Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1916-02-24
CONGRESS MAY
BAR TRAVEL
CONTINUED From First Page.l

formed just what the President pro-
poses should be done. Not fully in
formed, they were alarmed by state
ments attributed to the President since
his conference with leaders Monday
night which have been exaggerated as
they progressed from corridor 10 cor
ridor and cloalroom to cloakroom in
the telling. Yesterday they were
aroused and alarmed over reports that
the President was insistent upon yield
ing nothing to Germany, even if it
should lead TO war: that the President
had declared another attack on a ship
in which an American lost his life
would Immediately result in severing
diplomatic relations, and that the
President had expressed indifference
at the attitude in Congress.
Resentment Aroused
! All these served to arouse some re-
sentiment among congressmen and fear
that the country was headed directly
into trouble unless what they believed
to be the policy OF the administration
should be tempered with legislative
action to keep Americans off armed
merchantmen.
In the situation n demand was made
upon Chairman Flood and members of
the House foreign affairs committee
for an immediate report on a reso-
luton of that character. Representa-
tive Flood to-day talked over the
telephone to the President and told
him that the canvass of the House
agreed upon yesterday had not yet
been made and that proposed warn
ing resolutions probably would not get
out of the committee. To inquiries
Chairman Flood said that he believed
the situation had reached n stage of
calm deliberation.
The President is determined TO stand
l,,s &c ,r,I,t -
cans on armed ships.
Deny Revolt
Statements that the agitation had
attained 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, forty eight hours it was
stated, to change his policy also were
denied 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 a
proposal that Congress express the
sentiment that Americans should not
bring their country into danger of war
by travelling on ships which Germany
has announced she will sink without
warning.
1t was pointed out that such action
would be quite different than legisla-
ton prohibiting Americans from TAX
ing passage on such ships as some of
the pending bills and resolutions pro-
pose and could not be viewed as a sur
render of rights, The Democrats of
the House foreign affairs committee
have agreed it is their concensus of
opinion that a technical question Of
the right of Americans to travel on
armed ships is not worth rislling war.
The extent to which the political
element enters into the present situa-
ton has not been disclosed. Admins
tration supporters. however, recall
that former Secretary OF State Bryan
broke with the President and left
the Cabinet over the question of warn
ing Americans off belligerent ships.
Among those who now are supporting
the agitation to put Mr.. Bryan's pro-
posal into legislative action are some
senators and representatives, who have
been numbered among Mr. Bryans
admirers but it is true that some Of
them also are classed as supporters of
the President
Those who are contending for the
support Of the administration say that
while Congress has not so far been
taken wholly into the Presidents con-
| fidence in the submarine negotiations,
situation reaches a point where the
question of continuing friendly rela-
tions with Germany has to be con-
sidered.
Wants Settlement
While the President is represented
as having come to the conclusion that
the submarine negotiations should be
settled without more delay, Germany
has not yet replied to the latest re-
quest from Washington for declara-
ton that her previous assurances for
the safety of unresisting liners apply
to the conduct of the new submarine
campaign. Germany has indicated
that If the United States insists on the
contention that unarmed ships and
ships armed only for defensive pur-
poses are in the same class, so far as
their immunity from attack without
warning are concerned, she wants to
discuss what properly may be de-
fensive armament in the light of the
evidence she claims to have the armed
! British merchantmen have been at