The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1916-02-24

bers that either some action should he
taken by the committed or that the
President be informed by that body that
he was counting trouble If he persisted
In a course likely to embroil The coun-
try In wat.
There is one resolution pending before
the mint warning Americans to
keep off belligerent merchantmct. l.
vas offered by Representative Ncl.e-
more. "A Democrat. from Texas. MIR
Mcl.emore to-day made u demand that
he be given n hearing on his reso' i,ion.
Thu measure may he gt,cu "ous'dera.
ton at a meeting of the commit .ee to
be held tomorrow.
No action will DO taken. however.
until the committee has received word
from Chairman Flood JUS win. the
Presidents intentions are.
\ promine-t leader .o the House
made this statement
The House understand iiE.t INC
presiden: has decided II asser. The
tight OF mc!chanimcn 10 ANN for de
fence. This means that Il n vessel viii
Americans ahoard IL iircd OF IA" Pcs
idnet will direct trat the German Ann
bassuuor TO me United states bc handed
his passports and tnnt the American
Embassy al Rerlln o. closed and our
.Amba ssador withdrawn
This would lead to war. or al least
IL Is the opinion OF many members Of
the House that u would lead to war.
The House Is not In sympathy with .he
President. II /, correctly unde- stands his
position. The House believes that the
country is opposed to going 10 war ON
any such issue "a ~ involved IN the
assertion by Germany OF the right to
fire or meicna ntmen armed with guns.
First step In Senate
In the Senate the first step that will
put the challenge up to the President
will be- taken by Senator Gore Of okla
homa. heretofore classed 40 an Admin
istration Senator That senator will re-
introduce his bill directing that pass
ports be withheld from Americans who
travel by armed merchantmen. The
Gore bill, first introduced January )
last. makes II unlawful for Americans
TO travel on any b%elligerent vessel in
time Of war.
II was this matter that was put vi
TO the President on Monday night by
Senator Stone, Senator Kern n Repre-
sentative Flood.
The President promptly disapproved
IL. Senator Stone was dlspledsed by the
Presidents attitude and told him ~
He spoke regretfully. and 1t il said even
told the President that II he was ex-
pected to lead his party in the Senate
he should not be asked to lead "a mi
nority simply"
ena;o stone intimated. 1t WAS said
reliably to-day. that the President = view
on the right Of Americans to protection
on armed belligerent vessels was moi
shared By a majority OF his party II
Congress.
The Gore bill. which may go In to.
morrow, will raise the issue ~squarely
The Oklahoma Senator announced to
day that he would r~eintroduCe the bill
Of January s with a modification deny
ing passports TO Americans who seek t.
travel on armed merchantmen only
, In this form he will offer II.
The Gore bill will be referred to thu
Foreign Relations Committee. A ma
Jority Of that committee are believed Il
he against 1t. TIL chairman. Senate
Stone. favors the bill. but only tw'
other Democratic members. .possihl!
., three. favor II. None of the Republi
ans In the committee will supper II
=; Therefore 1t cannot get out except oi
an u~nfavorable report or by "A motiol
TO discharge the committee.
BIIl To n~ Defeated.
> The Senate ~ no, friendly dispose
. toward the bill Its advocates do no
, claim more than one-half OF the Demo
, Gratis. Only six or eight Republicans
/, mostly Proeressives or pacifists. VII
|, support the bill. Not more than SIX wer
claimed for " by the advocates Of tn
bill to-day. who admit they do not a
this time see the necessary number @
votes in sight to pass IL. Senators Sion.
|, O'Gorman. Hitchcock and possibly Clark
I OF Arkansas are the only Democrat
: members Of the Foreign Relations Com
mittee who are in favor Of II.