Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1916-03-02
Will Consent to Nothing
Less Than Recorded Vote
on Warning Resolutions.
POSITION MADE CLEAR
IN UNEQUiVOCAL TERMS
Friends Openly Charge That Re-
sistance to Program Is
Purely Political.
OBJECTS TO ANY COMPROMISE
Opponents Resent Executive Inter-
ference and Advocate Preven-
tion Of Any Action.

wASHlNC;TON. March 1.--Prcsdent
Wilson served notice on Congress to-
nigh; that he will consent to nothing
less than recorded vote on the anti
administration resolutions to warn
Americans off the armed ships of Euro
pean belligerentS before he Goe" on
with the German submarine ne-o-
tiatonS.
No compromise proposition. such ~
vote of confidence in the Presidents
foreign policy. will he acceptable.
Such an action. it is held. might he
construed in Berlin as justifying the
opinion that the President lacks ths
support of Congress and his own party
in his demands for Il full observance OF
International law, while its only pur-
pose would be 10 afford members OF
Congress "A way to avoid recording their
positions before the country on the
straight out-andout question.
PRESIDENT Wilson made his position
clear TO congressional leaders tonight
in unequivocal terms. AS the climax TO
a day Of confusion, uncertainty aud
political maneuverinG that marked tha
opening Of his first real fight with
Congress.
Administration leaders emphasize
that the President absolutely refuses
TO continue the negotiations with Ger
many unless he is TO have a free hand,
and that lie does not consider the latest
assurances from Count Won Bcrnstorr.
the German ambassador, as broad or ~
satisfactory those originally given
No further steps will he taken how
ever. while the President waits on
Congress. Meanwhile, the pending
Lusitania agreement will not be finally
accepted.
WHOLE SITUATION
Thrown INTO SNARI.
The whole situation in Congress,
confused hy the Presidents call ycstcr-
day for Il vote. was thrown into Il
snarl to-day when at All early morning
conference the President outlined his
position L" Chairmen Stonc and Flood,
OF the Foreign Affairs Committees:
Speaker Clark. House Leader kitcht,,
ana Acting Chairman Pou. of the House
Rules Committee
AS soon as tho delegation returned
to the Capitol With news Of what the
president had said. it was apparent
that some OF the leaders who had
secretly supported the antiadminiStra-
tion forces and who had pockcteI rcso-
lutions in committee when there was
danger or their being passed, realized
S''' 'i'' itSiutHI ana MS lrlennS hHu
suddenly gained the whip hand II
was plain that they at once devoted
their efforts 10 attempts to avoid "a
defeat at the hands of the administra-
ton forces by Sdetracking the main
issue and making the fight turn To Il
vote OF resolution of confidence tor
the President. in which they could join
without compromising their position in
support OF warning Americans to avoid
bclliS"rcut armed ships
Fiicnds OF the President watching
the inancnverinG closely. saw the OBJ
ject. and Tonight from the White
House came the word that there should
he no compromises. Congress will meet
Tomorrow facing Il clcar-cut issue with
tho President
CUARt.E: UISISTANrE
IL riHt:l.l POLITICAL,
The Presidents friends openly charge
chat resistance to his program is purely
political, ana say he does not intend
I" let II hc passed over by compro-
mise and risk ,heiug embarrassed latc,
IN his negotiations with Germany by
having the agitation come M again 10
Weak ken his hand They point out that
the extent OF the opposition the IreSi-
dent faces ma! he judged from tha
tact that chalrmcn OF the Foreign NJ
FAIRS Committees in both branches of
Congress. and even Speaker Clark wer.
lukcwar;n in their support of him
The administrations whips in their
canvass satisfied themselves that :,
majority OF The rank and file of the
Democrats ana many of the Repub!i-
cans VII stand by the President ir
they can succeed in forcing the oilcy-
ton past the opposition leaders who
control the machinery, and TO The potnt
of vote
Thc whole effect OF the days dcvcl-
opmcnts was 10 remove doubt about
the Presidents position The leaders
Went away from the White House ,,n-
dersiandine fully what he wanted. bur
II was made clear soon .,ftcrward thne
their attitude was one Of resentment
against executive nterterencc and
some members OF the opposition party
strongly advocated prevention OF con-
grcssional action OF any kind
one member OF the Foreign Affairs
Committee predicted that no resclu-
tion would bc reported from that com
'nittcc. Others advanced tho idea of
sending joint committee az both