The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1916-03-07
OPPOSITION is AROUSED
Action Would Mean Disregard
ing Of Presidents Request
for Fullest Discussion"
HOUSE DISCUSSES QUESTION
Bryan, at Luncheon. Urges Tabling of
McLemore Resolution-Doesn't
Advocate War on Wilson.

Being in committee of the whole to dis
cuss a homestead bill. the House yester-
day emitted floods OF inConclusive oratory
on the armed ship issue.
The Senate last week could not wait to
debate before acting. and debated later
under gulse of discussing what Senator
Clarke called this damn BILL" the House
could not wait for the time to act before
talking, and. the match being set to the
timber by Representative Gardner. the
which is only valuable as showing that
most of the Republican members will try
to defeat any rule for acting upon the
McLemore resolutions.
As a majority of the Democrats secretly
sympathize with this purpose, there is a
possibility of such action today as will
releEate the McLemore resolutions to the
calendar. never to be heard of again.
Two DISTINGUISHED private citizens
dropped into Washington, and the infu-
ence of their presence upon the course of
events is yet to be determined. Col. Z.
son. was at the White House; Col. Will
lam J. Bryan. whose friendship is merely
n matter of doubt. but to whom the Pres
ident owes his present high estate and
heavy responsibilities. lunched with a
party of about twenty snti-preparedness
Representatives. He did not call at the
White House.
Not TO Fight Wilson.
! Although the Bryan luncheon, at which
Representative Bailey, leader of the anti
preparedness forces. was host. was be-
hind closed DOORS little secrecy attached
to what was said. Contrary to expecta-
ton. Mr.. Bryan urged no fight on the
President. based on the present situation
in the House.
/ He advised those present to vote for
the tabling of the McLemore resolution,
although he favored the passage Of
resolution warning Americans from arm
ed belligerent liners. But Mr.. Bryan
based his acquiescence IN the report of
the Foreign Affairs Committee. recon-
mending the tabling OF the resolutions
upon this section:
1--WE know that II the President reaches
+ point in any negotiations with foreign
governments at which he believes he has
exceeded his power, he will In the usual
way report all facts and circumstances
to Congress for its action"
1t is in order that this expression may
be written into the record that many
members of Congress are going to vote
for the report of the committee which
means the tabling Of the resolution.
| The paragraph. Curiously enough, was
written into the report OF this Democratic
committee by Republican, Stephen C.
| Porter, of Pittsburg.
You say we know the President will
do so and So" he was asked. How do
you know"
well, we don't know" was the
answer. but stating it thus as a fact
is equivalent to serving notice on the
| President that he is expected to submit
all gravely menacing matters to Con-
gress and we do not believe that in face
of that notification he will fail to do So"
| VI
! The debate in the House yesterday be-
gan with Representative Gardeners de-
nunciation oftthe apparent purpose to de-
feat the rule for the consideration of the
McLemore resolution. Republican Leader
Mann responded in defense of the policy
/ of non-interference by the House in
| foreign affairs at this moment He made
clear his opinion that a majority of the
House favor warning resolutions, though
not the verbose ones offered by Nc
Lemore
While the House was in furore
of debate on the resolution the Rules
Committee decided on the form of rue
under which the McLemore resolution
will be brought in today. 1t provides
for four hours of general debate on
| the measure, with an understanding
| that an hour and a half of debate on
the rule itself is to be arranged for
by unanimous consent This rule
would clear the way for a motion by
Representative Flood. chairman of the
Foreign Affairs Committee, to lay the
McLemore resolution on the table.
! If the House today defeats the rule
the McLemore resolution will simply
be laid aside, and no attention will
| be paid to the Presidents request
for fullest discussion and action"
II the rule is passed by vote of the
House the question will then arise
on tabling the resolution. Should the
motion to table be defeated, the question
OF the adoption of the resolutions in their
present or any amended form will be be-
Ifore tho House.