The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1916-02-24
DEMOCRATS TIRE !.
OF WILSON RULE
Serious Revolt Against the
Presidents Course in In
ternational Affairs.


WASHINGTON, D. c., Feb. "a
With diplomatic situation admittedly
containing more grave and threaten
ing possibilities than any that has yet
confronted the nation since the out
break OF the European war, President
Wilson faces an organized revolt
among the members Of his own party
in Congress.
Fearing the possibility OF a complete
break between the United States and
Germany, as the result Of the latest
turn In the submarine controversy,
Democrat leaders, in disagreement
with the White House, spent all OF
yesterday In formulating plans to force
the hand of the President. The revolt
in Congress, 1t is feared, may seriously
complicate the relations between this
Government and European Powers.
The conferences yesterday which, I'M
der the surface absorbed the atten-
ton Of all officials ended with a
meeting late yesterday afternoon OF,
the Democratic Foreign Relations com.
mittee OF the House.
It was the sense Of this meeting
that Congress should put check on
the White House and the issue should
be forced on the matter of a warn.
ing to all Americans to keep on mer-
chant ships of beltgerent nations,
whether armed for offensive or defen>
sive purposes.
Senator Stone, chairman Of the For
eign Relations committee OF the Sen
ate, hitherto the administration
on a T.u an fhA
Senate, is in accord with the proposal
to issue the warning
Atthe meeting of the House foreign
affairs committee, Chairman Flood
was instructed to lay before the Pres
ident today the purpose to vote for
resolution of warning, to which the
President is stoutly opposed; and
which he says under no circumstances
should be passed. This information
was followed by statement from
Representative Kitchin, Democrat
leader, in which he set forth that the
President would be given 4S hours to
change his position, and in the event
of refusal Congress would proceed to
pass the resolution over the head OF
the President. So far as a group OF
the more influential leaders in the
House is concerned, this is in effect
a straight ultimatum to the White
House that its leadership on foreign
relations no longer is to be followed.
There seems to be no question that
President Wilson will stand firm. This
was the information at the White
House after the executive OFFICES were
IN full possession of the nature and
extent Of the revolt being organized
in Congress-.
There seems to be but one thing
holding back the attempted execution
OF The plan to challange the leadership
Of the President. This ls uncertainty
as to which course the Republican
members OF Congress under the leader.
shin Of Representative Mann, OF Chi
caCo will take. The Democratic lead
ers do not desire to face SITUATION
where the Republicans will be found
lined up with the President and against
the Democrats in, Congress on mat
ter involving foreign relations.
The organization OF the revolt ~
Congress has served to bring about
further disclosures OF exactly what
took place at the secret conference at
the White House between the Chair.
mantof the Foreign Relations commit.
tee Of Congress and the President on
Monday night, when the suggestion Of
issuing a warning to keep off belliger-
emf merchant liners was first pre-.
scented to- the Chief Executive. 1t is
now established that Senator Stone
urged the matter, and that the Pres
ident, in stating his objections, used
exceedingly vigorous language. Today
it was reported that Senator Stone
feelingly 4 declared:a II have stood by
nj Northumberland consistently, but
to hell with lead ership that leads the
country into war"
The House Foreign Relations COM
snittee met Hat today ard K decide Ito