The Washington times., 1916-03-02
House Plays for Time,
Meeting Is Postponed

the international situation would De-
cCmc more complicated ana dangerous.
with the House In its present temper
and laboring under the fear OF ultimate
war IL will be impossible to obtain uE'
animous action on any resolution.
Willing To Show Confidence.
There are many members, II was
argued, who are willing to express con-
fidence In the President and leave the
handling Of diplomatic affairs in his
hands, II. In the same resolution. there
Is carried warning that patriotic
Americans should remain on belllger-
ent vessels during the present crisis. A
Republican leader of the House said the
minority probably would cast a large
vote for such a doubled barreled res
olution." although there In no assurance
OF strong Republican support for a mere
resolution OF coincidence In the Pres
ident.'
The main objective OF the House Re-
publicnns now Is to postpone the report
Of any resolution from the Foreign At
fairs Committee ana to let the situation
meanwhile the President may have
cause 20 modify his demand for imme-
diate action. There Is considerable SEN
timent on the Democratic side for such
"TSe President.; said a Democratic
leader, has revived this matter and
asked for vote on a matter upon
which there cannot be unanimous ac-
tion. Action is dangerous, because Il
the President and would defeat the very
end he seeks to accomplish"
The situation In the House, where
center today the cross-currents. OF OPP
position to the Presidents request. is
exactly the reverse of that presented
one week ago. At that time the Presi-
dent and his advisers were seeking 10
fcrestall action on any resolution relat-
ing TO international affairs. The For
favorable to action. finally acquiesced
| and put on the soft pedal"
Wants Action.
Today the President desires action or
! resolution he formerly opposed, and
the Foreign Affairs Committee is fol
| inactivity.
that the Republican minority of the
| committee Is solid In opposition to any
| prompt action, and that the Democrats
are almost unanimous In their view
| that an attempt should be made to save
the situation .by delay-"stalling," n
| one member expressed 1t.
The committee membership rejected
| every proposition for a showdown or
morrow" was the slogan of the fright
ened members.
| Among the developments at the com
mittee meeting were the following:
Congressman Miller of MinneAots
sought to interest the COMMITTEES, tc
consideration OF a resolution either
expressing the confidence OF Con
press in the Presidents foreign poll
cies Or warning Americans not L
travel ON belligerent chips. Mr.. NIL
was merely ito get something tan
gible before the committee" Th'
Miller suggestion was met with
chorus of noes"
Congressman Shackelford suggest
ed that the committee consider
compromise resolution, one tina
would express confidence in tn
President in its preamble but ndvis
Americans that during the pendenc!
Of diplomatic negotiations with Ger
many It would Re unwisc and un
patriotic for citizens Of this countr!
to embarrass their Government b!
taking passage on armed merchant
men. This suggestion. too. was re
jected.
Chairman Flood told his colleague
he understood the President did no
desire n coloIless vote on indorse
ment. that Mr., Wilson wanted
showdown on a resolution similar 4
that of Mr.. McLemore and on tn
broad principle OF whether Ameri
cans have right to use the seas.
Can near Him Later.
Congressman Harrison suggests
that Secretary Lansing be called be
fore tho committee and asked abou
the details of the diplomatic CORE
Rpondence and the controversy wit
Germany. Members of the commit
tee who desired to put of actio
until the situation SINNERS down
! informed Mr.. Harrison that Mr.. Ian
J sing could be heard later"
Reports were again current on II
J Democratic side today that Postmastt
: General Burleson had advised the Pres
! iuent to demand showdown In Cor
gress: This report did not add to til
} complaccncy of the average Democra
: Both Postmaster General Burlesc
and Secretary McAdoO arc understoo
: to have incidentally informed Demo
Gratis VINO called at their department
that the Administration does not wal
passed colorless resolution of cont
I denco in the President"
Democrats were given to understan
tnat Mr.. Wilson seeks signal defeat {
resolution warning Americans not I
travel on armed merchantmen. and IL
House Is that II will be difficult I
adopt such resolution without revea
Ing that many members OF Congress al
: against the Presidents policy.
!; Senate Will Back Him.
The Senate on a vote will stand b
Q the President and turn down warnir
resolutions. The Presidents supporter
: expres1 confidence that he would VI
: In the House.
1t Is the more uncertain because
number of Democrats are waverir
back and forth, under the political di
comfort OF being compelled to face 0
issue they hoped to avoid
Many OF the Democratic members d
clare they arc politically ruined. !
matter which way they vote. The r.
publican members to some extent Re
thC same way. but much less keenIy
The report has been widely circulat,
that the President has let some OF h
intimates know he will not run unle
the Democrats in Congress stand ba,
of him on the warning question and
foreign policies. A seething undercu
rent Of politics is sweeping about Il
Capitol.