New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-02-03

President Wilson arrived at the
Capitol shortly before 5 o'clock this
afternoon, going first to Stones office
in the Senate Office Building. A
startled little stenographer informed
him that Senator Stone was over at
the Capitol, whereupon the President
went TO the Foreign Relations room.
For more than an hour the Prcsi'
dent and Senator Stone, who has been
out in ST. Louis, in CLOSE touch with
the people" discussed the situation
The Senator is understood to have eau
toned a wait for some overt action
by Germany, but suggested that per-
hsps il weld be we'll for the Presi-
dent to sound out sentiment more gen
orally. since Mr.. Stone himself could
shed little light as TO the views OF
other Senators. Mr.. Stone left Wash
ington last week, prior to the breaking
of the present crisis.
Hurry Call for Senator's
About 6 o'clock the President, ac-
COMMANDED by Senator Stone, went 70
the Presidents room, adjoining the
Senate lobby. the Senate having just
previously recessed for dinner. Pages
were sent tearing all over the Capitoi
and Office building. with instructions
10 bring in every Democratic senator
they could find. &c..
senator Vardaman. Of Mississippi
was torn from hot dinner IN the
Senate restaurant. He found quite
brief time with the President long
enough TO get a firm grasp on the
situation. and returned to his waiting
dinner downstairs. ,-.
Resides Nessrs. Vardaman and stone
the President conferred with the io''
lowing Senators: Myers, Of Montana
Oycrman, of North Carolina; kansdeH'
of Louisiana; Phelan, Of Cailtornia'
Robinson, of Arkansas; Hoke smith,
of Goorgia: Beckham, Of Kentucky;
Pomerene, OF Ohio; Pittman, OF Ne.
yada; Fletcher. of Florida; Walsh OF
Montana; Reed, of Missouri and JohA-
son, Of South Dakota.
All Pledge Him Support
The President, frankly revealing the
innermost details of the crisis, told the
Z
of the Senate, and thereby the pulse OF
the people; that he wished each man 70
sneak his mind frankly. with the wei
fare of the nation and civilization az
heart. .Looi
the Presidents hand and assured hin
that whatever course he took, whethet
in accord with their own views OF no.
he would be sustained by a unanl-
nous Senate. i'll
the EXPRESSION that it would be well II
eli went home and spent night In re,
Election, intimating that the world would
know before Monday what the united
States would do.
Officials here who usually are well IN
formed of the Presidents intentions are
saving tonight that II IS unlikely tnaV
Mr. Wilson will go before Congress TO-
morrow However, all mis- recent ac-
lions of that sort have come as sur
prises and il is not considered impos-
sible that Senators and Representatives
will be asked tomorrow noon to listen
TO a statement OF what the President
has done.
Just Swapping Views
At the conclusion of the conference
with the Senators the President, the
last 10 leave, saw the newspaper cor
RESPONDENTS and made brief an
nouncement:
"Gentlemen," he said, g" just came to
swap views. wanted light and came
here TO get IT,"
lie was asked what would be DONE
and replied:
"That depends on how | feel in the
morning" Then he smiled and added:
"Of course, that remark was only q
La, hsd hnQn
no suggestion of Joint session OF Con-
gress and that he thought no public an.
nouncement would be made tonight
The President gave the impression
that he would wait as long as possible
for decisive action in order clearly 10
understand what is the sentiment oil
the country. Senator Stone reflected
for him the pro-German sentiment IN
the United States. Himself "neu-
trail" with strong German tendencies.
Mr.. Stone has just returned from one
of the strong German centres in the
United States, St. Louis.
Sentiment Against War
There is no doubt that the sentiment
of the country, as reflected in the SEN
ate and House Of Representatives, is
strongly against any act which may
lead to war with Germany il there is
any possibility OF dNOlulng sucn an act.
But il may also be said. to the great
honor of the country, that the members
Of both houses of Congress would act
practically az a unit il concrete act
Of German hostility were committed.
There are not half dozen men who
would not vote for declaration Of war
II an American ship were sunk. But
the threat of the German Empire, as
embodied in the note, is regarded by a
few members of Congress as possible
bluff. The wish is father to the
thought.
Much interesting discussion OF the
situation took place in House and Sen
ate Hobbies this afternoon. One inter
esting view which obtained not a few
hackers was that this government, with
out breaking diplomatic negotiations
and without declaring war, might I'M
dertake to convoy all American ships
through the danger zones. A German
submarine. il was held, would hardly
dare 20 attack an American man-of-
war.
&c .~.r'