The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-03-05
FiIibustering OyerthrOws Plans
for Aiming Ships.
More Than, 500 of 531 in Con-
gress Favored Bill.
WILL CALL EXTRA SESSION
President Expresses Indigna-
ton Over Senate Calamity.
Effect Abroad Tends to Render
q. :. Helpless.

washington. March president
Wilson wants quick action by the I'M
ted States senate to change the rules
and permit rapid passage of an arm
ed neutrality measure when he calls
an extra session of congress to REIN
troduce the bill.
Admitting that his hands are tied
by ancient statutes which forbid MN
arming merchant vessels and taking
other measures of protecting American
rights the president is relying on the
senate to act land save the country
from disaster"
In bitter excoriation of the little
group of wilful men, representing no
opinion but their own who filibustered
the neutrality bill to death, the pres
ident has declared the great govern
Ipent of the United States" is in
..helpIess and contemplate" position
before the world.
1t was the plan of administration
senate leaders to read the presidents
procIa nation of last night i'll the up
per body today if it remains convened
in extra session long enough before
closing to witness the inaugural cere-
monies
1t is now evident the president will
call an extra session of congress just
as soon as the senate. now in extra
Session, acts upon changing the rules
OF unlimited DEBATE.
Paralysis OF the Senate.
Until this is done, the president de-
iclared in his formal statement the
paralysis of the senate with mo rules
by which dilatory tactics can be pre-
Vented would continue.
= Calling attention to the fact that
f'more than 500 of the 531 members
of congress were ready and anxious
TO act" the president declared moth
ing could be accomplished because a
little group of twelve senators" so de-
teTmined.
The position of the president is
strikingly set forth in the following
passages from his statement
In the immediate presence of a
crisis fraught with more subtle and
far-reaching possibilities of national
danger than any other the govern
ment has known within the whole
history of It's national relations, the
congress has been unable to act either
10 safeguard the country or to vindi-
cate the elementary rights of its
citizens
'Altho as matter of fact the ma
t.On and the representatives of the
nation stand behind the executive
with unprecedented unanimity ana
spirit. the impression made abroad
win, of course, be that it is not so
and that other governments may act
as they please without fear than this
government can do anything at all
I'VE cannot explain. The explanation
is incredible.
represent No Opinion at All.
The senate Of the United States is
the only legislative body in the world
which cannot act when it's majority is
ready for action.
Presenting no opinion but their own,
have rendered the great government
'of tho United States helpless and con-
temptible.
The remedy? There is but one
remedy, that remedy that the rules CT
the senate shall he SO altered that it
can act. The country can be reli ID
upon 10 draw the moral. I believe
that the senate can be relied upon to
supply the means of action and save
tine country from Disaster
Tho presidents belief that he had
abe power to arm merchant ships
despite the action of the senate was
dlssipated when his legal advisers dis
covered n statute passed by congress
in 1919 dissipating this idea.
The statute in question provides
that the commander and crew of any
merchant vessel of the United States,
owned wholly or in part by a citizen
thereof, may oppose and defend
against aggression which shall be at
tempted upon such vessel by the com
mander or crew Of any armed yes
sci whatsoever not being a public
armed vessel of same nation in -amity
with the United states"
Not at War With United States.
This is the law which was referred
To by those demanding extra powers
for the president. Senators Lodge
Hitchcock and others declared in the
senate debate that to arm merchant
vessels unless the power asked by the
president was authorized, would give
The vessels the status of privateers
and their crews pirates.
Submarines. officials declare. are
public vessels of a country not al
war with the United States and hence
the presidents hands are tied.
Put One Over on La Toilette
Altho Senator La Toilette had in.
tonded to bring mis- fight on the neu-
traiity bill to q dramatic climax ny
delivering a long speech up to thu
hour of adjournment. he was pre-
vented by a parliamentary maneuvel
by which Senator Hitchcock, leader o.
the seventy-siX members who favored
the bill. occupied that time with