New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-03-09

trality bill would give the President
the right TO arm munition ships and
furnish warships TO convoy
when we do that" he said, I'VE are
in de facto war without the formality
that precedes the clash Of arms. Bear
in mind that | will vote for this bill
and I an prepared to vote for war
when the President exercises the power
given in this bill"
He said he hoped war could be avoid
ed. and declared himself in favor OF
conscripting every New York editor
who is advocating war in his editorial
columns"
Senator Norris. Republican. Of Ne
braska. esic he expected 20 vote Tor
the rule. becaue- ne had long believed
in il, and only hesitated because ne
thought his vote might be misunder-
stood in view Of his opposition 20 the
armed neutrality bill. He said ne
would not hesitate 10 attempt to deiea'
IL again.
Saws He Doesn't Apologize
"I want nobody 10 understand he
said, Chat | am apologizing. Whs'
they said who favored the legislation
was carried 20 the country, but what
they said who did nol was never set be-
fore the country
Mr.. Norris said all Senators knew
the President was wrong when he sara i,i
n special session TO take up the Dill
would be useless without changed Sen
ate rules. at could not be talked 70
death in such session." he said, al
though / would talk II to death II
could.
"But the President has said TO the
people that a special session could NOT
Iass the bill because few menNcould
kill il under the rules. The President
Is wrong about that; he is mistaken
You could pass that bill just as quickly
as Won can pass this rule. The Presl-
dent did great wrong TO the men VINO
conseientiously tried to do their duty
as they saw II" =,
Senator Stone. in ENDORSING the rule,
said:
81 wish merely 10 say that ] am IN
entire sympathy and hearty accord win
the proposed rule. Though the form is
not as | would have written IT., am
willing to accept it. II will enable the
Senate 10 bring discussion TO close
when two-thIrus so conclude. But when
the Senate is divided. as il now Is, on
political lines, I do not believe the SEN
ate will be in a position 10 secure very
important legislation with very much
more facility.
al am for it, though it may be used
to bring about the passage OF the neu-
trality bill with which ! am not in sym
patty. ! do not ask the Senate rules
be made TO accomplish my individual
purposes, but we ought to have rule
in the Senate 70 do business with at
any time in respect to any important
legislation"
Resents Wilson's Criticism
Senator Townsend, of Michigan, in
criticising the President for issuing his
statement on March 4, declared he
would vote for closure reluctantly.
"If the question was other than OF
international Importance and the
Executive had criticised the Senate as
II did, Senators would possibly propose
an investigation" he said. "I regard
il as little less than an outrage that
the Executive should have used such
language in characterizing the Senate
OF Senators. II was unjust, undignifed
and almost unconstitutional on the part
of the President"
The Michigan Senator said he be-
lieved that an extra session should
have been called by the President 10
begin March 5.
The record was cited by Senator
Smoot to show that friends of the
armed neutrality bill, rather than its
opponents. contributed most of the talk
in the closing hours.
"There is not doubt in my mind"
he added, ''if the President would call
a special session the armed ship bill
will pass within three days after il
reaches the Senate if the friends OF