The Daily Missoulian. [volume] (Missoula, Mont.) 1904-1961, 1917-03-28
Has Not Determined What
He Will Ask of Congress
Says Hitchcock.
DECLARATION WAR
EXISTS PROBABLE
Authorization TO Use Armed
Forces Expected-West
Still Pacifist.


navy and industrial preparedness
measures to meet German aggression
going forward as rapidly as possible.
President Wilson and his cabinet to-
day took up consideration of further
steps to follow the convening of con-
gress in extra session next Monday
The president has not yet written
the message he will deliver Tuesday or
Wednesday and is said to have reached
no final conclusion as TO just what
recommendations to make. Because of
possible changes in the situation he is
not expected to put the address in final
shape until the last moment.
Vigorous Policy.
There is no doubt in tho minds OF
administration officials. that whatever
may br It's details. the policy laid be-
fore congress will be both vigorous
and comprehensive. Tho general opin-
ion after the cabinet meeting appar,
entity was that the program most likely
to be followed by congress will include
q declaration that a state of war ox~
lSlS ptlNttH titt l hiitu FDtIiCo anu
Germany, an authorization for the
president to use the armed forces of
the nation to protect its rights, the
granting of a large credit to the gov
Crnmcnt to carry out its policy. pass
age of censorship and espionage bills
and a provision for the employment Of
additional secret service agents.
No final decision has been reached
as to whether financial assistance
should be given the entente allies, al
though n strong sentiment for such -
step exists among government officials.
II this Is done, the government prob
ably win deal directly with the other
governments concerned and not
through agents
Colonel r. NJ. House, the presidents
adviser arrived at tho White House
tonight from New York. lie expected
to stay several days
Senator Hitchcock, a member of the
senate foreign relations committee,
conferred with the president during
the day and later said he believed Mr..
Wilson still had an open mind regard
ing recommendation to congress. Per
sonally Senator Hitchcock thought tho
passage of a resolution by congress
indorsiug the presidents armed nell
trality stand would be better than a
declaration of war or "A declaration that
4 state of war exists. Altcrward the
statement was authorized at the White
i,a In. int tod
| suggestions. but had not committed
himself
Senator Hitchcock said he called to
Impress the president with tho west
| ern sentiment against prccipitate ac-
| ton"
Il wished the president to know
| he explained. "that | believe my own
state and most of the people of the
| western states are most dcsirous of
| avoiding u declaration of war or u
declaration that a state of war exists.
| unless no other course remains open.
believe that the country approves Of
| the steps taken toward defense--of
complete preparedness looking to war
| Ii 1t becomes necessary"
| Measures growing out of the inter
national situation and left over appro-
priation bills, it appeared today, will
comprise almost the whole Legislative
program of the approaching extra scs-
sion Of congress.
| While leaders viii not attempt to
frame II definite program until after
| President Wilson's opening address
senate Democratic leaders today cx-
pressed belief that work of the Ak
traordinary session would ba confined
to legislation essentially "cxtraordi- =
nary"
| The national defense council. it be
came known today, is considering pro-
posing legislation to mafs possible the
| sEst"matiling of purchase of supplies
of ali kinds for the government in
cas-" Of active warfare. One sugges-
t"n under advisement would give au-
thority to fix prices in making pur-
| chuScs.