Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1917-03-01

wants may be inserted on the floor OF
the house or after the bill gets to the
senate.
VoIIies Of Applause.
| At tho outset of the debate Chair
man Flood aroused intense enthusiasm
on both sides. Every reference to
| American willingness to protect Amer
ican citizens met with a volley Zap.
jlause.
He cited the authority Of esi-
dent to act as suggested s> been
granted to other eNecutiy 1874.
| 1898 and 1906 1915, 1898, Sand in
cidentally attacked the ists pro-
testing against the bilE
I'm l7sS," he cont IS conditions
were such as they a say. England
and France We're at~gr and France
was preying on commerce as Germany
Is today. Many people in this country
at that time said our rights could not
be upheld and that to uphold them
would lead to war with France. we
gave the president the power, our
commerce was protected, our honor
was vindicated and t'war was pre-
vented"
Lodge Wants no Secrecy.
In the senate Senator Lodge intro
! duced resolution requesting that the
senate be supplied with all information
regarding Germany's attempt to In
duce Japan and Mexico to join them
in war If the United States did not
remain neutral, If not Incompatible
with the public interests. Senator
| Stones request to have the resolution
referred to the foreign relations COM
mittee was adopted by unanimous con-
| sent.
Senaor Reed deplored what he said
appeared to be criticism Of the presi-
dent, altho Senator Lodge disclaimed
any intention to embarrass him.
Il hope. at this solemn moment,
Senator Reed said I'VE will not crit
icise the president. Let us criticlse no
one by any kind Of inference.
This Is a time when Americans
should close their ranks and face one
way and respond to one sentiment.
hope that will be done"
II am very deeply impressed with
the gravity OF the situation" said Sem
| ator Thomas, Of Colorado. we are
confronted with a crisis that may os
| very serious It is a coincidence that
the American Press revelations shoulo
| come when the senate Is considering
the army and naval bills II this let
4 ter from the German minister Is au-
I thentic, and 1t il sud that II is, we
should know It and know 1t at once.
| IL may be there are reasons FOR not
| giving the informal on If Incompatible
with public interest,". The fact is the
American Press has given this entire
| story to the public with what seems to
be a most important document. 1t prob
ably Is authentic
Says Public Ought to Know.
Senator Lodge said he cared little re-
gardinc the form Of his resolution.
Nothing is further from my mind
than to criticise the president" said
| he. 1--WE ought to have this informa-
tion-tho people ought to have it.
81 have every reason to believe that
the inquiry Is not distasteful to the
president. We must not act on news
paper reports and we ought to nave
the official information. The president
asks great power. For one l think
we ought to give 1t to him..
Senator Pomerene. democrat OF OHIO.
said that in addition to the American
| Press dispatches the senate had the
statement of Senator Swanson that the
Zimmerman dispatch was authentic,
substantially correct" interjected
Senator Swanson.
..If there Is any variance we ought to
know that fact" returned Senator
| Pomerene. "The resolution amply pro-
tects the president. I want the most
explicit information before acting IN
a. matter which may be so grave in Its
consequences"
Senator Smith, democrat, OF Georgia
said he hoped the resolution would be
adopted at once. :.
Insists on Careful action.
After reading tho resolution Senator
Stone said:
.It seems to me that tho resolution
ought to 20 to the committee on for
eign relations. We have no facts on
which to determine our judgment as to
the resolution's accuracy.
There may be information in the
hands OF the state department of a
confidential nature. Then again this
alleged dispatch may not be authentic
1t may not be true
There may be something behind all
this we do not know about" continued
Senator Stone, 1T seems to me in the
eXigencies Of this moment 1t is the
part of prudence and sound judgment
to proceed deliberately. I think the
wiser course would be to send the
resolution to the committee and have
that committee make the necessary in
vestigation and report. But II that
view Is not coincided in by the~senate
then we ought at least to have the
resolution broadened to call on the
president for Information as to now
this statement was obtained, and from
whom, and I want to know the facts
tending to establish Its authenticity.
We might fall into a. situation we do
not care to touch. I do not see how we
can act until we know the facts. We
ought to be fully advised"
Senator Smith republican, OF Michi.
gan, suggested tho president could re-
fuse to give the information If he de-
sired.
/ Belittles lts Importance.
"But the senate" added Senator
Smith, as the counsellor TO the eSecu-
tive in these matters, ought at least to
ask for information. have sustained
the president thruout the crisis and
am going to sustain him now but
think we are entitled to information
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