The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-03-08

THE BIRMINGHAM A( word to say for the resolution about which all the storm centered The re- publicans who fought tabling it did so only because they wanted chance to substitute another drawn by Represen- tative Campbell of Kansas. Once Chair man Flood of the foreign affairs com mlttee did say that the McLemore reso- luton was as broad and as good as the campbell resolution but he was against that, too
 The long debate, lasting from Il o'clock III the morning until well after o'clock tohght almost without interruption, was conducted with the utmost good feeling Only once, when Representative Flood declared that the Senate action had been approved by the entire country, was there the slightest sign of bitterness Republi- cans moaned and groaned. But with a few laughing remarks and thumps with his savel Speaker Clark restored quiet incidentally, the speaker celebrated his sixty-sixth birthday in the chair When the debate was at it's height, Republican Leader Mann interrupted the proceedings long enough to tell the House that it was the speakers birthday The mem- bers rose and cheered him enthusias- tically.
 JESTS ARE NUMEROUS
 tests passed frequently. Once when Representative Cooper of Wisconsin was speaking and Representative Davis of Texas continued to express approval of his remarks with "Amen,' Mr. Cooper responded, Thank you, brother" The galleries were packed throughout the day and hundreds were turned away
 AS the result of an error in the of- 1lc1al count Speaker Clark announced that 143 votes had been cast against tabling the resolution. Careful checking later proved that the total was 142
 Now that votes have been taken in Both the Senate and House and the state department is preparing to go on with It's diplomatic negotiations, President Wilson hopes that there will be as lit tie further discussion of the issue as possible.
 Chairman Stone of the Senate foreign President tonight Although he would not talk about his conference, it is un- doerstood he will not make the speech on the subject of armed ships, which he announced recently he would deliver in the Senate this week.
 Col E. M. House, who investigated this and other questions abroad for Presi- dent Wilson, did not leave for New York today as he had planned, but decided to remain over until tomorrow to report further to the President.
 FIGHT BEGINS PROMPTLY
 Promptly at Il o'clock the House as- sembled for the all-day fight of the ad- ministration forces to kill the McLemore resolution to warn Americans off armed ships of the European belligerents. Speaker Clark was in the chair.
 After the reading of the Journal, Act ing Chairman Pou of the rules commit tee submitted the special rule, under which the debate will proceed
 MT. Pou asked unanimous consent for 90 minutes debate on the rule. There was no objection, and the debate began. Mir Pou took the floor to open the fight.
 An outburst of applause approved MT. Pous words when he said:
 All the imps of hell never devised a more infamous lie than the declaration that has been made that President Will son wants war;
 ATTACKS RESOLUTION
 Tt means in effect, that if an Ameri- can disregards warning that the Uni ted States government will fold it's hands" he said, "a citizen of this House representing his constituents who wants to do right is hampered Who wants to do that? It is charged the President wants war. All the imps of hell never devised a more infamous charge.
 No man since Abraham Lincoln has gone through such a test as the Presi. dent has gone through in the last start ling six months. He has tried to pre- serve peace. He would not sacrifice a single life to make himself President for a lifetime
 He has support on both sides of this chamber. He has support on the demo- cratic side and distinguished support on nfh ci n,1xy t1,n 0fL 1nx read a statement of former President Taft supporting him.
 Representative Campbell, republican, read a substitute he said he would pro- pose if a motion to end debate on the rule did not carry. declaring that Amerf- can citizens irrespective of their legal rights ought to refrain from taking pas sage on armed vessels of belligerent na- tions except in case of imperative neces- sity'
 HONOR NOT INVOLVED
 There is no great question of national rights involved,'' declared MT. Camp bell, nor is there any great crisis involv- ing the honor of the United States. Does any one contend that an American citizen has a right to travel on an armed cruiser of a nation at war?
 ''The President is asking Congress to s.Nlme the diplomatic function, and de- clare to the world it's citizens have the right of taking passage on the armed merchantmen of belligerents. The na- tions of Europe are fighting for their very existence. We are quarreling with those foreign nations to gratfy the desire of certain people to travel on armed ships. The question ought not to have been brought here Now it is here, vote sqrarely on resolution warning tourists of the danger they are in when they get on armed ships of a belligerent."
 Representative Harrison of Mississippi. democrat took up the debate for the ad- ministration.
 NOT PARTISAN QUESTION
 ''This is not question for us to divide upon as democrats, or republicans,'' said he, If it is a question of America first. It is a question whether you shall arise above narrow partisanship and stand for the American government. The only sane course is to follow the rights of neutrals under international law. If we allow ho <o1y ,ku