes in sight
for the Gore resolution, and that now
with the issue squarely raised, that num-
ber would dwindle materially If a record
vote were ordered. In consequence they
suggested that the initiative should be
taken in the House.
The President and Representative Flood
accepted this viewpoint, especially in view
of the allegation that Senator Jones, of
Washington, will object to the Gore reso-
luton If 1t is called up. AS the Senate
recessed last night instead of adjournlng
this would block consideration
So soon as Chairman Flood reached the
Capitol he called meeting of his COM
mittee behind closed doors to canvass the
situation and decide on the text of the
proposed resolution.
LEADERS CONFER ON BILL
While the President explained his posi-
tion at the White House the Congressional
leaders conferred on the bill. The Speaker
and Majority Leader Kitchin admitted
that they were trying to devise a mode
of procedure that would prevent further
serious friction There was much bitter
feeling against the Presidential action
iuasmuch as many of the leaders who
favor this Government taking steps to
keep Americans from sailing on armed
ships have been loyalty working for the
last few days to prevent any further dis
cusssion of the subject on the floor.
Two proposals were under consideration.
They are:
First That all of the resolutions now
before the Foreign Affairs Committee be
abandoned and resolution reported ex-