The Dolores star. [volume] (Dolores, Montezuma County, Colo.) 1901-current, 1917-03-09
WILSON.TO NATION
APPEALS TO PEOPLE IN cRisis
= CAUSED ~ FilIDusrER OF
TWELVE IN SENATE.


Washingeoo, March S.-President
Wilson Sunday night issued the fol-
lowing statement, addressed '"to the
Nation:
The terminAtion Of the last session OF
the Shay fourth Congress BY constitu-
sionAl limitation disoloses q situation
unparalleled In the history Of the coun-
try. perhaps unparalleled in the his.
the immediate presence OF q. crisis
frauGht with more subtle and far
reaching possibilities of national dam
Known within the Whole history Of its
International relations, the Congress
has been unable to act either to safe
guard the country or to vindicats the
elementary rights Of Its citizens.
More than five hundred of the five
hundred and thirty-one members of the
two houses were ready and anxious to
act: the House Of Representatives had
acted. BY an overwhelming majority.
but the Senate was unable to act. be.
cause 1 little group of senator's had
determined that IL should not
The Senate has no rules by which de-
bate can be limited or brought to an
end: no rules by which dilatory tactics
OF any kind can be prevented. single
member can stand In the way Of ac-
tion IL he have but the physical en-
durance. The result. in this case, Is .
complete paralysis alike of the legisla-
the government.
This inability of the Senate to act
has rendered some of the most neces-
Bary legislation OF the session imposst-
BILE at a time when the need Tor II was
the most pressing and most evident.
The bill which would have permitted
such combinations Of capital and of
organization in the export and Import
stances of international competition
have made imperative-a bill which
the business Judgment of the whole
country approved and demanded-has
The opposition Of one or two sena-
tors has made II impossible to increase
the membership Of the Interstate COM
merce Commission or to give It the al
tered organization necessary for its ef-
ficiency.
The conservation bill. which should
have released for immediate use the
mineral resources which are still
their release is more imperativeiy nee
essary than ever. and the bill which
would have made the unused water
power of the country Immediately
failed, though they have been under
Of two Congresses and have been
twice passed by the House Of Repre-
The appropriations for the army
have failed. along with the appropria-
lions for the civil establishment off the
,.ry ss s. Po fSr sn
the general deficiency bill.
1t has proved impossible to extend
the powers Of the shipping board TO
alton into which our commerce has
been forced or to increase the gold re-
serve Of our national banking system
the existing financial situation.
II would not cure the difficulty to
call the sixty fifth Congress in extra
ordinary session. The paralysis Of the
the spirit Of action are not lacking
now. The Congress 10 more definitely
united in thought and purpose at this
moment MON i,h,n venture ,Su to say than II na.
now in its membership. There 10 not
only the most united patriotic purpose.
but the objects members have in view
But the Senate cannot act unless its
leaders can obtain unanimous consent.
Its majority IL powerless, helpless. In
the midst o. crisis Of extraordinary
action can make the nation safe or
shield It from war itself by the ag-
grsssion Of others, action 10 impos-
Although a. a matter OF fact the
nation and the representatives Of the
nation stand back of the executive
with unprecedented unanimity OF spir-
course, be- that II 10 not 30. and that
other governments may act as they
please without fear that this governe
ment can do anything at all. We can
not explain. The explanation 10 incred-
ible.
The Senate of the UnitSd States IL
the only Legislative body in the world
which cannot act when its majority 10
ready for action.
A little group Of wilful men repre-
senting no opinion but their own have
rendered the great government Of the
United States helpless and contempt
ible.
The remedy? There 10 but one rem
edy. The remedy II that the rules Of
the Senate shall be 30 altered that II
can act. The country -aan be relied
upon to draw the moral. I believe that
the Senate can be relied upon to sup
ply the means of action and save the
country from disaster.
al WOODROW WILSON.
China Votes to Break With Kaiser.