The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1916-01-06
SENATORS DISCUSS

CONTINUED From First Page.)
from any American who travelled the
high seas without passport obtained
in or formity with the legislation pro-
posed.
This second bill goes still further
and forbids Americans from travelling
on American or vessels Of neutral ma
tons. which are engaged in carrying
eontraband of war, and passengers at
one and the same time.
senator Gore introduced these bills
after he had conferred this morning
with William j. Bryan Yesterday
Representative stevens. of Nebraska.
Mr. Bryan's friend introduced "A bill
Of similar sort in the House. 1t Ia
apparent that Colonel Bryan and HE
friends are preparing to push these
measures with all the energy at their
command. and todays developments
indicate they viii have support from
quarters that usually are not sym
pathetic with MIR. Bryan
Jones Starts the Talk.
Senator Jones, of Washington. start
ed the trouble IN the Senate when he
read an editorial article from a news
paper which held ii to be unpatriotic
for an American citizen to invite COM
plications by taking passage on a bell
ligerent ship,
Senator Nelson, Of Minnesota. Re-
publican, inquired whether Senator
Jones meant to say that Il was unpa-
triottc for American Consul McNeely
to have boarded the Persia to travel
to his post.
Before senator Jones could reply
Senator owen. OF oklahoma, Demo-
crat, interposed with a suggestion that
IF an official OF the government had
z ~ Of
the United States should send him on
garHhip."
This brought Senator O'Gorman, of
New York, to his feet
There was a neutral ship on which
Mr. Mc%eely could have gone" said
the Senator from New York He
should have taken the Dutch ship SAIL
ing In that direction. as recommended
by h1s superiors but our citizens con-
tinue 20 take these needless chances"
Right Vnaucstioned.
Then Senator Borah. Of Idaho. Re-
publican. another member Of the For
eigu Relations Committee jumped Into
the fray.
''The right OF neutrals TO travel IN
safety on merchantmen, even of bell
Iigerent countries. is unquestioned, and
as long as this government did not
warn against the practice. certainly
il cannot be called uhpatriotie. said
Mr. Borsh,
Senator owen returned 10 the de-
bate with a suggestion that unpatri-
otio was undoubtedly too strong q
WORD" with which TO chara cterize the
action 81 an American citizen who
Travelled ON belligerert merchant
man
But 1t Is alleged" continued sena
tor owen. that the Persia carried =
mounted gun capable Of carrying many
miles. easily able 20 sink "a submarine
or course il was alleged likewise that
the Lusitania carried a gun. but -
that case the German government was
misled hy a false affidavit"
Senator Nelson OF Minnesota. re-
marked that travel on a neutral ship
aid not insure safety, for as many
Neutral ships as balligerents have been
blown up. No snip II safe. One ncu-
trial ship was torpedoed within nwe~
denis three-milc limit Even the Ford
peace ship might have been torpea
doed
Senator Borah suggested that Ar
the Persia WAS unaFmed, persons 0Sl
board had as much right 10 consider
themselves protected by International
law as if they were ON neutral SNIP, |
"But everything that happens, re
piled Senator Jones. shows that thns
are not safe Every American going
on one uf these ships knows the danger
he runs not anty for hltaself. but 81
compromising the country II to noi
Yer, confederate 20 Say tne lsast.
senator Works. of California, He-
publican recalled tAe oAso Of a psonal- I
usat ctigen 0f his state who was loai
ny rba sinking at th~ l,As't@Rl@
Was Dontas Warned
Hs rete ived both the pubhc anui
private warnings against taking the
.rip hut ne went" said Senator Works (
'"rhs uffeara 81 8ug government knew
That tha snip wMs i0maea Ga the gnaTdt
Nith munitions for one If the Retliker.
anita In not warning tie eiuEauH from
such ship this government waa NOR
ally responsible EnF their deaths Ni
ala Not a. iate fhe enaulue discus 4
slonH with oinan bands oUd it com
rinuee a. permit travel 0H these shlpa
Senator PoinAeKtef ~ Washington
isFagresalve aaKse#te4 thHl tha sNnp
lar from california had made "a
grave charge against uut suveFnmeni
"tau mo state hy what authority
mis- government ceuld have prevented
rAvclurm from sailing on hose ships
asked Mr p@lpdester
only advice Auuid hANe oenu
needed replied Ar Works
Al lhla point Senator Robinson. II Y
Arkansas. Democrat raFne 10 the re-
aef ~ Senator poinae8tar
"t1ug aoula not sueh advtcaA have
implied that the right - neutrals to