New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-02-26
The Fight for an Extra Session


ment reached in the Senate TO vote on the
revenue bill next Wednesday evening
weakens the position of those Senators
who want to force the calling of an eX-
ira session of Congress. The Republican
minority is not particularly anxious to
see the revenue bill fail. 1t knows that a
good deal more money must be raised,
either by taxation or by bond sales. The
Democratic managers made concessions on
certain Objectionable details in the bill and
the Republicans then agreed to let 1t come
TO vote.
That compromise strengthens the mi
nority from tactical point of view. 1t
allows an important measure to advance
one more stage toward passage. But it
gains three days flour days, if to-day is
included) for those who want to obtain
reasonable assurances that the new Con-
press will have chance to meet IN the
near future.
The country cannot be put into state
of military preparedness unless the new
Congress meets and legislates. That is
predicament from which there is no es-
cane. Germany and Austria-Hungary have
for all practical purposes, declared war on
the United States. They are conducting
submarine operations which act as block
ade of our ports. Our merchant ships are
shut up in our harbors as effectively as
if German war fleets lay outside our three
mile limit. Even if Congress should be
willing to abdicate its power to make an
answering declaration of war against
Germany and Austria-Hungary-e if
it should consent las is now highly I'M
probable) to let the President undertake
more or less pacific reprisals or to conduct
a limited war or near-war according to his
own preconceptions-the presence Of Con-
eress would still be necessary to grant
authority for reprisals or other hostile
demonstrations and to supply the means
with which our own defence could be Sc
cured.
1t is preposterous, therefore, to argue,
as some of Mr.. Wilson's supporters do,
that the movement to assure an extra
session is one intended to weaken. the
President-one which can only impair the
prestige of the United States. "The
Times" for instance, said yesterday:
"This is to give aid and comfort to the
German government and to continue the
spectacle of national impotence and dl-
vision which has gone on too long"
1t could not possibly give aid to the
German government to know that the new
Congress had been called in session and
had begun to make the military prepara-
tons which have been so shamefully
neglected for two years past. Germany
has done her worst. She has insulted us.
She has challenged us to defend our
rights. No circumspection, no patience,
no pose of supporting the President with
out question, could influence her now to
be a little easier on US. The only thing
that will affect the German attitude land
even that will affect it little) will be a
show Of determination to develop all our
military force.
Nothing, in our opinion, could please
Germany more at this juncture than to
know that the watchful waiting policy of
the last three weeks was going TO con-
tinue. She already enjoys all the fruits
OF successful war. without having had
to commit single act which our govern
ment has been willing to recognize as
covert" She would be vastly relieved to
hear that the President had put it beyond
the power of Congress TO meet again IN
I'll December next and had secured a
complete license TO continue until that
time, if he saw fit, his present policy Of
mystery and procrastination.
Congress and the country are being
urged TO support the President whole
heartedly. But in what? What has the
President in mind? Nobody knows. Here
is an illuminating admission in "The
Times's" special dispatches from Wash
ington yesterday:
The Vice President and seven Democratic
Senators went 10 the White House to-day
for an interview. II is Understood that the
interview was very satisfactory, but that
the German crisis, The arrnng Of merchant
ships, the extra session problem and other
matters Of pressing moment were not
mentioned. SO Washington is tonight still
A. much in the dark as ever regarding the
Prcsident's intentions.
And 20 Judge from Secretary Bakers
letter transmitting the War Colleges com
pulsory training bill 10 Congress, the Ad-
ninistration has also only the most dis
tant interest in anything Ike genuine mill
tary preparation.
We hope, therefore, that the demon
stration in the Senate will be vigorously
renewed next Thursday II assurances arc
not given meanwhile that the new Con
gress will be called together. Only three
DAYS will then remain Of the present SEA-