Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1916-03-07
House Attentive to Debate.

The House 1Slened Win stedl a.
tention to the short debates. and the
few members who sought to interrupt
sneakers were asked by otner members
| to be seated.
The preliminary battle. in which the
republicans pleaded earnestly that the
House be allowed TO amend the NC
Lemore resolution and vote squarely
on a simple resolution to warn amer. . !.
can citizens" against the SAFETY OF
trayely on armed merchant vessels OF
the warning nations. was partly in the
nature of a parliamentary discussion:
partly a. condensed forecast OF wnat
the longer speech making array OF the
late afternoon would be.
spoke in favor of: the Presidents atti-
tire were wildly applauded by the
democrats: but AT no time during tne
first hour and a half. leading up to the
first vote. was there any uneAcelied
demonstration on either side.
Feeling of Tension Prevails.
Rather was there a suppressed feel
ing of tension. like that which comes to
two great athletic teams. each one
strong. but neither side knowing ex-
actly where the margin of strength lay
which side had the break"
There was scarcely any difference in
the volumes of tone in the first viva
yoce" vote. The ayes" roared as ioud
as the noes.
sherwood of Ohio notified his friends
that he would support the fresideht IN
this issue. and then go TO MS once ana
write a letter to his constituents ae
cIining TO ask for renomination, as he
con,d not support the administration on
other nolicies Representative Sher-
wood ia one of the pacifists and small
armament men of the House.
Floor and Galleries Crowded.
Tho House. crowded on floor and gal
,erjes came early 10 the business pc
fore it, and Representative Pou of
>-.h Carolina. to whom the President
wrote asking for show down. arose
TON minutes after convening time and
presented the rule, asking that the Nc
i.emore resolution should be the prlVl-
legged business before the House.
Evidence that the republicans would
concentrate test vote OH .he IuIe Was
Immediately shown. for the republic
ans through Representative Campbell
of Kansas, demanded vote on the
previous question. - ,
Representative Pou started to speak.
s,nn,iv and deliberately. giving voice to
remarkable utterahces vi piaise ioi
ident Wilson.
at is said that the President wants
war" he said "All the imps Of hell
never devised more infamous lie. No
President save Lincoln ever went through
what Woodrow Wilson has suffered in
twelve months to avoid war
Mr. Campbell Explains Position.
Representative Campbell. ranking re-
nuh,ican member on the rules commit
toe. then explained in simple-almost
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. exactly where he
stood; that if the previous question
ia voted down he would offer a substi-
tute by which the House could vote
directly on: the proposition to warn
Anerjcans off armed ships
lie Then branched off TO the issue be
fore the House. saying that the Presi-
dent is asking Congress to take a hand
in the diplomatic negotiations of the
couutry-a duty which. he said. is lefe
nv the Constitution to the President
Mr.. Campbell declared that armed
merchantmen are warships; that they
are to fire on submarines on sight;
that this is offensive war" and that
it is these ships that Americans should
be warned against.
I'VE are the war-making power. ana
we should be careful what VT say and