New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-02-25
,odoe Attacks the President
for His Lack of
Decision
Saws Congress Should
Sit Through Crisis
;.,,tor Williams Would Arm
All American Merchant
men Fore and Aft
,v,,m Tie Tribune Bureau


IN, acts he will have the country an,
Congress behind him, as he dlc
-, the break with Germany came.
'wh.n he hesitates and disputes and
- s'.n,.ss and lets things 60 by, you
!. hornd to have not only differences
-, the people, you are bound TO
- IN Congress distrust, you are
- 70 have the feeling arise that no
ter what your views may be as to
~ or peace, it is safer and better Tor
=. ,ouptry that the Congress should
,,nain in session"
This statement from Senator Lodge
IA. to-day in the Senate in replying
= /, charge that the Republicans were
| gbustering for an extra session. fol-
,.vsS on the heels of statement from
,,ominent Democratic Senator which
IN he hut little more palatable to the
President
williams Would Defy Kaiser
S,,.tor John Sharp Williams, for
..om President Wilson is known 10
ave .bs greatest respect, declared that
= \. we're President he would arm
.-.riean ships with navy guns ana
,,ry gunners, fore and aft,' and defy
IA. aKsiser's ukase.'
sTben | wish to God the Senator
~. President" interjected Senator
Soksrland. of Utah, another member
:, n. Foreign Relations Committee.
n his speech Mr.. Lodge, replying
d, v, Williams charge that Repuoil-
nn Senators we're "fddling while Rome
mred.' declaring that when Nero
ssdsd II was on the Palatine HILL the
sailing was not done on Cspitoline
MAI in the Senate, and it is not being
5on, mere now
Ina BITTERLY sarcastic reply 70 SEN
,s, Iodge. Senator Lewis, of ILLINOIS,
old he Senator from Massachusetts
lad rot failed TO stoop TO every DIT
~ ,..tstairs gossip" he had heard IN
the recent campaign.
4 cannot permit the Senator from
MASSACHUSETTS to wrap himself In a
nantls Of patriotism, when really II
.,rouds political hypOcrite," he said
Fall Offers Drastic Bill
later in the debate Senator Fall
sssared he did not believe the Presi-
s.rt had the right to give ships guns
Without law from Congress- and there
tcrs introduced a bill granting the
President the right to arm American
5sips.
The bill is exceedingly broad. Un'
Ter il merchant vessels are authorized
70 shoot a. the submarines OF the Cen
tai Powers on sight, until some assur'
taee has been received that the run
lsss warfare will be abandoned, after
Which they must again submit 70 Vlsl'
ud search. The bill would also au'
ias,ize the raising Of an army curing
tte recess Of Congress.
The debate started when Senator
Villains aroused the Republicans oy
aarging that the had received orders
fon the munitions makers of the coun'
y 10 defeat the revenue bill.
Senator Williams said the munitions
nuufseturers had been large contrio'
slorS 10 the Republican campaign
ind; we're hit hard under the excess
'.ctts feature Of the revenue bill, anc
ssisved be was within his rights II
aning those facts together. He reac
4 editorial declaring that three week:
tF President Wilson's severance ol
nations the United States was aDou'
assectually blockaded by Germany al
lae had seized American haroors.
Danger in Divided Congress
Senator Poindexter. who had beer
tseussing the promotion OF Dr. CaTA
Grsyson, wanted 20 know why tn'
President had allowed this "deploraol'
s.srnstionsl situation to continue.
The principal reason" replied Sena
~ Williams. ais that his advisers u
y Senate and House are hddling al
ne tine, and for the reason that M
ant help that fact"
Senator Williams said the DANCE
~ n the Interpretation put on tn'
sreriesn attitude in Germany and IN
Telling there that Americans are no
sritsd In their stand against foreig'
sfzression
stns.or Borsh asked what there hat
Been in the last few months to CIV
ssrnsny this impression. -, 4,
Oh" replied senator Williams. -
assiznd things. from Bryan down.
btrstor Borsh declared If the Presii
ssat asked for authority 20 arm amer
= ships he would get II. althougn ~
~ he believed the President ma
seeisrt authority already for thi
S,rose
'snsior Williams replied he did no
esH about that. but he did Deiie'
- SeuDsh military autocracy We
@HsTinesd that the United States - d'
'@fe IN sentiment.
Must "Unfool7 Germany
want America 70 unfool German
ma point Senator Williams cor
.aasse. ~ ne DO that we will ayoi
opensiye and perhaps bloody cor
II We can't unfool Germany y"
',st syoid H."
-. W " Aillhmh lUfthtI cNS'"
80 ne bnglish speaking race Aefos
sss dlon't seem able 10 meet IN
,yhsrne menace, and that America
,p1tIt seemed 90 be afraid 20 ris
,.hs,iyss Such things, he SAT-
1sr hifo % wonder II indeed th
l&h speaking races were decsden
men declared that II he were Pres
~ would srm al American ship
arhss Senator SutherlAnd erclaime
hs Nlshsd Williams we're Pres
y, me Southern Senator replied:
~, an very glad, and the America
49,. may b. very glad, that ! am ne
n.,safni, bsssuse there IL man |
s'hi't bouse much sbler and wise