The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1916-03-16
A DISGRACEFUL CHAPTER.

One of the most disgraceful chap
tiers in the history Of congress came
to a close last night when the house
of representatives tabled the McLe-
more resolution withdrawing the pro-
lection of the United States govern
ment from Americans who travel on
merchant vessels armed for defense.
The action of the house on the Nc
Lemore resolution, following the ac-
ton of the senate on the Gore resolu-
ton, restores the conduct of the for
eign relations of the United States to
the hands of the president, who is
again free to resume negotiations
with the German government over
the question of submarine warfare.
The issue is one that never should
have been raised in congress, and 1T
has worked Unreasonable harm to
the prestige of the United States in
dealing with Germany. Berlin is
still convinced that in spite of the
vote in the senare and the house, Ger
my has an ally in congress which
will condone any policy of lawless-
ness against neutral rights, includ-
ing murder and massacre.
There is much difference Of opin-
ion in Washington as to the origin OF
the controversy between the presi-
dent and congress over the Gore and
McLemore resolutions. The claim is
made that the source of the contest
was in political and personal antag-
onism to the president and that the
German propaganda merely took ad-
vantage of a definite situation. Such
an explanation makes matters even
worse. We could have more respect
for a member of congress who frank
ly proposed to tear up international
law for the advantage OF Germany
tnan for one who undertook for per-
sonar or partisan reasons to cripple
the president in handling the foreign
affairs of the nation during one of the
critical periods in the life of the re-
public.
Whatever the motives of the presi-
dents opponents may have been, the
actual result of their activities was
to nullify Germanys solemn pledges
to the United States and to strength
en- the German government against
the established policies of the Unit
ed States. They are willing to help
the Kaiser by pulling down the presi-
dent, and no explanations or excuses
can hide that ugly fact.
Congress had no jurisdiction in
the matter. Its interference was a
usurpation of power, and if American
relations with Germany were ever
critical, this shameful meddling made
them more critical. The pretense that
the president might rush the country
into war with Germany lacked all the
attributes Of a lie, because a lie is
calculated to deceive, and nobody
could be deceived by such ridicu-
lous charge. There has not been a
day since May when the president
could not have forced war with
Germany if he had wanted war; yet
the country was aSked to believe that
he had changed overnight into reck-
less and irresponsible lingo intent
only on shedding innocent blood over
technical question Of international
law
The thing would be farcing if it
were not SO tragic in its possibilities.
Should Germany try to take advan-
tage Of divided congress we might
easily have war, and the hope of
peace today rests in the chance that
the German government will continue
to regard President Wilson as the
only official spokesman of the kmeri-
Can people ana the american govern
ment
The congressional conspiracy
against the honor of the nation has
IL lied in its immediate purpose. But
the American people still have SUI
preme duty to perform in respect to
their own patriotism. That duty is
to deal drastically with every mem
Der of congress who participated in
this plot to exalt the military neces-
sites of the German empire above
the faith and traditions OF the repub-
lic.-New York World.