Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1917-02-27
CONTINUED INVASION !.
Of AMERICAN RIGHTS
TAKEN To CONGRESS
President Asks Power to Pat.
United States i'm State Of
Armed Neutrality to Meet
German Submarine Menace
(By Associated Press.l


WASHINGTON, Feb. 26.-President|
Wilson appeared before congress a. /.
o'clock this afternoon and asked for au-i
thority to place the United States in q.
state of armed neutrality" to resist the
German submarine menace
Continued invasion of the plain rights
of neutrals on the high seas. further
sacrifice of American lives and ships the
intolerable blockade of American COM
merce-almost as effectual as if the
country were at war-have taken the
was expected to shock the world-and
have forced the president into the next
step toward war.
News of the sinking of the liner La
coma with Americans aboard was re-
ceived here as the president was on
his way to address congress. Although
without details, it's grave possibilities
aided emphasis to the presidents words.
President Wilson, asking to be en-
powered to take whatever steps are nee
essary. which concludes the arming OF
ships. the conveying of merchantmen
I by war-vessels. or what other steps are.
necessary, made it plain again that h i
wanted peace, but not at the price of
American lives and rights, driving the.
American flag from the seas
Congress is expected not only to au-a
| thorize the president to use the armed
forces of the country, but also to pro-
vide money
Once before, in the infancy of the re-
public, a state of armed neutrality was
proclaimed to check predatory vio-|
lence" upon American rights, in the war
between France and England, butAit did
not result actually in war for the United
States.
NOW UP TO BERLIN.
Whether another armed neutrality will
mean war depends on whether Germany|
realizes that the United States is ready
to protect its neutral rights by what-l
ever means are necessary.
With full realization of the solemni-l
ty Of the occasion the president took his
action today with the calm confidenca]
that congress and the country will stan
behind MIN.
The grim-faced body of senator's ar
representatives who less than a monf
ago heard the president pronounce tn
words which announced a severance O
diplomatic relations With GerTnany-aE
act which in all the history of first class
nations always has led to war-heard
today in tense silence and grave atten-
ton the words which carry the American
republic a step further in it's stand
against ruthless sacrifice of neutral
p UhfS and liVpG-ann a ST. nc v.l
if it must be. ..
HEAR SPEECH IN SILENCE.
The presidents address was delivered
without applause. The gravity of the
moment, as if by common consent, pre-
vented any uproarious bursts of enthu-
sias.
From Republicans and Democrats who
have been pressing for forward action
there were vigorous mods of approval.
The element classed as pacifist and those
who are accounted as sympathizers with
them heard the address in silence, and
when it was over, refrained from express
sions, saying they were thinking"
TO the very end there was no APP
plause but when it was concluded there
was a storm of cheering and handslapE
ping.
Senator Stone said administration
leaders had not yet definitely decided
asks would be introduced first in the
house so to carry the credit. A bill
rather than a resolution, combining
grant of authority and the appropriation,
probably will be drawn.
Immediately after the president left
the capitol a meeting of the house for
eign affairs committee was called and
Chairman Stone, of the senate foreign
relations committee. said his commits
tee would be called together later this
afternoon.
Senator Simmons. chairman of the
finance committee, said he believed
$500, O0O,0 would be sufficient at this
time and that it might be provided by
an amendment to the revenue bill now
before the senate.
Several influential Republican sena-
tors declared today that they did nc
want to sign a blank check" for thesI
president, and predicted that fIlibuster
against the legislation he requested 70
force an extra session of congress
Those Republicans expressed a view
that the presidents attitude was not suf-
ficiently definite. They would not say.
however, that an extra session, which
they regard as imperative. would be used
to fight the legislation the president re-
quested.
The view taken by Democrats is that
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