The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1916-03-03
Stone, of Foreign Relations
Can't Agree on Armed
Merchantmen
LODGE BUSHES TO
WILSON'S SUPPORT
Declares President Absolute.
ly Right in His Demands
Upon Congress

Washington, March 3.-Senator Stone
chairman OF the Senate foreign relation,
committee, who has more than once beer
disposed to question the correctness Of
the presidents attitude in the present
controversy, has finally broken with Mr.
Wilson. In speech on the Senate floor
yesterday the senator frankly stated his
| position. He intimated that he could
not subscribe to any action which might
embroil America in the war. The sena.
tor declared that if he could have his
way he would take steps so that the
United States could not be driven to war
through the recklessness of some
'thoughtless citizen" Mr.. Stones speech,
(which evidently had been carefully pre-.
pared, stirred Senator Lodge to action.
The senior senator from Massachusetts,
Immediately entered upon a vigorous de.
Tense of the president, declaring him to
be absolutely in the right in demanding
vote on the resolutions already pro-
posed. Senator Williams also supported
the president, called for a showdown and
said it was time to find out whether it
was case OF America first or Germany
first.
Senator Gore created a sensation in
the Senate when he declared that he had
it on good authority that the president
had told certain members of Congress
that war with Germany might not be
an evil, might not be ungrateful might
end the war by mid summer and thus
might render a great service to civiliza-
ton" The report OF this statement, the
senator declared, is really the impelling
motive behind his resolution.
The debate opened with a carefully
statement of Senator Stone OF
Missouri, chairman of the committee on
foreign affairs stating the issue between
the president and Congress and giving
notice that the senator would offer sub
stitute for the Gore resolution on which |
he would ask for a vote.
Senator Stone expressed his own dis |
sent with the contention of the president, |
which he understood to be that belliger-
INT merchantmen have the right to bear |
arms for defensive purposes; that if |
Germany should without warning fire
Ipon and sink vessel armed. the presi-
lent would hold such an attack to be
awless; that if Americans should suffer
he would be disposed to hold the German
government to strict accountability, and
night sever diplomatic relations and sub.
nit the matter to Congress.
Senator Henry Cabot Lodge of AIassa.
husetts, ranking Republican of the com
nittee, responded instantly. demanding
vote on the precise issue embodied in
he Gore resolution-that of warning
americans off armed merchantmen. 1t is
he first duty OF the Senate, he said, to
ispose of the precise question. A mis-
axe had been made by Senator Stone
enator Lodge said in confirming the is
lie to Great Britain and Germany, for
very Italian ship is armed and every
rench ship carries defensive armament.
"The position of the allies is the same !
n the question" said Senator Lodge
will not enter into the question of
rmed merchantmen. ] discussed that a
hort time ago. ] am entirely clear in
~ mind as to the law and that ship !
annot be taken out of the class of peace
II merchantmen except by a demonstra-
on of offense. II understand the posi- .
on of the president, il is the right of =
autrals to travel and ship goods on
med merchantmen. With that position
am in full accord Neutrals have the I
ght established for centuries to ship v
'ods and travel on belligerent merchant
en- if armed within the limitations de- n
ribbed. The precise question raised by
e president and the senator from Mis-
uri is whether Congress favors passing c
solutions warning American citizens to =
sist from the exercise of an undoubted =
ght. | don't believe any resolution can u
drawn that will evade or get rid of
at issue. If the president wishes y
tie on that precise resolution and the 81
int raised therein, he ought to have u
at vote. His position is that he is in !, !,
rfered with. hampered and crippled in .
gotiations which he is carrying on by ,
e attitude of Congress He has the az
yht TO know what that attitude is. II ="
mot be disposed of in any general
votes of confidence or resolu-
ms stating the limitations Of executive
wer. The last administration warned =
merriam citizpus IN leave Mpxico This d