The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1916-01-12
SENATORS TALK OUT
FOREIGN AFFAIRS DISCUSSED
FROM VARIOUS ANGLES
PARTY lines OBsCURED

President Wilson Gets Praise From
Republicans and Knocks From
Democrats-James Sharp William.
Vigorously Praises Clear Visionet
Man in White House.
Bonds of restraint against publ,
discussion Of international relation:
Of the United States incident to thu
European war were broken in the
Senate Wednesday, and for more
than an hour the session was enliv
ened by debate over the government!
neutrality policy, exports OF wal
munitions and travel by American
citizens on belligerent-owned ships
There was no division of the de
baters along party lines. Senator
Jones of Washington, Republican
denounced as "unpatriotic" American
citizens who imperilled the nation b!
taking passage on belligerent vessels
Senator Works. of California, Repub
lican, asserted that the governmen,
Of the United States was "hypocriti
cally" claiming to be neutral when il
was in fact participating in the wal
through the sale of munitions.
Senator Lodge, ranking Republican
member OF the foreign relations com
mittee, declared that to place an EN-.
barge on arms now would be worth
more to Germany, than a million
men, cit would be grossly unneutrar
and would, in fact, make the United
States the ally Of Germany.
Senators O'Gorman of New York
and Hitchcock Of Nebraska, both
Democrats, urged the advisa bility OF
an embargo on, munitions. Senator
O'Gorman also informed the Senate
that American Consul R. N. McNeely
who lost his life on the British liner
Persia, had disregarded the advice OF
American Consul General Skinner, al
London, that he make the journey tc
Alden on Dutch vessel.
The discussion was precipitated
when Senator Jones read news
paper editorial urging American citi-
zens to keep off belligerent ships and
advising the president to proceed
slowly in the present crisis, needing
the interest of ninety-nine millions
Of Americans rather than that of a
thousand reckless, inconsiderate
and unpatriotic citizens who insist on
travelling on belligerent ships"
Senator Nelson Of Minnesota, Re-
publican, aroused Senator O'Gorman
by asking whether Senator Jones re-
garded Consul McNeely unpatriotic
because he sailed for his post on the
Persia. After the New York senator
had explained that McNeeiy had de-
clined to heed Consul General Skin
ner's advice to sail on Dutch ship.
Senator Works blazed the way to
general debate on the position CT the
United States in the war BY declaring
the American government was not
neutral.
Asserting at the outset that the
government shared responsibility for
deaths of Americans on the Lusitania
the California senator said:
"The government knew that the
Lusitania was loaded to the guards
with ammunition and explosives. Pas
sengers were permitted in spite of
this, to travel on the vessel. The
government itself, in full knowledge
that the ship carried munitions of
war, IS morally responsible for the
deaths Of our citizens"
When Senator Works declared the
United States actually was partici-
pating in the war by the sale Of
munitions Senator Reed, Democrat,
interrupted to ask:
"Does the senator know that the
first loan placed in this country after
the war began was a loan of $780,
100000 to Germany, and that the
loan was made without protest from
him or any other citizen? Does the
senator not know that Germany pro-
cured arms in this country as long
as it was possible for her to get
them?"
That may all be true" Senator
Works replied, "but it does not alter
the situation"
"If it be true" continued Senator
Reed, that the markets Of this
country are free and open to Ger
many as we'll as to all other coun-
tries, and that this government does
not distinguish between any oelliger-
ent nations, then how can the sena-
tor say that this government has
taken an unneutral position?"
ut is impossible to get arms to
Germany, and I say it is morally
for this government to permit
shipments of arms to any of the bel
Iigerents," Senator Works insisted.
He added that his principal objection
was based on a conviction that the
United States was aiding in prolong-
ing the war and the killing of men,
and that he would not only put an
embargo on munitions, but also on
shipment of food and clothing to the
armies of Europe.
Senator Lodge, in upholding the
position of the United States as to the
shipment of munitions, engaged in a
lengthy colloquy with Senators
Hitchcock and others.
"Our markets are open to all the
world to buy" said Senator Lodge.
"a condition has beeI created by this
war, and by the war alone, which
prevents one or more bclligerents
buying in this market. If we under
take to reverse condition created
by the war we at once enter into the
war and endeavor to restore a condi-
ton existing before the war, and that
is an act Of unneutrality."
Evidently in time of war, such as
is now disturbing the peace of the
world" Senator O'Gorman rejoined.
almost any act of a neutral power
would be regarded by SOM as an act
Of partiality, but, in my judgment.
this government, if it deemed it best
for the American nation and the best
security Of peace with all tie nations
could place an embargo against the
shipment of munitions to any bellig-
erent without exposing itself to the