The Washington times., 1916-02-24
WILSON STANDS FIRM,
FLURRYAT CAPITOL
No Confirmation to Rumor That
Lansing Differs With the
President.
tcontInued from Firrt PaEe.l

CONTINUED from First Page)
called, and there swept over the House
feeling Of near hysteria.
In the Senate the chairman OF the
Foreign Relations Committee. opposed
to the Presidents policy. canvassed his
advocate of a resolution TO warn Ameri-
cans to stay OF Of armed vessels.
Meaning Of Revolt.
There was no Democrat present at the
conference of the House members Of the
Foreign Affairs Committee who was at
heart in sympathy with the Presidents
position.
One member Of the committee had In
his possession q resolution Of warning.
Its Introduction was temporarily with
held.
It Is authoritatively said that there 10
| everywhere a feeling IN Congress that
| the Wilson course meaps:
First-The sinking OF an armed mer-
chantman with Americans aboard.
Second-The breaking OF of dipio-
| matte relations with Germany.
-Coneressmen Cline. shackelford. and
Smith. three Of the strongest Demo-
cratic members of the House Committee
on Foreign Affairs, are avowed sup
| poTleTb OF resolution 10 warn Amert-
cans not to use armed vessels Of bellig-
| erents
such a resolution. the President in
effect told Senators Stone and Kern and
Congressman Flood on Monday night.
VIII be regarded by him as a, personal
affront and an interference with the Ad-
uation. - -. -.
Congressman Flood conferred with the
President over the telephone last even
ing and Is understood TO have promised
to keep the President advised of de-
velopments. When Mr.. Flood will call
/ at the White House In not announced.
Presidents position from a standpoint
| OF law. influential members OF Con-
Rress say this nation is not ready TO go
to war for technical principle.
Attitude Of House.
Senator Stone Is quoted as having
said to one OF his colleagues that he
could not follow the leadership Of the
President into war"
That is also the attitude probably OF
a large majority Of the House. They
fear war in the imme ediate future and
would rather yield on a technical prin-
ciple to q nation lighting for its life
than TO insist upon that principle and
draw into the European conflict tho
only great nation now neutral
| According to one Of the best inform
ed and most powerful leaders In Con-
gress the movement for the passage
| OF resolution of warning to Ameri-
cans has assumed such headway that
1t.
Two Possibilities.
The resolution may be stopped. he
says. by one OF two developments: ...
| A modification Of tho Presidents
| position.
The granting OF additional time by
Germany in making effective her new
submarine policy.
| The latter development. II, is feared,
may not come about II more time
and a solution could be reached per-
haps.
That 1t may be necessary for the
President to take Congress fully into
his confidence regarding the delicate
lsituation-if the President would pre-
vent action that he vigorously 'op-
poses-is the belief in many quarters
| today.
Came Unexpectedly.
The sudden revolt against the Admin-
istration came unexpectedly yesterday
afternoon as the membership OF both
bodies became nppfised OF what hap
pened at the Monday night conference
Of the President with Senators Stone
| ana Kern and Congressman Flood.
The rank and file learned through q
| series OF whispered conferences in
clcakrooms and corridors. that the in
ternationai situation was one of grave
President had said ne proposed to have
O 'showdown' on the submarine issue;
that that he was willing 70 stand by his po-
It was. fuIthernore. reported that
Ambassador Bernstorff was about to
tell this Government that no German
assurances could be applied to Amer
icans travelling on armed merchantmen
Fear Suddenly Arises.
II was then that members became
panic-stricken. A member Of the House
OF twenty years experience says there
tions on the floor and in the cloak
rooms since the outbreak OF the Span
ish war.
Fear Travelled from one man to an
other-the fear that the Wilson policy
is gradually drawing this nation into
the vortex Of Durope's war. The pros
pective breaking off OF diplomatic re-
latons, the average member of Con-
sress believes, is but q curtain raiser to
actual war with the Kaiser.
Are we going to sit still and permit
this nation to go to war for a principle
more or less technical? Congress can
not aff0rd to do II.
general feeling.
In connection with the dramatic de-
velopments OF the day there became
current the report OF Senator Stones
virtual challenge to the President at
the conference Of Monday night .wher.
President Wilson unreservedly Informed
tho two Senators and Mr.. Flood OF mis-
opposition to a resolution similar to that
which IL now threatened.
IL was authoritauvely stated on the
House side today that when the Presi-
; dent Informed Senator Stone OF his will
ingness to 30 to almost any extreme In
; support OF the principle that Americans
; have a right to travel on armed mer-
chantmen, and the United States would
sever diplomatic relations with Ger
:: many II this principle is again violated,
senator stone banged his fist on the
residents desk and said
"May Mean War;"
Mr.. President. would you draw q
shutter over my eyes and my intellect.
You have no right to ask me to follow
such a course. II may mean war for