The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1916-03-04

NJ a &
IN the house, where agitation has been
most turbulent. and where Speaker
Clark predicted anita administrator
resolutions, when first introduced,
would have passed by a majority of
two, to one. There never has been any
question of the administration control
on the senate side.
Adoption Of the pending resolution
practically would amount to con-
gressional. reputation Of policies an
nounced and contended for by Presi-
dent. Wilson and Secretary Lansing all
through the submarine negotiations,
which more than once were in a crisis.
With their defeat and affirmation by
= majority, Of congress Of, confidence
IA the presidents course. Mr.. wilson's
supporters. point out. he will be en-
abled TO continue to contend for the
principles Of International law and
humanity, with a united government
behind him and with the same force
ss he did before. a minority in con-
sress weakened his position more than
did all the arguments Of foreign diplo-
mats, ,,,.,.
spLispatches from Berlin and Vienna
have b pictured how the, copgressiona,
agitation was received there as In
dicating that the president. in his de-
mands upon Germany and Austria
did not have the support of his owr
party and there was Immediately n
stiffening of the German determine
tipn not to recede from the announced
purposes of. the new submarine cam
paign to sink. without warning ali
armed merchant ships despite Presi-
dent Wilson's reiterated contention
that such Q practice was contrary to
the. principles for which the United
: - q.
States contends.
. i is known. that among the ole
ments leading to the presidents ac-
tion were repeated declarations OF
Germany's unyielding attitude ex-
pressed in i, inspired statements from
Berlin BY the, highest officials Of the
German government. some of which
even approached intimations of bad
faith on the presidents part because
the United States would not accept
the view that the Lusitania guaran-
tees applied only to ships carrying
no armament whatever.
News Of the presidents decision
came as distinct surprise at the
capitol, where the leaders of both
houses heard of it first through re-
ports of the letter received by Mr..
Pou. There were some expressions
|of dissatisfaction. particularly among
members of the house, at the course
adopted. Surprise was expressed that
the president should appeal to the
[rulesi committee to have brought out,
debated and voted on proposals which
have been kept in the foreign affairs
committee solely because it was be-
lieved that the administration did not
want them discussed or acted upon.
1t Is considered probable that ac-
ton by both houses may be taken
Thursday. An attempt hardly will be
made to bring O resolution into the
house tomorrow and under tho rules
1T would require two-thirds vote to
permit its consideration on calendar
Wednesday"
Speaker Clark, Majority Leader
Kitchin. Representative Flood and
Representative Foster of Illinois con-
ferred at the capitol tonight and
agreed to urge that the rules commit
tee take no step pending action by
the foreign affairs committee and that
the foreign affairs committee should
be called together at once to report
q substitute resolution. probably an
Affirmative expression Of confidence in
the president. The rules committee
then would be In position to report
O, rule for immediate consideration OF
the matter.
Speaker Clark and others maintain.
Cd discreet silence tonight awaiting
what President Wilson might have tc
say at the White House conference
tomorrow. There was apparent, how.
ever. q distinct feeling that the method
adopted by the president to get actor
might put party leaders in a false DO.