The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1916-03-03
such a time had come in the senate
now.
No Fault Of President.

Vi oplnlOn IN FAVOR OF the uekOtlatlOus
OF a foreign power as against our
own.
The time has come when. for m e
the question states frsefr this way:
Shall exclaim America First" or
shall I sing Deutschland Uber Al
lies"
Fol the politics In this question Sen
ator Williams asserted he had the
highest contempt.
ITO be an Anglo-maniac." he said.
is so contemplate hat IL is beyond
expression. There Is only one thing
that il more contemplate and that
is to be an Anglo-phobe. To be a
Teuto-maniac is contemplate. but
there is something more contemplate
than that. and that is to be a Teuto-
phone"
As Senator Gore asked recognition
from the chair. news of the debate a
spread 10 the house and h senate
chamber was crowded with ~represen-
tatives standing in every available
space on the floor.
Senator Gore spoke at length on the
issue before reaching the sensational
statements regarding the president
which precipitated the climax OF the
day.
Senator Gore Explains.
Senator Cores startling statement.
which aroused the senate as II a
not been aroused in years, came 20
ward the close of impassioned remarks
in defense Of a warning resolution.
81 introduced this resolution" SEM
tor Gore declared. because I was ap-
~prehensive that we were speeding
headlong upon war. Perhaps l ought
% go further and say what I have hith-
erto avoided saying that my action
was based on a reoprt which seemed
to come from the highest and most
responsible authority that certain sen
ators and certain members OF the
house in a conference with the Presi-
dent OF the United States, received
the information IL not declaration, that
if.Germany insisted upon her position
the United States would insist upon
her position. and hat 1t would result
probably in a breach OF diplomatic re-
lations. and that a breach OF diplomatic
relations would probably be followed
by a state OF war. and that a state OF
war might not be OF itself and Of ne
cessity al evil to this republic, but that
the United States by entering upon
war now might be able to bring it to
a conclusion by midsummer and thus
render a great service to civilization.
Il cannot say what the truth may
be. / tell the tale as II was told to
me. This came to my ears in such a
way. with such a concurrence of testi-
mony, with such internal and external
marks of truth that / feared IL might
be the truth and IL such a thing be
even conceivable l did not feel that,
discharging my duty as a senator, I
could withhold whatever feeble SER
vice ! might render to avert the catas-
trophe Of war.
Nov l do not know that this re-
port Is the truth. l simply suggest II
as explaining my own conduct. / think
the senator from Massachusetts and
the senator from Mississippi are right
in saying hat the President has a
right to know whether congress will
back him in the opinion, II he has such
al opinion. that the sinking of an
armed %belligerent ship will be salts
factory cause for a and l think,
too. Mr.. President. hat members of
the senate M that members of the
other house have a right to know
whether the opinions and sentiments
imputed to the President were given
expression In their interview with him.
Denial Conclusive.
IF the senator from Missouri CMr.
Stone) will deny that suggestions OF
that sort In substance were made. his
denial would be conclusive with me.
II the senator from Indiana (Mr.
Kern) will say to the senate upon his
responsibility as a senator that the
President did not indicate that war
might not be ~ungrateful and that this
republic could render a great service
to civilization. his denial will be bind
ing upon me
"Mr. President, I do not know why
the senator from Oklahoma quotes me
as saying INTERCEPTED Senator Stone,
rising from his seat.
Il did not quote the senator as say
ing II, not at ALL" Senator Gore re-
piled.
Then / say in all fairness OF the
President" Senator Stone continued.
and to the facts OF the case, so far
as they are within my knowledge. that
the President eve stated to me or
in my hearing that he believed in any
way or in any way entertained the
thought that war between the United
States and the central powers would
be desirable or would result in good
TO the United States"
Ine PRESIDENT mas a passion Tor
peace" Senator Kern said at this
point. but because of illness he did
not rise and few senators heard him.
Accepted Remark.
Il will accept the remark OF the sen
ator from Indiana (Mr. Kern) hat
he has a passion for peace" Senator
Gore responded. I'VE all have n pas
sion for peace. Yet I want TO say at
this place that I am not for peace at
any price"
Asked By Senator James why ne
did not ask the President about the
reports. Senator Gore said
in the FIRST place ! have no evi-
dence Of any confidential relationship
that might lead me 20 hope that 1
might receive his judgment in the
matter or his Impressions in the mat
ter. ] acted as I say upon what seem
ed TO be a reliable report. or course
! may have been in error about u. 4
realized that at the time. ! acted in
the lurid light OF those impressions.
Certainly ] do not undertake 10 quote
what the President said 10 senator's.