The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1916-03-03

that reason have not been disposed
to press the measure for. the accom-
plishment of this purpose. There is
some force in the proposal of the SEN
ators from Mississippi and Massachu-
sets that we ought to have a show
down upon this point-perhaps not
exactly the point involved in the res
o1ution as I have offered it. That
would accomplish in an indirect way
the point which had Immediately be-
fore my eyes.
when this resolution comes up for
consideration intend to check that is
sue up to the Senate as to whether or
not the sinking of an armed merchant
ship by a. German submarine would be
deemed by this Senate a sufficient
cause for a, declaration of war. That
is the point involved in this contro-
versy; that is the point which I
sought to accomplish by this resolu-
tion-not directly, but indirectly and
by lnputation. We shall present the
issue squarely to the Senate.
Thought Wilson Favored War
FtMr. president, introduced this res
olution because I was >apprehensive
that we were speeding headlong upon
war. Perhaps I ought to go further
and say what have hitherto avoided
saying, that my action was based upon
a report received which seemed to
come from the highest and most re-
sponsib1e authority, that certain SEN
ators and certain members of the
House in a conference with the Pres
ident of the United States received
from the president the information, if
not the declaration, that if Germany
insisted upon her position, the United
States would insist upon her position,
and that 1t would result probably in
breach of diplomatic relations, and
that a breach of diplomatic relations
would probably be followed by a state
of war, and that state of war might
not be of itself and of necessity an
evil to this republic, but the United
States by entering upon war now
might be able to bring it to a conc1u-
sion by midsummer, and thus render
a great service to civilization.
''Mr. President, cannot say WA.
the truth may be. I tell the tale as
it was told to me. This came to my
ears in such way, with such a con-
currence of testimony, with such in
terna1 and external marks of truth,
and if such a thing be even conceiv-
able I did not feel that discharging
my duty as a Senator, I could with
hold whatever feeble service might
render to avert the catastrophe of
war.
''Now I do not know that this re-
port is the truth. I simply suggest it
as explaining my own conduct.
think the Senator from Massachu- |
pi are right in saying that the Pres |
ident has a right to know whether |
Congress will back him in the opfn-
ion, if he has such opinion, that
the sinking of an armed beligerent |
ship will be a sufficient cause for
war; and I think, too, that members |
of the Senate and of the House have
a right to know whether the opinion |
and sentiment imputed to the Presi- |
dent were given in their interview |
with him.
Stone Denies 1t
eff the Senator from Missouri CMr.
Stone) will deny that suggestions of
that sort in substance were made, his
denial would be conclusive with me.
If the Senator from Indiana (Mr.
Kern) will say to the Senate upon his
responsibility as a Senator that the
mi ght not be undesirable, and that
this republic could render a great
service to civilization, his denial will
be binding upon me-"
Mr.. Stone-Mr. President, I do not
know why the Senator from Okla
homa quotes me as saying
Mr.. Gore-Mr. President, I did not
quote the Senator as saying 1t; pot
at ALL
Mr.. Stone-Then I say in all fair
ness to the President, and to the facts
of the case so far as they are within
my knowledge, that the President new
er stated to me in my hearing that
he believed in any way, or in any way
the thought, that war be-
tween the United States and the Cen
trail Powers would be desirable or
would result in good to the United
States.
Senator tSone whispered something
to Senator Gore.
ct will accept the remark of the
Senator from Indiana, (Mr. Kern,)"
said Senator Gore, ''that he has pas
sion for peace. We all have a passion
for peace. Yet want to say in this
place that am not for peace at any
price. 1 do not believe that all peace
is honorable, nor do believe that all
war is dishonorab1e. Our revolution
was surcharged with glory.
ST say that I heard this in such
way that, Analysing the evidence, I
was convinced that it must be found
ed upon fact, that the President Sug-
gested to the Senator that the United
States might bring the war to a close
by the middle of the Summer. Am L
right in that, may I ask the Senator
from Missouri?
1.-The President of the United
States replied Mr.. Stone, made no
such statement to me as quoted by
the Senator from Oklahoma What
ever the President said to me is
som ething that do not care to re-
peat. When go to the White House
to hold a conversation with the Presi-
dent if go anywhere to hold a
conversation with a Senator or any
other official, what he says to me is
sacred. I have not repeated con-
versations I have had with the Presi-
dent. I have stated impressions that
the conversations which I had with
him made upon my mind, and stated
them in substance in a letter wrote
to the President which was given to
the public, but I have not repeated
the conversations themselves
James Questions Him.
Now said Mr.. Gore, 81 made no
that the Senator had re-
peated the Presidents conversation