Norwich bulletin., 1916-01-21
SENATE DISCUSSED WAR
 ISSUES WITHOUT RESTRAINT
Debate Prscipitated by HcIee smith's Denunciatior of Great Rritain's courae In Holding Up Neutral Com nerce.

Washington, Jan. 20.-Issues arising from the European war were discussed without restraint in the senate today in the warmest debate on international questions since congress convened. Great Britain's interference with American trade was characterized as
 perpetual robbery; Germany was
 branded as guilty of murder" pleas tons and foodstuffs to England and charges were made and denied that British ce1isors intercepted American mail to take advantage of trade se- crets Possibility of war to enforce American rights did not escape atten-
 ton, but the suggestion of war was counterbalanced with appeal for calm deliberatton to await justice from cooler heads after belligerents had re- covered from war madness.
 Vigorous Assaults on EnGiand's Atti- tude.
 Debate was precipitated by Senator Holze Smith, of Georgia, who deliv- cred longE prepared speech denounc- ing Great Britain,s course in holding up neutral commerce and particularly her interference with cotton shipments | to Germany. He proposed an em- bargo against England, who, he said, could not continue the war without l her people without food from the United States and other neutrals. His vigorous assault upon England's at- titude was endorsed by Senator Borah, of Idaho. who said he was willing to take responsibility for action, not
 but feared embargo legislation could not be passed by congress.
 Stirring Reply by John Sharp Williams l From Senator John Sharp williams I the Georgia senator's utterances drew | stirring reply; with a declaration that he was not willing to go to war | for mere dollars. nor to have the 'peo-
 pie of Dixie" placed in an attitude of holding property on a plane with human life Senator Williams said that until the issue of murdered American women and children on the 1 high seas was settled, he would not nag the president of the United States | settlement for monetary loss of prop l erty from war maddened people until he could appeal to their caimer judg- ment when war had ceased.
 Held in Rapt Attention.
 I For several hours the senate was
 held in rapt attention by the frank
 ness and vigor of the speakers The
 discussion reached a climax when Senator Smith. indignant at the in- l timation that he would place commer- cialism over human life, dramatically l inquired of Senator Williams:
 Because Germany has been guilty
 of murder. must be concede the right
 of perpetual robbery on the high seas
 to Great Britain ??
 Declared Congress Should Act. Senator Smith declared that con- l gress should act because the president | could do no more than write notes He said he did not want to go to war | but insisted that the United States
 should have the nerve to insist upon Hts commercial rights. The embargo | to force England's hand, Senator Smith suggested. should be made ef- 1 fective within 30 days unless Great
 Britain yielded.
 Said Allies Would Not Be BuIIied. Senator Williams held the senate The allies. he said, would not be bull lied by the United States unless they were to stand still like lot of whip ped CUTS. while warning for life. lib erty and independence and yield tC | congress of the United States backed I by an army of 90.o00 soldiers and the fourth navy. in the world"
 He thought it sufficient for this I government to protest firmly againsi violation of commercial rights and tc await deliberation of a calmer people for restitution and asserted that ht would not "kill one human being or
 the face of the globe for mere prop. erty. uuAess after a belligerent had calmed down and 1t should deveior that American rights were boldly an( deliberately def1ed."
 Senator Smith in his response ts Senator Williams declared the people of the south were just as much con.