Cresco plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1913-1945, 1916-03-10
TEST between
WILSON and FOES
More Of a Partisan Alignment
Over Ship Issue Manifest.
MANN uPHoLDs PRESIDENT

| Mann UPHOLOS PRESIDENT
Heated Debate in House Shows Lin.
ing Up Of Party Forces-6ryan
Discusses Affairs in General With
Fourteen Democratic Members at
Dinner.
Washington, March 7-On the eve
of what friends of the administration
have planned as the final fight to end
agitation in the house over the ques-
ton of armed merchant ships, debate
on the subject broke out on the house
floor and continued holly for more
than an hour.
When it was over there seemed to
be more of a partisan alignment than
at anytime since the issue arose.
Representative Mann of Illinois, the
Republican leader, and Representative
Lenroot of Wisconsin, Republican
member of the rules committee, gave
notice that they would oppose the
rule under which it is proposed to ia.
BILE the McLemore warning resolution
after ninety minutes of debate on the
rule and four hours discussion of the
resolution itself.
Flood in Patriotic Plea.
On the other hand, Chairman Flood
of the foreign affairs committee, who
has been understood personally to IA
vor warning resolution, voiced an
appeal to all patriotic congressman to
stand by the president.
There will be formidable opposition.
both in and out of the party, however,
and the influence of William Jennings
Bryan is being taken into account as
big factor to be dealt with
Fourteen representatives and two
senators met at lunch with Mr.. Bryan
in the private dining room of hotel
near the Capitol and discussed affairs
generally.
What TRANSFERRED there remained a
secret, except that Representative
Bailey of Pennsylvania, who was the
host, said no general agreement was
reached on what action should be TAX.
en- on the armed ship question. Repre-
sentative Van Dyke of Minnesota was
among those present.
Resolution on Calendar.
The first step toward getting the
McLemore resolution before the house
was taken by Representative Foss of
Illinois, Republican, at the request
of the Democratic members Of the
rules committee. 1t is said. He asked
that it be placed on the calendar. and
it was done without debate.
But Mr.. Gardner did not wait. The
house was in the committee of the
whole considering homestead bill
when he heard Of the report. and OBJ
tanning time for speech, he launch.
ed into vigorous attack on the rules
committee. declaring that its failure
to report a straight warning resolu-
ton could be attributed only to parti-
sanship and fear Of the result Of such
q vote.
As Mr.. Gardner finished speaking. a
score of representatives, who have
been nursing warning resolution
speeches for days, sprang to their feet
and pleaded with the leaders in charge
of the homestead bill for chance to
talk. Representative Mann took the
first opportunity on the Republican
side to talk himself.
Mann Heartily cheered.
The galleries seemed to fill by magic
and representatives rushed in from
His opening words. de-
claring that Mr.. Gardner spoke for
no one but himself, were greeted with
applause and thenceforth until the con.
clusion of his speech, which lasted
about fifteen minutes, he frequently
was interrupted by shouts of approval.
81 dare say" said Mr. Mann, there
are few members of the house who
would say that the McLemore resolu-
ton, so called, expressed his senti-
ment or his position, and l undertake
to say that majority of the members
IF this house, if they expressed their
opinion. are of the opinion that Ameri
ian citizens at this time ought not to
the situation by travelling
in armed merchant vessels"
oeMno r1ren IN oacnn0e