Arizona republican. [volume] (Phoenix, Ariz.) 1890-1930, 1917-03-03


Even if we have war with Germany
u would be nominal, because of physi-
cal conditions" said Senator Poindex-
ter. "ptrhaps fortunately for us in our
present condition. No glory can come
from a conflict with Germany, bled
white and staggering, but much dis
honir can come from abandoning our
right to travel the seas, although there
Is wide propaganda in favor of it,"
Murder of American citizens at sea
is just as actionable as murder by in
vasion of American soil, the Washing
ton senator declared in conclusion.
Senator Kirby. one of the few sem
atorys who voted against the resolution
recently passed by the senate approx
ing President Wilson'S severance of re-
lations with Germany said he expected
to vote against the bill because Wall
street and the hirelings of the press"
are responsible for the conditions that
now exist and wish protection for
munition carrying ships
Apparently greatly agitated Senator
Kirby astonished his colleagues by be-
ginning an appeal to my fellow cit
izens' and when that brought a roar
of laughter from the floor and CALLER
les. he changed to gentlemen of the
convention"
GLOW CltlIeiiS- Selllienlen OF the
convention-the peoples mind has been
inflamed, he shouted THE hireling
press has inflamed them so that we
hardly dare deliberate here"
The senator said he did not question
the presidents power or his discretion.
but opposed the bill because he felt
that under il, sooner or later. an
American ship with American guns
and ammunition gunners would meet
a German submarine.
When that gun roars," he said, lit
will be an American gun speaking and
that will mean war. If we go 10 war
with Germany we must carry the war
to her shores and | am thinking of
the million young men of this
country"
1T seems to me that when one of
the greatest nations of the world is
conspiring with other nations friendly
to us to engage in war against us. if
we sustained our rights against sub
marine warfare, that it is no time to
be close fisted i'm the powers we con-
fer on the president of the United
States"
Senator aWlsh, democrat. pointed
out that while the constitution gives
congress power to declare war, il also
makes the president commander in
chief of the army and navy and COM
mands that he shall take care that
the laws be faithfully executed"
These several grants of power said
Senator afsh. are all to be considered
in arriving at just conclusion as To
where the authority rests TO initiate
war or to direct acts likely or calcu
lated to precipitate war
Senator Lodge said he opposed any
language in the bill restricting the
power to be given the president. be-
cause he believed that would be say
ing TO the president that he should not
commit an act of war.
Putting officers or men OF the navy
on board a merchant ship. MI. LoCge
said would change such a ship into
merchant auxiliary war vessel
In a colloquy with Senator Cunmins.
Senator Lodge said he expected any
armed merchant vessel WCuid use its
guns if a German submarine were
sighted and he would be sorry if she
did not use them
Il am in favor Of sinking these sub
marines on sight replied Senator
Cummins. but there is no use in clos
ing our eyes TO the patent fact that II
we send our ships and intend that they
. attack submarines when sighted We
are committing an act 81 wa
Replying 10 Senator Reed. Mr.. Luf!se
said that d merchantmen would he
justified in sinking any submarine on
sight. whether German British or
French, If they had been sinking YES
esls without warning by dire ton Of
their government.
Then IL We arm our vessels they
win be expected to shoe; at submarines
upon seeing a periscopc2' asked Sen
1tor Reed
That is my understanding. Mr.
Lodge answered. insisting that 1t 81 ,uld
not be an act OF war. but one Of self
/ defense
What if the merchant vessel misses
and is sunk by the submarine per
sisted Senator Reed.
Senator Lodge thought that would
not be an aci Of war.
/ Declaring 1t means war if armed
merchant vessels pursue a shoot on
sight" policy toward German suhntar-
ines, Senator Reed asked whether it
Z wouldn't be more business-like Ia take
our fighting ships and go out hunting
submarines"
Senator Husting interiectod ttat the
methods proposed in the bill leave to
/ Germany wehther she viii commit the
arc that leads to war" and Senator
/ Walsh reminded Senator Reed that "ail
/ the power given the president is 10 .
! ferd, not attack
The bill gives him no power TO roam
I the seas hun ting German subnr ines.
said Senator Walsh.
Senator Reed insisted that Wl lie he
Intended to vote for the bill. senators;
/ should not shut their eyes to tiye fact
that The final result Of it - badly
is war"
Firing Inv merchant vessel upon
a German submarine will amount 90 he
same thing as II fired from a Uritcd
States man Of war he said. we are
! practically saying that an ATTACK will
be replied to from the threats of
! United States naval guns"
/ If Germany wants to cause war on
/ that basis. am willing to meet her on
that basis" said Senator Brandegee.
( Both Senator Poindexter and Sena-
| tor Brandegee insisted that war would
/ be certain IL an American armed ship
should sink a German submarine.
! Il believe that the first of their Ssh
marines we should sink. Germany
would declare war; said Senator
Brandegee.
J Senator cummins moved early IN the
debate to amend Senator Stones
I amendment by providing for Conveys
/ for merchant ships. and later Senator
! McCumber proposed as a substitute
for the entire bill a resolution declar-
/ ing the rights Of neutral erchant YES
/ sells engaged in commerce. including
+ the right to arm for defense only. Bel
/ ligerents would have the right under
( the resolution to blockade In a zone
around an enemy and to search, seize
4 or detr