Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1916-03-08
House Tables McLemOre
Resolution to Warn Amer
leans Off Armed Ships by
Vote of 276 to 142; Frees
President From Bonds of
Embarrassment
FURTHER ASSURANCES
ARE TO BE ASKED
Germany's Latest Proposal to
Settle Lusitania Case to Be
First Step; Congress Will
Now Settle Down to Clear
ing Legislative Slate Which
Has Been Held Up
By Associated Press

Washington. d. c., March S.-With
Congress standing squarely behind
him, President Wilson was prepared
to-day to go ahead with the submarine
negotiations with the central powers.
After an all-day contest, such as has
seldom been witnessed, the House last
night answered the Presidents de-
lnand for show down" on congress
sional sentiment on the armed ship
issue. BY vote of 276 to 142 the
House tabled the McLemore resolution
10 warn Americans off armed ships.
This action, together with that in
the Senate in killing a similar reso-
luton. has freed the President from
the bonds of embarrassment forced
upon him by the dissensions in Con-
cress.
Victory is Complete
His victory complete after long
and sensational fight was regarded by
the President and his advisers as a
sufficient answer TO reports circulated
in Berlin that he was making demands
on Germany in direct opposition to the
elected representatives of the people.
Mr.. Wilson is hopeful that there will
he as little further discussion of the
issue in Congress as possible.
The President was much gratified
with the overwhelming support ac-
corded him. He is receiving many
congratulations.
Will Answer Germany
The Presidents next step probably
will be to answer Germanys last pro-
posal TO settle the Lusitania case In
his the United States will ask for
further assurances guaranteeing that
the new submarine campaign, in which
all armed merchant ships are to be
treated as auxiliary cruisers, will not
endanger American lives.
With the armed ship issue out of the
way Congress was ready to-day to
settle down TO the task of clearing up
the legislative slate. Agitation on the
subject in Congress had delayed the
work of the session.
Turbulent Session
1t was n big Democratic majority
and nearly half of the Republicans in
the House that ended the movement to
warn Americans off armed ships. In
turbulent session, lasting for seven
hours, and to rally cries of stand by
the President" administration sup
porters without regard to party three
times placed their stamp of dis
approval on the warning proposition.
BY vote of 256 to $50 the admins
tration forces carried the first vote, a
parliamentary proposition to prevent
opening the McLemore resolution to
amendment and unlimited debate.
With the crucial test of the fight in
hand they moved the adoption of a
special rule for four hours discussion
of the resolution. This was carried
by 271 to 1913 and then the victory was
completed by tabling the resolution.
House Sways
During the debate that preceded
each vote the house was swayed back
and forth in manner probably un-
equaled since the eve of the decla-
ration of war with Spain. The long
discussion, however, was conducted
with entire good feeling and there
was frequent cheering. The galleries
were packed throughout the day. The
Presidents supporters praised him for
Keeping the country out of war and
for upholding international law. Ad-
ministration opponents charged that
The President was contending for a
doubtful legal right and was shifting
the responsibility of diplomatic nego-
tiations to Congress. The failure of
the so-called Bryan influences to de-
Velop any marked strength against the
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