The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1916-03-02
STONE REJECTS

he agreed that the issue was more i'm
portant than any thing else now be-
fore congress.
President Wilson and Republican
Leader Mann of the house will discuss
the attitude of Republicans on the
armed ship issue at o'clock this af-
ternoon at the presidents request.
The president intends to place the is
sue squarely before the Republicans
in an effort to gain their support.
Calls for Republican Aid.
The conference aroused much dis
cussion over whether the administra-
ton forces had lost some ground in
the house which they hoped to over
come with Republican votes or wheth-
er the president, considering the ques-
ton entirely non-partisan one, want
ed to inform the leaders on all sides.
The latter view was predominant.
President Wilson told Chairman
Flood of the house foreign affairs
committee early today that he would
consent to no compromise the
armed ship issue and desired a direct
| vote on a resolution warning Ameri-
| cans off armed ships of belligerent
nations Mr.. Flood took the presi-
| dents decision TO the committee.
| 81 desire to state the international
| situation as I understand it," said
Senator Stone.
/ Stone Defines Issues.
I "a sharp issue has been defined
Ebetween Germany and Great Britain
as to the status of merchantmen.
Germany contencs that armed mer-
chant vessels are the equivalent of
auxiliary war vessels and has an
nounced her policy to be that after
March 1 armed merchantmen would
be regarded as wsrships and subjected
to the rules of war. on the other
hand, Gerat Britain contends that I'M
der international law merchantmen
have the right to be armed for defen-
.Sive purposes and that armed mer-
chantmen are entitled under the law
to the same immunity as unarmed
ships without regard to cargo She
has announced her intention to carry
out that policy.
THAT is the issue between these
two governments.
To my mind, this emergency is OF
high Importance. The president, SEN
atCrS and representatives should sneak
with each other and with the country
free from political bias We should
wear our hearts on our sleeves so we
may know our positions exactly.
Where President Stands.
TIE presidents attitude is this:
He supports the contention that bel
Hgerent merchantmen have the right
10 bear arms for defensive purposes
but he does not say, nor co I. and
doubt If any one does. what consti-
tutes defensive purposes
/ Furthermore, if n German Warslaip
without warning should attack and
/ sink merchantmen, the president
proposes to consider the attack a law
less act. He will be disposed to hold
the German government to a strict
accountability, and if the German gov
eminent persisted, he would be tempt
ed to sever diploma tic relations ana
4 submit the matter to congress which
under the constitution is the war
making body.
If it must come to this. and if
must disagree with the president. if I
must disagree with my colleagues, I
must not face this a s political oles-
ton My duty is clear. I cannot blIt
believe that if a 0elligerent merchant
man is armed, whether for defensive
/ or offensive purposes if it is trans
porting war material it is the eoui1a
lent to war vessel.
Congress Embarrasses Wilson.
/ 1.-The president has written Renra-
sentative Pou that the resolution In G
been q source of embarrassment to
him in the diplomatic negotiations
with the belligerents
Senator Lodge replied that the nres-
1dent had right to ask for a vote on
the precise proposition of warning
! Americans in as much as the issue
had hampered his negotiations, so
proceed with diplomatic negotiations
| with congress behind him.
Senator John Sharp williams, DEM
ocrat, staunchly defended the presi-
dent
1.-THE time has come for you and
me-" said Senator Williams, ito act
on an issue that is before us, not be-
cause of any action of the president
but because of what he has been
compelled to confront because of con-
slant nagging, constant querying and
constant expression of opinion in
favor of the negotiations of a foreign
power as against our own"
Gore Springs Sensation.
Senator Gore declared the impeIl-
ing reason for his course was a report
that President Wilson had told Ger
tain congressman that war between
the United States and Germany
might not be ungrateful and might
result in advancing civilization by
bringing about the end of the Europe
war by midsummer
Senator Stone vehemently denied it.
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