Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1916-02-24


by any one acting under him to be
used by any person owing allegiance
to the United States for purposes of
travel on any such armed vessel Of a
belligerent power"
Washington, Feb. 24.-Congress as
sembled today with the agitation for
action warning Americans off bellig-
erent ships overshadowing all other
questions President Wilson's supper
tiers, apprehensive that the shoulder
ing sentiment might suddenly blaze up
to embarrass the diplomatic negotia-
tions with Germany, were working to
hold the administration forces in line
and keep the question from the floor
of both house and senate.
The legislative situation in both
houses favored the administration
forces. The senate was in executive
session Yesterday, which prevented the
subject from coming up without unan-
imous consent.
The situation in the house was SIM
liar, but not so secure. If an outburst
came the leaders expected it would
| be there.
Word went to the capital again ear
! ly today that President Wilson's OPP
position to any action by congress
was mistaken and that Chairmen
! Stone and Flood of the committees
dealing with foreign affairs could ex-
plain his position fully. The admin
istration officials outside of congress
professed to be undisturbed by the agi-
tation at the capital and expressed
confidence that the presidents posi-
ton would be supported.
Ascertaining Sentiment.
1t was apparent that much of the
chatting in congress was due to lack
of information of the presidents atti-
tude The foreign affairs committee, in
accordance with its action of last
night, began a canvass of sentiment
| in the house to develop the extent to
which resolutions of warning should
be supported and at the same time dis
close the opposition to such proposals.
The republicans generally were oppos-
ed to such action and aside from the
score of democrats who yesterday
showed signs of breaking over the ad-
ministration restraint the majority
forces today apparently were being
held by the appeal stand by the pres
ident."
Statements that the agitation had at
tanned the proportions of a revolt
against the presidents policy were
fatty denied on all hands and there
was no outward evidence to support
them. Likewise statements that the
democrats had given the president a
certain time, As hours it was stated
to change his policy, also were de.
MED by every one to whom they were
attributed
One possibility which stood out
among all the others was that the
whole situation might be reduced to q
proposal that congress express the
sentiment that Americans should MOI
bring their country into danger of wal
by travelling on ships which Germany
has announced she will sink without
warning.
No Surrender of Rights.
1t was pointed out that such actor
would be quite different than legisla
ton prohibiting Americans from taking
passage on such ships, as some of thu
pending bills and resolutions propose
and could not be viewed as a surren
der Of rights. The democrats of tn,
house foreign committee have agreed
1t is their consensus of opinion that /;
technical question of the right Of Amer
leans to travel on armed ships is no
worth risking war.
The extent to which the politica
element enters into the present situa
ton has not been disclosed The ad
ministration supporters, however, re
call that former Secretary of Stat,
Bryan broke with the president ant
left the cabinet over the question O
warning Americans off belligeren
ships. Among those who are now sup