New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-01-21
Opposes Smiths Plan for
Embargo to Free Cot
ton Shipments.
PUTS HUMAN LIFE
ABOVE PROPERTY
Debate In Senate Grows Hot on
Issues Provoked by Euro
pean War.
IRON rhs Tribune Buresu ]

ing as much about property as about
life," declared John Sharp Williams,
Democratic member OF the Senate For
eign Relations Committee, this after
noon IN reply TO the demand Of Senator
Hoke Smith that this country declare
an embargo TO force Britain 20 admit
cotton to Germany.
81 do not want TO see them care more
about cotton than about women and
children who go down unknelled. un-
sung, unshriven and unwarned to their
graves In the sea. All quarrels about
money can be cured with money.
would not kill one human being because
Of mere dollars"
The discussion OF the issues arising
from the European war was without
restraint. 1t was the warmest debate
on international questions since Con
gress convened.
Debate was brought on by Senator
Smith, who delivered long prepared
speech denouncing Great Britaln's
course IN holding up neutral commerce,
and particularly her interference WITH
cotton shipments TO Germany. lie pro-
posed an embargo against England,
who. he said, could not continue the
war without munitions from this coun.
try nor feed her people without food
from the United States and other neu-
trails.
Senator Smiths vigorous assault on
Englands attitude was Endorsed ny
Senator Borah, of Idaho, who said that
he WAS willing 20 take responsibility
for action, not speech 10 protec'
American rights, but feared embargo
legislation could not be passed by
Congress.
Williams Hits G.. o. j.
Senator Williams, IN his reply,
tainted the Republicans who have
failed 10 protest against the Presidents
course in the quarrel with Germany.
Nineteen American citizens are
killed on American soil and a lot OF
YOU he said, want TO nag your Fres-
ident into course Of conduct thaI
would result In war. You want TO go
down there and kill lot OF Mexican
poems and Yaquis and other MeNicanS
all because these Jesse James bandlts
somewhere robbed and killed your cit
liens. Yet not blessed one OF you
is introducing & resolution ABOUT 'he
several hundred Americans killed, not
on German soil, but on the hlgh seas,
not by irresponsible bandits, but by
the prepared and declared policy OF
government.
And why? Why are you pursuing
such different courses? Simply because
YOU think Mexico is little enough to be
kicked and Germany IS too big to De
kicked. -.
81 am not blaming you about the
course pursued with regard TO Ger
many. / make allowances for her peo-
pie. am not quarreling with you be-
cause you are not nagglng the fresi-
dent about Germany, but because you
irc nagging him about Mexico, when no
Mexican governmental offence has been
committed and when you dare not nag
him about Germany You are wise
when YOU do not. You had better get
ready so that you can support your
uagging before you get TO nagglhg
somebody who can fight
Senator Smith reviewed the whole
history Of interference with trade ana
diplomatic exchanges on the subject
He described "a silly and untrue state
ments that the United states made
cotton contraband during the CIVIL
War. declaring that only once before
i'm history had cotton been declared
contraband. and il was done then dur
ing the Russo-Japanese war by kus-
sia. who promptly gave way In the face
Of protest from Great Britain that
the action was illegal.
shall we quietly continue 20 furnish
Great Britain what she Is compelled
10 obtain from the United States while
the commercial rights of citizens or
tins country are trampled under FOOT"
asked the Senator.
by hrmness. but peacefully, neu-
trails can easi.y obtain their rights
from both be .gerents.
'ParaDkrasing tEt language OF Mr
Jefferson. Erg.anc MAJ fee the desire
Of absorbing he commerce Z Germany
and OF starving her people, but She
car have nc -.gat Of doing Il AZ SUI
loss or Of making US the instrument
OF IT,"
Taking W the argumer. g Senator
Smith, Senator Williams saidi
Cotton i worth IL cents d pound
spot " iht Memphis marke' II @eace
same tomorrow, cotton would net De
worth over q cents pound. W Nat.
ever else this war has done. II has not
ert what is becoming u the COTTON
cropf Why Great Britain. France and
ralv and their dependencies IL normal
times take % per cent II our entire
cotton exports, and 70 per cent Is go
i-g % them now More than that Is
going % them, for the ueutrs! eosr-
tries are no, only getting taer share
but a little b.; more. 20 that y l. Aoou,
~ ner cent. and taat l. not ln,e:.ereI
with.
United States Can't Bully.
"!f the Senator from Georgia could
have kis way, and the measures "aicn
he advocates were enacted, tney Wost9
result n non-Intercoprse with the Al
lies. unless the A...es are go.ng 10
stand still Ike a 10, 81 whipped ours
while they are engaged IL war ior
life and liberty, and obey the uhase OF
Congress, with 10000 In the army be-
hind IL and a fourth rate navy. Il is
absurd 10 suppose that they would DC
cowardly enough 70 stand bullying from
a nation which cannot bully because
II has nothing to bully Win.
at is absurd 20 say 10 Hreat britain
and her Allies that we purpose purthg
an embargo on munitions OF wSr' con
trarv 20 our traditional rolcy' unless
they change their olochade "h'On
seems 20 be wonderfully ehec'i We arg
expect them 10 So down IN hSht "h'0h
they believe 20 be for the liberty ana
irdependenoe Of the worl4 against
new Roman Empire, reyamped ana re
vanished. What would ioho" We
did? Commercial non-intercour lnen
. a. a.