The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1917-02-26
President Asks Power
To Protect u. S. Ships
From Submarine Peril

CONTINUED from Page One)
withsthe use of the submarine against
merchantmen as the German govern
ment has used it..
"In< sum, therefore, the situation
we find ourselves in with regard to
the actual conduct of the German
submarine warfare against commerce
and it's effects, upon. our pwp ships
and people is substantially the same
that it was when addressed you on
the Bird iof February, except for the
tying up of Our shipping in our oWn nj
ports because ofEthe unwi1lfngness of
our skip owners TO risk their vessels
at sea without insurance Of ADEQUATE
protection and the very serious con-
gestion of our commerce which has
resulted, a congestion which is grow
ing rapidly more and more serious
every day. ~
This in itself might presently ac-
complish, in effect, what the new Ger
man submarine orders were meant to-
accomplish, so far as we are concern
ed. We can only say, therefore, that
the overt act which have ventured
to hope the German commanders
would, in fact, avoid. has not oc-
Cured.
but while this is happily true.
it must be admitted that there have
been certain additional indications
and expressions Of purpose on the
part of the German press and the
German authorities, which have in
creased rather than lessened the i'm
preston that, If our ships and our
people are spared, it will be because
of Fortunate circumstances or because
the commanders Of the German sub
marines, which they may happen to
.encohnter, exsfcise any unexpected
discretion and Testraint, rather than
which, those connanders are acting.
1T would be foolish to deny that
the situation is 7. frauglt with the
gravest possibilities and dangers. No
thoughtful man can fail to see that
the necessity for definite action may
come at any time If, we are in fact,
and not in words, merely, to defend
our elementary rights as neutral ma
ton. = It would be most imprudent
to be unprepared.
II cannot in such circumstances be
unn1indful of the fact that the ex-
piration Of the term sof the present
congress is Immediately at hand by
constitutional limitation, and that it
would in all likelihood require an UNI
usual length of time to assemble and
organize the congress which is to sue
coed it.
IT feel that ought, in view of that
fact, to- obtain from you full and i'm
mediate assurance of the sauthority
which may need at any moment to
exercise. No doubt Ia-ready possess
that authority without Special war
rant of law, by the plain implication
of my constitutional duties and pow
ers,sibut ! nrefer in the present cir
cun1stances hot to act on general i'm
plication. T. wish to feel that the
authority and the power Of the con-
gresss are behind me in whatever it
may bbecome necessary for me to do.
We are Jointly the servants to the
people and must act together and In
their spirit, SO far as we can divine
and interpret it,
ssNot one doubts that it is our duty
to do So w e must. defend our COM
merce and the lives of our people in
the midst .of the present trying cir
cumstances with discretion burt with
clear and steadfast purpose. Only the
method and the extent remain to be
chosen, upon the occasion, If occasion
should indeed arise.
"Sdnceesit has unhappily proved i'm
possible to safeguard our neutral
rights by diplomatic means against
the unwarranted infringements they
are suffering at the hands of Ger
many, there may be no recourse but
to armed neutrality, which we shall
know how to maintain and for which
there is abundant American precedent.
1T is devotedly to be hoped that it
will not be necessary to put armed
forces. anywhere into action. The
American people do not desire 1T and
our desire is not different from theirs.
I am sure that they will understand