New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-03-03


behalf that he had told the members Of
Congress he could not predict what
would follow breaking Of diplomatic
relations. and had expressed in the
most vigorous terms the hope .hat the
United States would not be drawn into
war and his determination 70 continue
20 bend his every effort 10 prevent d..
II was denied that the President sa'd
anything 20 convey the impression that
he desired the United States 20 enter
the war 10 shorten j. or for any other
reason, but he reiterated the necessity
Of UNFOLDING the national honor OF the
United States at all costs.
Effect on Foreign Situation.
No attempt was made 70 minimize
the realization Of the effect Senator
Cores declaration might have on TIE
foreign situation a. this time. ana on
all sides il was admitted 20 be prooaDly
the most serious turn that has yet De"h
given 10 the situation
To-day's debate in the Senate was
precipitated by Senator stone at the re-
quest. il is understood, o. the Presi-
dent. Obtaining recognition during the
discussion of the water power bill, Sen
ator Stone stated AZ length the present
controversy over armed ships, ms own
position. which is that the arming even
for defence Of merchant ship makes
il war vessel. and the desire OF the
President for vote on the penang
resolutions, 70 end all doubt in foreign
capitals as 10 the attitude of Congress
in supporting or failing TO support the
President.
At the close Of his address he said
ne was framing a resolution, "hich ne
=. .
tions. and which would be voted on by
the Senate tomorrow
in the afternoon Republican Senators
warned Democratic Senators that WINE
they would vote 20 sustain the fIesl-
dent bv voting 10 kin the Jones and
Gore resolutions. they would not Fole
g. mass any resolution which might con
:ein the slightest trace OF an indol So
mcnt Of the Administration foreign
rolicy. So emphatic were these dec-
iarations that Senator stone was pre-
vailed upon by Democratic Senators 70
rive up the idea Of drawing up lew
resolution. on which the Republicans
would hesitate 20 vote without pro
found study, lest they give vote when
might be construed as a blanket IN
dOrsement of the Administrator
whole foreign policy. -.
Senator Lodge rose on the Repubii-
car side TO defend the Presidents posi-
ton. lie agreed with Senator stone IN
his conclusion that the issue was by
far the most important one before Con
press. and that IL should be square.y
net. and urged that the President had
q right 20 ask Congress for a vote on
the precise question of warning en-
bodied i'm the Gore resolution. In en-
phatic language he upheld the determl-
nation Of the President that nothing
should be done 10 abridge the right Of
Americans TO the freedom of the seas,
q right that had not been challenged
for centuries.
Williams Assails Agitators.
Senator Williams, Of the Foreign Re
lations Committee. following Senator
Lodge, made an impassioned attack on
the agitators, who, with interfering
resolutions and cloakroom talk, have
embarrassed the cause of the United
States in its controversy with Ger
many.
you have dared the President until
now" declared Senator Williams. "he
says: Il will pick up the gauntlet. l
an tired. II the patriotism Of the
Congress IL behind ne let US find it
out. If il is not. let us find IL out
again. II | am to be hamstrung and
hampered. just 20 further and Kill me
as negotator and abandon it
Talk about war! The only danger
OF war to-day, the only cloud upon the
horizon, has come about from the fact
that the President was not let alone 70
carry out negotiations, but that some
of you, forsooth, must create the in,-
preston that the American people and
their representatives were not behind
the American government Il is 70
your action, and 10 your action alone.
ia my opinion. that is due ,he las.
position taken by Germany.
THE President has been compelled
70 confront the present situation by
constant nacging. constant quizzing
and constant expression OF opinion =
favor of the negotiators Of foreign
power as against our own. The time
has come when for me, at any rate, tho
question states itself in this way:
Shall | oxclaim. America first or shall
sing Deutschland Uber Allies?
For the politics in this question l
have the highest contempt. The man
who is a Representative az the other
wing Of this Capitol, or who is a Sen
ator here and is looking behind him
somewhere at some racial vote of some
sort, Is not only not patriotic Amer
can, but he is poor judge of human
nature, and he is an even poorer poll.
\ ;ician.
3, The moment that any political ele-
ent or any other element shall plan;
.emselves upon the idea Of pleasing q
particular racial element. that moment
they make foolish politicians OF them
selves if nothing else, because that mo-
ment j, consolidates every other ele-
nent Of diverse and different jeriva-
tion in the United States against
them"