El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1916-03-08

I IN which the administration opponents
charged that the president was con-
/ tending for a doubtful legal right and
was shifting the responsibility Of 1iplo-
matte negotiations to congress, the
house swayed back and forth in the
most sensational debate Of a decade.
probably unequalled since the eve Of
the declaration OF war on Spain.
Wilson Is Gratified.
President Wilson, calm and conf
dent, heard the early results Of the
voting in the cabinet room at the white
house with some of the cabinet grouped
about him. He told them he was much
gratifled with the support of congress.
Bryan Influence Fails.
one Of the days surprises was the
failure of the sO-called Bryan influ-
ence to develop any appreciate
strength against the president.
stand by the president and do not
embarrass him in his diplomatic ne
gOtiatlons with foreign countries" was
the whole burden Of the argument OF
the administration leaders. They paid
little attention to the involved legal
phases Of the situation. 1t was enough,
they argued, that the president had
said the reported attitude of congress
as opposed to his policy was embar-
/ rassnS him abroad and to that they
stuck.
Tributes to President.
Tributes were paid to the president
by almost all the DEN ocratic speakers,
from acting Chairman Pou of the rules
committee. who opened the debate, to
/ chairman Flood, of the foreign affairs
committee. who closed il. To d man,
/ they insisted that the president did
not want war. No one attempted, as
was the case in the senate last week,
! to say that anything the president had
said indicated that h. expected war.
Denies Wilson Wants War.
1T is charged that the president
wants war" said Mr. Pou. "All the
imps of he'll never devised a more in
famous charge. No man since Abra-
ham Lincoln has gone through such
test as the president in the last six
months to avoid war. He has tried
to preserve peace. He would not sac
rifice a single life to make himself
president for his life time"
Uphold President, Says POu.
Mr.. Flood pleaded that the president
be supported in his attempts to uphold
international law.
Of we yield to Germany" he said,
I'VE will have to yield to the allies,
and the whole fabric Of international
law viii crumble. piece by piece We
cannot yield to Germany without ad-
hitting that the awful crime or the
sinking Of the Lusitani8 was Justified.
The only course to pursue is TO stano
up strongly for international law rms
the president has done. and done IN
principles of humanity"
Doubtful Legality Issue.
Opponents Of the administration mace
much of the proposal by secretary
Lansing to the allies ON January 10 IN
which he said he thought the night 10
arm merchantmen was of doubtful le-
gality. They insisted that the whole
controversy with Germany hinged on
the bill. The Flood answer was that
the allies had declined to agree TO the
So ma IA f.
men and, therefore, the whole issue
stood az il did before secretary Ian
sing wrote his memorandum.
Jest on Cyclone Davis.
Tests passed frequently once when
representative Cooper OF Wisconsin
was spcaking and representative Davis
Of Texas continued TO express aappro-
val Of his remarks with "Amen! Mr.
Cooper Responded, THANK you, oroth-
err" The galleries were packed