The Lancaster news. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1905-current, 1916-02-25
Question of Armed Merchant
men Absorbs Attention of
Both Houses.
DEMOCRATS DECIDE
TO MAKE CANVASS
Will Sound Sentiment of Body
and Report to President
With View to Securing
Expression on New
Decree of Cen
trail Powers.


tion in congress for action warn
ing Americans off armed ships
of European belligerents sud-
denly grew to such proportions
today that the Democrats of the
foreign relations committee vot-
ed to canvass the sentiment of
the house on several pending
resolutions of that nature.
Sentiment in the senate in fa-
vor OF some such action also
was openly expressed, but at the
end OF a day of surprises, ten
sion and agitation such as had
not been seen in congress i'm, some
time, the word came that Pres
ldent Wilson still was unalter-
ably opposed to any such action
by congress and believed that
he would only be embarrassed
thereby in the negotiations with
Germany.
To widely circulated sugges-
tlons that the situation had
reached a point where the pres
ldent would lay it before con-
gress, that Secretary Lansing
might in some way define the
attitude of the government in a
communication to Senator Stone
and that time had been fixed
within which the United States
would expect Germany to sign.
lfy her intention to abandon the
announced plan to sink armed
merchant ships without warning
the statement was made officially
that nothing has been determin-
ed upon, and that the situation.
though grave, still was a waiting
one, that no final position would
be announced until Berlin was
heard from.
The sudden developments at
the capitol brought surprise to
the administration leaders
While confronted with the pos.
sllbillty of congressional inter
ference with all it's aspects rang
ing from detection from the
administration policy to down.
right embarrassment of the
prSNdent and the secretary of
state, the leaders were confident
they could control the situation
and leave the executive branch
OF the government free to carry
on diplomatic negotiations with
Germany.
AT no time today did the
question come out openly on the
floor of either the house or the
senate, but about a score of
congressman who announced
they were in favor of warning
Americans, even if it involved a
reputation of the administra-
tion policy, if thereby they
thought war would be averted
kept both houses in a state of
tension that practically blocked
business.
All the demonstration was in
the Democratic ranks and there
was no open show of sentiment
among the Republicans. 1t was
indicated, however, that Repub-
lican Leader Mann sympathized
with President Wilson's policy
and that any outbreak would
have to reckon with his forces.
From apparently authentic
sources came statements tonight
that the president was determin-
ed that the dispute pending with
Germany be settled without pro-
longed delay. He continues to be-
lieve that the breaking off of
diplomatic relations with Ger
many means war, and there will
be no undue haste in handling
the situation involving such a
possibility. The administration
view is that a broad and import
ant principle is involved i'm the
right of Americans to travel on
belligerent merchant ships and
that right must not be abandon
ed. Developments are expected
momentarily. Tomorrow NAV
bring Germany's reply to the
request of the United States
made last week through Ambas-
sador Won Bernstorf for as