New Britain herald., 1916-03-07
CONSCIENCE FORCES
 PAGE TO GET OUT
Will Retire to Private Life Be-
 Iievin8 America Is UDneutral

Washington, March Tn a state ment in which he asserted that the loan of $5OO,OOO,OOO to the allies had destroyed the semb1ance of neutral ity of the United States. Representa- tive Robert N. Page, North Caro- lima democrat, brother of the Am- bassador to the Court of St. James, announced that he would retire from public life because he could not fol- low the foreign policy of the admin istration.
 Without opposition within his party in North Carolina, MT. Page, in an open letter to his constituents declines to stand for re-nomination. Facing a vote on the armed ship issue, upon which the president in sists, MT. Page says that by this vote he runs the risk of "Staining my hands with the blood of my country men,
 Referring to the loan to the allies, the brother of the American Am bassador to Great Britain says:
 Jesus Christ never uttered a more profound truth than when he de- clared: Where your treasure is, there will your heart be also'
 Neutrality Destroyed.
 '"The loan of $500, ,OoO to Eng land bq American capitalists to say nothing of the profits of munitions manufacturers, has destroyed the semblance even of neutrality in the United States, and will probably lead us into war. I have no German nor pro-anything sentiment or in clinatiOn other than pro- o-American. I realize very forcibly my obligation to my immediate constituency and to the American people. I will not stultify my conscience or stain my hands with the blood of my country men: neither will l do injustice to my conscientious convictions of duty, thereby forfeiting my self-respect.
 And now, while, so far as l alil informed, 1 would have no opposi- tion for re-nomipation in the ap preaching primary, I desire to an nounce l will not be a candidate for the nomination."
 Other portions of MT. Pages state ment indirectly criticized President Wilson for asking members of con- gress to vote on foreign relations, which he regarded as the peculiar province of the executive.
 Representative Page is serving his seventh term in the houSe or representatives. He is member or the house committee on approprla- tions and has been regarded hereto fore as one of the administration leaders of the lower chamber.
 Favors Warning Resolution
 When the armed ship issue first became acute in congress nearly two weeks ago, MT. Page lined up with Representative kitChin of his own state, the majority leader, and several other North Carolina members in advocating taking measures to warn Americans not to use the armed VeS- Sels of belligerentS. MT. Page and MT. Kitchin were in almost daily con- ference over a situation which they jointly felt might eventually lead the United States into war.
 MT. Page, however, eventually agreed to the suppression of the agi- tation in the house. Then the presj- dent wrote a letter to Acting Chair man Pou of the rules committee, who is also a North Carolinain, demanding a vote in congress on the arm med-Ship controversy.
 Friends of MT. Page say that he immediately became concerned be- cause of conflicting emotionS-a de- sire to stand with his party's titular leader, and his firm belief that no American should be allowed to use a belligerent vessel. His decision to retire from public life, however. will come as a distinct surprise to his colleagues this morning, and created something of a sensation here last night among the few persons who heard of his action.