Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1916-03-02
Surprises Leaders BY Asking
Them to Put Resolution
Of Warming to Vote
NEGOTIATIONS OFF
PENDING VERDICT
Feels Country Must Present
United Front in Order
to Carry It's Point

Warrington, D. c., March AT an
early conference at the white house
today President Wilson and admins
tration leaders made plans for bring
ing the armed ship agitation in con-
Rress to an end at once with demor-
stration of unity to convince Germany
that the American congress stands be-
hind the foreign policy of the govern
ment and thus relieve the president
OF embarrassment in his negotiations
with Germany.
Confident that they can beat all an
administration resolutions by 4
heavy vote, tho president and the
leaders framed plans to bring them
out frst on the floor Of the house.
where they plan to defeat them and
put through vote Of confidence In
the president.
The president paved the way for. his
action last night and incidentally sur
prlsed congress by calling on Acting
Chairman Pou Of the house rules com.
mittee to provide the parliamentary
machinery for immediate cons1dera-
tion of the resolutions on the hoor.
4 n. Leaders Told Of Plans. T..
"A
president summoned Chairmen Stone
and Flood OF the senate and house
committees dealing with foreign af-
fairs, Senator Kern, democratic floor
leader, Speaker Clark and Majority
Leader Kitchin Of the house, he ex-
plained his purpose fully.
The conference agreed that In def
erence to the wishes Of President Will
son 4 vote would be taken soon In SEN
ate and house on resolutions warning
Americans to keep of tho ships. It's
form will be determined later. After
the conference Chairman Flood called
his committee together. 1t was almost
certain that the parliamentary situa-
tion in both houses would prevent a
vote today.
The president made It clear that he
did not want vote on resolution
expressing support Of his conduct of
the diplomatic controversy, and as a
result Of his position the vote will be
taken on q resolution warning Amert-
cans on armed ships.
Speaker Clarke and Majority Lead
er Ktchin said no action could be
taken today in the house and that the
conference had been devoted chiefly
to discussing procedure.
The president told the leaders the
foreign situation was no more serious
today than it has been for several
weeks but he believed action should
be- taken quickly to show the world
the American government was not
divided.
Speaker Clark, who predicted last
week that q warning resolution would
pass 2 to at that time, said he did
not know the sentiment of the house
now and refused to say how he him
self would vote.
Assurances Not Broad.
" Germany's latest assurances on the
conduct of submarine warfare, pre-
sented Monday by Count Won Berns-
torn, to Secretary Lansing, are not so
broad as the United States desires.
but it is indicated no further steps
will be taken by this government until
the administration Is certain it's action
will not be embarrassed in congress.
The assurances reiterated In the
latest communication are regarded as
not so complete as those originally
given as the result Of the Lusitania
negotiations and it was indicated to-
day that the pending Lusitania agree
ment would not be finally accepted as
satisfactory at this time.
House leaders today drafted for con-
sideration of the house measure pro-
posing that congress express its con-
fdence In the presidents handling Of
the armed merchantmen controversy
and recognize that 1t is not matter
of legislative but Of executive concern.
Chairman Flood Of the foreign az
fairs committee sought to bring
democrats in line on the measure, to
be reported out of his committee, and
also sought Intellectually to get assur-
ances of republican cooperation.
THE president positively did not
ask for such resolution" said Mr..
Flood, speaking of the new proposal.
This form has been broached since I
returned from the white house confer
.ence."
Pending the sounding of sentiment
on the resolution, the meeting OF the
foreign affairs committee was post
poned from / o'clock to an Indefinite
hour Meantime leaders conferred On
the new proposal.
fContinued on Page 81