Rogue River courier. (Grants Pass, Or.) 19??-1918, 1916-02-25

PRES|DE n |
FIRM IN HIS
STAND
Arguments Of Confer ence
Committee Fail to Swerve
Him, and Cabinet Supports
tie Executive n Policy

Washington. Feb. 25.-Arguments
OF house conferees on the German
situation failed to swerve President
Wilson today from his stand that the
German armed merchantmen decree
trangresses International law and
that Americans ought not to be warn
ed from such vessels.
After nearly an hours session win
Speaker Clark, Majority Leader
Kitchin and Chairman Flood Of the
house foreign committee, there was
still disagreement between the pre-
sident and congress as to the decree.
The upshot Of the session. however.
was no action was to be taken by
congress today. at least.
President Wilson .emphatically told
the conferees that he would not
bulge from his plan Of insisting that
Germany recognize every American
right.
Just as. positively. Speaker Champ
clark rep4s5d that ths house IL over
whelming in favor Of issuing q warn
ling.
Following the conferees' confer
|ence an epochal session Of the cabinet
was scheduled to consider fhe Ger
man problem.
Senator Stones letter announcing
his view that a warning should be
issued to Americans not to travel on
armed belligerent merchant vessels
ELECTED another letter from the pre-
sident last night, in which he adhered
to the decision that while. he would
try to maintain peace. he would do so
only If the honor Of America was up
held.
Stone announced, however, in his
letter that he would try to prevent
an outbreak in the senate on the
subject of issuing q warning.
The Stone letter followed report
ed disagreement between him and
President Wilson in their Monday
night conference. Stone said he had
revealed the presidents position in
so far as he could without violating
confidence. This position showed the
president to be firmly for insistence
upon the rights Of Americans to
travel ON armed ships.
For the present the house will take
no action. the conferees said, II is
not believed that members will evolve
their decision before next week. In
the interval Germany's reply to the
American position VIII undoubtedly
be at hand, so that the president will
have an opportunity to determine his
further action, which undoubtedly
will have bearing on the position
congress takes.
In leaving the conference, Speaker
Clark. 'besieged by newspapermen.
said:
II told the president what the SEN
timent of the house is. Senator
Stones letter and the presidents
reply are the last word on both sides
OF the question. When the. house
members read these letters they win
determine what the situation Is"
While the conferees admitted that
neither side had succeeded In chang
ing the convictions Of the other. they
said they had promised the president
their utmost support in preventing
summary action on the part Of the
house.
Upon reaching his office at the
capitol. Speaker Clark elaborated his
previous statement, saying.
There Is rumor that Germans
win postpone operation OF their de-
cree to the middle OF March or the
first OF April. I am Just guessing at
this, but II II is true, It will give more
time for consideration. n they post
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