The Washington herald., 1917-03-04
WAR" BILL BLOCKED
CONTINUED FROM PAGE ONE.

even should the President recommend
it. l believe the measure violates the
of the United States and
that 1t would be destructive of one of
the most important powers vested in
Congress-. the war-making power. I
would not for a moment consider vot-
ing such extraordinary and dangerous
powers into the hands of any Presi-
dent"
For more than four hours a Senate,
worn and fatigued, and impatient under
the tense excitement of the occasion
gument which the Missouri Senator
read from manuscript. Senators were
nervous and irritable. Crowded and
excited galleries stirred uneasily as
the argument proceeded and at times
the Vice President was forced to
threaten to clear the spectators from
their seats. Extra guards were estab-
lished at all of the entrances. as the
Senate wore through the most memo
rable debate since the days of the civil
war.
When Senator Stone concluded, the de-
termination of the opponents OF the bill
to force delay became apparent. Sena-
tor Hitchcock, In charge of the measure,
sought an agreement for a time for a
vote. It failed. He offered to allow ten
hours more Of debate, all to be consumed
tor Cummins Of Iowa, objected. 1t was
clear that the opponents Of the armed
neutrality bill, admittedly less than a
dozen Senators, were prepared to talk
through the night and to delay a vote to
the dying hours OF the Congress.
Behind this move lay the conviction of
a group of Republicans that an extra
session of Congress should be forced.
With the big army appropriation bill. the
sundry civil appropriation bill. the gen.
eral deficiency bill, and the Military
Academy appropriation bill. as yet un-
passed by the Senate. and various other
big measures in various stages OF enact
ment, the Republicans believed that to-
prevent all general legislation. might
force the President to call Congress back.
No Session at Once.
But from the White House the word
was passed to Senate leaders that no
matter what routine legislation failed,
the President would not call an extra
session at once. The present appropria-
tions run to July l, and it was stated
that an extra session, IL necessary at all,
would be delayed until as near that date
as possible.
Republican Senators throughout the de-
bate breathed war and defiance to Ger
many. Senator Fall declared that the
armed neutrality bill was equivalent to
a Limited declaration Of war;
why not be frank about it then and
declare war on Germany" declared Sem
ator Reed. of Missouri.
IF the Senate wants my advice I'd
declare war on Germany In fifteen min
utes," shouted Senator Fall
Senator Brandegee, Of Connecticut, de-
clared that the German resumption of
submarine warfare was "a declaration OF
war against all the world
This is no time to deliver sermons on
the mount to nation sone mad" he
declared. Now is the time to give the
President full authority to carry hostili-
ties, already begun by Germany, to a sue
cessful conclusion"
If this legislation should be permitted
to fail the action of the Senate would
be misconstrued abroad" declared Sena-
tor Sutherland, of Utah, "and think 1t
would be a crying shame We ought to
stand up for our rights, even II il leads
to war. I love peace as much as the
Senator from Missouri. and I hate war
as much as he, but it must be a peace
OF honor and courage. not a peace of
cowardice and craven surrender"
1nsistence by Senator Jones, of Wash
ington, that the resolution might as we'll
name Germany. led to a heated discussion
in which Senators Sutherland, Sterling,
Of South Dakota, and Nelson. of Min
-
Germany Is not the only country
which has forbidden our ships the seas"
declared Senator Jones'
Has Great Britain ever sunk one of
our ships or done anything of the kind?"
demanded Senator Sterling.
"Yes-yes." shouted Senator Jones,
reaching in his desk for a newspaper
clipping.
Never sunk q ship.
"Why, Mr.. President" broke in Senator
Nelson, the British have never sunk
ship. They have acted entirely in accord
ance with international law. They have
stopped ships. examined their cargoes,
and IL they found contraband, sent them
to prize courts"
"They have not sunk ships because
they did not have to-" replied Senator
Jones. 81 have no doubt they would do
so did they think 1t necessary. The same
sort of principle which caused the tor
pedoing of our ships by German subma-
rines. and do not defend that and
which led Germany to march through Bel
gium, caused Great Britain to starve the
Greeks Now the Greeks are a neutral
nation, but they are being starved by
England and France. who have no more
regard for her rights than Germany has
of Greeks starving" ..--
Senator Jones concluded with a state
ment that the thought It was the duty
Of Congress to remain in session during
this crisis, and not to go back home after
delegating war powers to the President.
IT am not talking to force an extra
session. however" he said.
A caustic comment on the action ofl
Chairman Stone, of the Foreign Reiationsl
Committee, in speaking four hours and
fifteen minutes against the bill this aft
ernoon. was voiced by Senator Weeks, of
Massachusetts, when Hitchcock was try
ing to obtain unanimous consent for al
vote to some hour tomorrow.
ut I'll becomes that side to speak of
filibustering, when the majority leader