The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1916-03-01
Dear Mr.. President:

ment committee IsE,s 81
Dear Mr.. President: Ne
''since Senator Kern. Mr.. Flood and
I talked with YOU on Monday evening.
I am more troubled than l. have, BEEN
for many a day. ! have not felt auy
thorize'1 to repeat our conversations;
but have attempted. in response t0l
numerous inquiries from mys COLI
leagues. to state to, them. within thS1
confidence that they should observe,
my general understanding OF your. at y
titude. have stated my understands n
ing OF your attitude to besubstan-
tally a. follows: ~ 3 sSa'sas ..ss
THAT while you would deeply, rs3
gret the, rejection by Great Britain
OF Mr.. Iansina's proposal for the dis.
armament Of merchant vessels OF the
allies with the understanding thar;
4ssSisek r. ~ 3 Z ~ ~ - -
upon q merchant ship IL che halted
when. summoned. not attempting to
escape, and that the German, war
ships would only exercise the admit
ted right of visitation and search and
would not destroy the captured ship
except In circumstances that reason
ably assured the safety of passengers
and crew, you were OF the opinion
that IL Great Britain ana her allies
rejected the proposition and insisted
upon arming her merchant ships she
would be within right under inter-
national law. Also that you would
feel disposed to allow armed vessels
to be cleared from our ports; also that
you are not favorably disposed to the
idea Of this, government taking any
definite steps toward preventing Amer
lean citizens from embarking upon
armed merchant vessels. Furthermore
that you would consider it your dutY,
II German warship should fire upon
an armed merchant vessel Of tho
enemy upon which American citizens
were passengers to hold Germany to
strict account.
"Numerous members of the senate
and the house have called to discuss
this subject with me. have felt that
the members Of the two houses who
are to deal with this grave question
were entitled to know the situation
we are confronting as I understand IL
to be. think I should say to you
that the members Of both houses feel
deeply concerned and disturbed by
what they read and hear. have
heard Of some talk to the effect that
some are saying that after all it may
be possible that the programme of
preparedness. socalled, has some rela-
tion to such 9 situation as we are now
called upon to meet. I have counseled
all who have talked with me to keep
cool; that this whole business is still
tho subject of diplomacy and that you
are striving to the utmost to bring
"oo"I some peaceable adjustment and
that in the meantime congress should
be careful not to ball up a diplomatic
situation by any kind Of hasty and i'll
considered action. However, the situa-
tion in congress is such as to excite a
sense OF deep concern in the minds OF
careful and thoughtful men. I have
felt that 1t is due to you to say that
much.
Il think you understand my per-
sonal attitude with respect to this SUBJ
)ect. AS much and as deeply as 1 |
would hate to radically disagree with
you I find it difficult for my sense of
duty and responsibility to consent to |
plunge this nation into the vortex Of |
this world war because of the unrea-
sonable Obstinacy OF any of the |
powers upon the ono hand, or, on the |
other hand. of foolhardiness, amount
Ing to n sort Of moral treason against |
The republic Of our people recklessly
risklng their lives on armed belliger- |