The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1916-03-07
Rules Committee Provides For
Four Hours of Debate and
Then Final Action
BRYAN NOW FAVORS
COURSE NOW PROPOSE
Although He Thinks at Some
Future Time a Warning Re-
solution Should Be Adopted
by Congress
tBy WILLIS j. ABBoTT.)

washington. d, c.. March s.--Bs-
ing in committee of the whole to dis
cuss a homestead bill, the House to-
dav omitted foods of inconclnsive
oratorv on the armed-ship issue.
The Senate last week could not wait
to debate before acting. me Houso
could not walt for the time to act
before talking, and the match beins
set to the finder by Representative
Gardner spiuttered away in q DEBATE
which is only valuable as showing that
most of the Republican members Will
try TO defeat any rule for acting uron
the McLemore resolutions. As ma
iority of the Democrats secretly SYM
pathize with this purpose there Is
possibility of such action tomorrow az
will regulate the McLemore resoiu-
tions to the calendar never to Dc
heard of again. Two distinguished
private citizens dropped into
Washington and the influence OF their
presence upon the course OF events
is vet 10 be determined. Colonel f.
NJ House. professional friend and
philosopher to the President II not
his guide, was at the White House,.
eofoner william J. Bryan, whose
friendship is merely matter o.
doubt, but to whom the President
owes his present high estate and neavy
responsibilities, Iunched with party
OF about twenty preparedness
congressman. He did not call at the
White House.
Bryan For Tabling Resolution.
Although the Bryan luncheon, at
which Congressman Bailey. leader OF
the anti-preparedness forces. was
host. was behind closed doors. little
secrecy attached to what was said.
~. t.t. ~,
urged it tonight on the President,
based on the present situation in the
House He advised those present to
vote for the tabling OF the McLe-
more resolution, although he favored
the passage II not now at some FIJI
ture time, of a resolution warning
Americans from armed belligerent
liners But Mr. Bryan based his ac-s
quiescence in the report of the For-
eign Affairs Committee recommending
the tabling of the resolutions upon
this section.
I'VE know that If the President
reaches a point in any negotiations
with foreign governments at which
he believes he has exceeded his pow
er. he will in the usual way report
all facts and circumstances to Con.
gress for its action.
Ii Is in order that this expression
may be written into the record that
many members of Congress are going
to vote for the report OF the commit
tee. which means the tabiinx of tbs
resolutions
The parasraph. curiously enough.
was written into the report of this
Democratic committee bv a Republic
can Stephen q Porter Of Pittsb,rrr
.sYo,t say we know. the President
win do 30 and So ?. he was asked
How do Won know ~
.weU We don't know" was ths
answer. "hrlt stating 1t thus as fact
is enuivalent ia serving notice IN the
president that he is eypected to sub
mi. ali yravelv- menacinr matters r.
i ConeresS and we do NOT believe thai
in face of that no,ification he will
fait to do so'.
The debate in the House TODAY be.
ean with Renresentottve C;ardner;s A..
S1,rc;atian ~ ,ha annarsnt n,,rnns.
To dafsat tbe rnia for the eonsidera-
lion 90 fhe Mel emora reso,ntion rs.
n',hl,can leader Mar, resnonded IN
saFansa ~ nolicv ~ NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
~ tho Tio,,sa J., foraigr afrairs Il
th;. ,,,o,,ent He MAS c,aar ais
! onininn that q ma ioritv ~ the Homss
IA warning resolutions though moi