Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1916-03-04
Action on Warning Resolu-
tons Is Postponed I'm
til Next Monday.
LEADERS FEEL SURE
Officials Confident of the De-
feat of the McLemore
Measure.

Washington, March 4.-The next step
in President Wilson's fight to dispose
of the armed ship agitation in congress
has been postponed until Tuesday be-
cause of the absence of a number of
members on weekend trips.
Early today administration leaders in
the house decided not to insist on a
vote today. This afternoon the rules
committee will meet to frame rule to
table the McLemore resolution to warn
Americans off the armed ships of the
European belligerents.
The rule will be brought In with the
first business Tuesday when admin
istratiOn forces plan to dispose Of it by
substantial majority. The foreign az
fairs committee already has agreed on
the resolution.
Administration forces plan that the
action in the house shall give no room
for doubts of the decisive character
Of the sentiment in congress. They
plan that the action to table the Nc
Lemore resolution, which will include
declaration that the president shall
handle diplomatic affairs, without con-
gressonaI interference.
The leaders are confident they have
the votes to make their victory COM
plete and undisputed.
Majority Leader kitchin, soon after
noon began notifying members that they
would not be needed to vote until next
Tuesday at the earliest.
Bryan in Washington.
William J. Bryan came to town to-
day to fulfill a lecture engagement
here tonight Administration leaders
speculated over whether Mr.. Bryan's
coming had anything to do with the
delay on voting on the armed ship is
sue in the house and the decision of
the leaders there to postpone action
until Tuesday at least
Administration officials said today
yesterday to table the Gore resolution
were voting for the presidents policy
and that should the house fail to vote
10 uphold the president in decisive
form the fight might be carried back
10 the senate for a direct vote to de-
feat the Gore resolution warning
Americans of ships of belligerent ma
tons They expressed confidence that
complete victory would follow such a
course
RumOr Is Attacked,
Aroused by publication of reports
yesterday that President Wilson be-
cause Of the strain of the foreign sit
uation was considering resigning from
Office, the White house today issued
this formal statement:
When Secretary Tumulty's atten-
lion was called to the story appearing
IN certain papers that the president
had resigned or was considering re-
signing, he said:
An American newspaper that
would publish story Of that kind in
situation like the one which now con-
fronts America, dishonors itself.
Delay Not Wanted.
Decision of house leaders today to
postpone a vote until Monday was
reached without consultation with the
president and confused the situation.
1t was said the White house was OPP
posed to postponing action.
There also was some objection from
sons OF the administration adherents'
Chairman Flood of the foreign AFFAIRS
committee, all the members OF the
rules committee and many OF the
leaders gathered in Speaker Clarh 3
ONCE to discuss the situation.
Acting Chairman Pou OF the rules
committee at the beginning OF the con-
ference said +ha situation was IN