The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-03-07
Advised on Highest Authority
He Has Independent Power.
Navy Commanders Await Or
derS to Furnish CannOnS.
CLOTURE RULE IS ASSURED
TWO-ThirdS Vote to Gag Fill
clustering Is Agreed.
House Is Worried Over Whip
hand of Independent Vote.

Washington, March Formal an
nouncement by the president that he
will instruct Secretary of the Navy
Daniels to arm American merchant
ships is expected within a few hours.
The president, it became known to-
lay on highest authority, has been
told he has the power to do this.
Immediately the order is issued Sec
rotary Daniels will instruct co.-.mand-
ants of navy yards at Boston, Phila-
delphia. San Francisco and other
Yards to issue the guns they have
available.
In the meantime arrangements for
additional armament will be rushed to
completion.
The presidents decision was reached
shortly after a conference at the
White House today with senators. He
conferred also with Secretary Lam
sing, whom he instructed. together
with ATTORNEY General Gregory, TO
prepare for him a formal opinion as
to whether he had power to go ahead
with his armed neutrality plans for
protecting the lives md property OF
American citizens. despite the filibus-
ter that deprived him of congress
sional sanction.
President in Conference.
Following his conference, the presi-
dent is said to nave wasted no time
on reaching a decision
He is said to have decided suddenly
not to await change of rules by the
senate which were designed to elm
f-nt~ -l-~ Nv limited debate rule and
thereby make certain the passage o
O.. ly-,,.4utiuu idenUiC with that which
the "wilful few men killed at the
close of the session that died at noon
Sunday.
Ate. the Democratic senators left
the White House they renewed their
20 ~s-i+I 1I,Ii oil
ture committee. Meanwhile the
Democratic caucus adjourned after
electing Senator Hitchcock as vice
chairman and ex-officio member of the
steering committee. With Senator
Martin as chairman of the committee
the following senators We're named:
Name Senate Steerin" Committee.
Williams James. Reed. Simons,
Smith of Georgia. Walsh, Thomas,
Chamberlain. Owen and Robinson.
They went to work at once to reorgan-
lie the senate standing committees.
When the senate met. Senator
Walsh of Montana introduced "A reso-
luton to provide for re-adoption of
the old senate rules with exception
of the rule concerning precedence of
motions and for the appointment by
the vice president of a special COM
mittee to revise that rule. The COM
mittee would consist of four Demo-
Gratis and three Republicans Senator
Walsh did not ask for immediate ac-
ton on the resolution in view of the
unsettled condition of affairs but was
accorded the privilege of addressing
the senate regarding it, by unanimous
consent.
The Democratic and Republican
cloture committee agreed at the con-
terence to recommend to their party
caucuses later today a change of the
rules so that by a two-thirds vote in
the senate, debate could be shut off
and Oilat0TV faPtice rvI,o,
slightly changed the wording of the
resolution framed at their meeting
last night and this will be submitted
TO their caucuses for approval.
War Alarm Pervades Nation.
Senator Walsh on the senate floor
argued the senate was not a continu-
ing body, that each new senate was
a separate entity and that it should
enact its own rules with regard to
existing rules of procedure He made
long legal argument and concluded
by declaring that general alarm per-
Nades the country regarding the prob
ability of war and that congress should
he in a position to act and not to be
thwarted by honest, but misguided
peace-at-any-pric men"
The people, whom. in our feeble
way, we are trying here to represent -
Senator Walsh said. ARE evidently re-
solved to take upon themselves bur
dens for providing and maintaining a
naval and military establishment
greater than ever heretofore borne in
time of peace"
House Worrying Too.
In the house there is talk of a BIZ
partisan organization, especially if in
dependents show a tendency to tie up
proceedings.
As things stand now they hold the
whip hand. By going it alone they
can tie up house business. Hence,
Republicans and Democrats alike are
talking of combining to choose a
speaker-probably Champ Clark-and
acting in unison on any big business
affecting international affairs They
do not want the charge to lie against
them that they are making the nation
appear diSunited in crisis.
An equal distribution as t. commit
tee assignments and even patronage is
the house plan.
An extra session to pass supply
bills before July l, is admittedly in
evitable, but it is not believed the
president will call one until the SEN
ate changes the unlimited debate rule;
unless of course he needs congress
for war declaration.
Demands Immediate Action.
THE occasion brooks no delay Ac-
tioh-Immediate action-by congress
is imperative. 1t is scarcely conceiv-
able that war should be precipitated
or be impending without an appeal
from the president for some hurried
action by congress. Such an appeal
comes to this body. It finds a ready
resnonse except from a small coterie