Free trader-journal. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1916-1920, 1917-03-23
CHAMP CLARK IS AMONG
FIRST TO RESPOND TO
WILSON'S CALL.
TO BACK PRESIDENT
SINKING OF ANOTHER AMERICAN
VESSEL MAKES WAR ALMOST A
CERTAiNTY-KAtS Is RE.
PORTED i'll.

Washington, March 23-S Speaker
Champ Clark and Majority Leader
Claude Kitchin reached Washington
today among the vanguard of the con-
gressmen who are hurryng back to
Washington to grease the Legislature
ways for swift action in the national
emergency.
The speaker probably will go to the
White House late for a conference
with President Wilson. The presi
dent win lay before the speaker an
Uatine of the legislation which he be-
leves necessary to put the govern
nient on footing that will enable 1t
properly to protect its citizens and
property on the high seas OF prepare
All partisan difficulties will be for
gotten in the stress of preparing the
nation for war
The situation in the house is unique,
neither being certain of enough votes
to o, ,ganize and elect a speaker In
| view of this it is believed that until
the president delivers his message 10
/ the assembled bodies that no effort
! will be made to organize along the
usual lines bipartisan organiza-
tion afterward is one Of the posslhlli
ties.
In the senate the situation is differ
ont. The Democrats have a small
working majority there but with the
possible exception of one or two sena-
tors no opposition Is expected to
develop against any administration
measures. no matter to what length
they go.
Senator Lodge said today that the
policy CT the Republican senators
would be to allow the administration
to present such legisations as it
deems necessary and then to give sup
port TO it.
London, March 23.--Slx American
citizens were among the survivors
landed in Holland from the United
States steamship Healdton, which
was sunk by a German submarine,
says a dispatch from Amsterdam to-
day. The telegram gives the Dutch
newspaper Handelsblad as authority
for the statement. There were thlr-
teen Americans in the crew Of the
ship, leaving seven dead or missing
Kaiser Reported TIT.
The Hague March 23.-Empercr
William is on the verge Of nervous
collapse, it was stated in private dis
patches from Berlin today.
According to these dispatches the
Kaiser has been in i'll health for some
time, his condition being aggravated
by worry brought on by new develop
mcnts in the war
1t Is said that the Kaiser has gone
to Homberg to take the cure and that
he might receive the chancellor there
for a conference instead of at head.
quarters.
Start War Machines Running.
Washington, March 23.-Destrl,
ton of the Standard Oil Tanker Heald.
ton with consequent loss OF Il lives
! merely added today to the grave ten
sion in Official circles. 1t increases
the list of the crimes which will be
, cited to Congress by President Wilson
when that body meets one week from
next Monday 1t is not expected thai
any new action will be made at TIM
time. The very fact that the tanker
. was torpedoed without warning al
: most in the very shadow of the Ter
schelling Lightship on the coast o.
J neutral Holland intensihes The con
cen Eere and brings home to official
> dom that no vessel now is safe any
where on the ocean from submarine
) iriehtiulness. Complete official re
c ports have been requested by th'
g. State Department
President Wilson is in direct charge
OF all immediate defense preparations
= Elaborate reports Of every detail are
u kept before him and ultil he has pi-
~ seutod the situation to Congress he
wit see only essential callers AT his
- request Secretary Of War Baker has
9 summoned the Advisory Councll q,
p meet here tomorrow with the counci
of national defense. At that time /"
ports will be presented by all commit
tees showing what already has bee'
0 accomplished,
It also has been arranged tor th'
Il committee on labor Of the council Q
D which Samuel Gompers is chairman
al to meet here simultaneously with Con