Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1916-01-27
;rcut Britain's Interference with
u. s. Trade Called perpetual
MISUNDERSTANDING Branded
as equity of Murder"
H0KE SMITH IS RAMPANT
Pleads for Action to Prevent
England Advancing Her Own
Trade at Expense Of United
t,tates--John Sharp Williams
Makes Stirring Speech.

=. :rshinyton Jan. 2o.--Jssucs arising
from the European war were discussed
without restraint in the Senate to-day IN
tie warnest debate on international qucS-
ticns since Congress convened. Great
Bri;aIn's Interference with American
made was characterized as perpetual
rubbery;" Germany was branded as
".:il,lty of murder pleas we're made f''
en embargo or ml.i.!tlon5 and toodstuiis
70 England: and charges were made ana
denied tha+ British colsorS Intercepted
a American mail u t-Hs advantage "f trade
secrets Possibility Of war to enforce
American rights did no: escape attention.
but the suggestion of war was counter
balanced with appeal f.: ce4m dclocra-
ton to await justice from cooler heads
after beligerouts had recovered from war
madness
Debate vas rTcc;p;;.ied by Senator
1Ioke Smith of Georgia. WHO pleaded for
action to prevent England from advanc
Ing her own trade at the expense of the
United States while attempting to de-
stroy Germany commercially. lie de-
clared that the rights aof citizens of the
United states and other neutral nations
were DtlnB GtChtSSIN hISltSulbN ''i''
EMPHASIZED particularly what he de-
nounced as Great Brtains lawess treat
ment of Americas cotton trade.
Discussing the action of the allies in
proclaiming cotton as contraband, the
senator asserted that cotton had not beeu
used or needed by Germany or her allies
in the manufacture of war munitions for
more than eight months, substitutes for
cotton having been used.
Senator Smith described silly and UNI
tr,Ie statements that the United States
made cotton contraband during the Civil
War
Shall we quietly continue to furnish
Creat Britain what she is compelled to
obtain from the United States while the
commercial rights of citizens of this coun-
try are tramplcd under foot?" asked the
senator.
He d. clared that Great Britain needed
munitions, food and raw materials In
order to continue the war.
by tirmness, |but peacefully, ncutrals
can easily obtain their rights from both
bclli-ercnts" he declared.
"Paraphrasing the language of Mr..
Jefferson, England may feel the desire of
absorbing the commerce of Germany
and of starving her people. but she can
| have no right of doing 1t at our loss or
of making us the instrument Of it"
Senator Smith declared that the United
States had the right to ship both cotton
and foodstuffs to non-combatants. He de-
clared that the manufacture Of cotton
fabrics had grown to be great industry
IN Germany German skill had enabled
them seriously to cncroach on English
commerce. lie added:
IF cotton can be kept out of Ger
many and the exports from Germany
suppressed then. perhaps, England may
capture this trade and help her own COM
merce."
Senator Smiths vigorous assault upon
England attitude was endorsed by Sena-
tor Borah of Idaho. who said he was will
ing to take responsibility for action. not
speech" to protect American rights bu.
feared embargo legislation could not be
passed by Congress.
From Senator John Sharp Williams, the
Georgia senator's utteranoes drew a stir
ring reply with declaration
that he was not willing to go tc
war for mere dollars nor to have the
people Of Dixie" placed in an attitude al
holding property on a plane with human
life. Senator Williams said Until the ISSUE
OF murdered American women and chill
dren on the nigh seas was settled, he
would not nag the President CT the Uni.
tea States about property ncr attemp,
TO force settlement for monetary loss oI
property from war-mnddencd people unit
he could appeal to their calmer tudgmen,
when war haG cc1acd.
For several hours the Senate was
held In rant attention by the frankncss
cr;ssion reach a climax when Scna.o,
Smith, indignant at the ,ntimation tina,
ne would place commerciaIsm over
human life. dramatically inquired OF
Senator williams:
"Becaunc Germany has been guilty %
murder, must VIC conccGo tho right OF
perpetual robbery on the nigh seas &c
lireat i'rltain?'
Senator smith declared that Congress,
chould act because the President cou!t
do no moro than write notes. He sale
he did not want to go to war but in
sisted that the Cnitel States shouit
have the nerve to insist upon it's com
mercinl rights The embargo to fore
InRland's hard Senator Smith sug
pested should be rnade effective WITHIN
thirty days unless Great Britain
yielded
Senator Williams held the Senate 10
mara tnan an hour with his reply. TIL
Miles. he said wouc not be buliicd ,
tho United Stntea unless they were
stand stin .;kc lot of whipped eur
wh,,s warning for life, liberty and ir
dererdencc" and yield to the Congress
,f the United states backed hy an arm
OF .l.ur -nl3ler1 ana tho fourth navy
the Tor d
e, y~cugr. It sufficient for mis- sovarr
.rnrt 20 prot-o. firmly against v.olatio
OF commercial rights and to ava
,,c',clation OF a calm-r D..opls for rcslt,
lin uii asserted tnat he would not III
ore human benz ON the fare OF the Giot
for nero propcrty." unless efto-
ie'ugerSnt ERd Caimed down - shout
Cc,eioo TINT American Eghts were bolGl
ANA deliberately Cehrd
Senator Smith IN h." rcGpons, TO Sena
tor Williams declared tno people IT IL
South were jus' as concerned as oth(
Americans over the murder of the Amer
can citizens but they we,o also concerne
bvsr tho desirucupa OF undr propert