The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-02-26
Meet German RuthlessnesS
With Force, His Plan.
Violations of Rights, Not Overt
Acts, Moves President.
EFT norS NOT DEcl IRE WAR
But to Prepare Nation for War;
like Acts of Others.
May Authorize American Mer-
chantmen To Be Armed.

Washington. Feb. 26.-President
Wilson appeared before congress at
o'clock and asked for authority to
place the United States in a state
of armed neutrality to resist the Ger
man submarine menace. Continued
Invasion of the plain rights of neutrals
on the high seas. further sacrifice of
American lives and ships. the intol-
erable blockade of American COM
merce-almost as effectual as If the
country were at war-have taken the
place of a dreaded overt act which
was expected to shock the world-and
have forced the president into the next
step toward war.
President Wilson asking to be en-
powered to take whatever steps are
necessary which includes the arming
of ships. the conveying of merchant
men by war vessels or whatever other
steps may be necessary maze it plain
again that he wanted peace but not
at the price of American lives and
rights or by driving the American flag
from the seas
Congress is expected not only to
authorize the president to use the
armed forces of the country but also
to provide money.
Second Similar Act by U. S.
once before in the infancy of the
republic a state of armed neutrality
was proclaimed to check predatory
violence" upon American rights in the
war between France and England but
it did not result in actual war for
the United States Whether another
armed neutrality will mean war de-
pends on whether Germany realizes
that the United States is ready to
protect its neutral rights by whatever
means are necessary. Win 1uli
realization of the solemnity of the oc-
casion the president took his action
TODAY with the calm confidence that
congress and the country will stand
behind him.
The grim-faced body of senators
and representatives who less than
month ago heard the president pro-
nounce the words which announced a
severance of diplomatic relations with
Germany-an act which in all the
history of first class nations always
has led to war-heard today in tense
silence and grave attention the words
which carry the American republic
a step further in its stand against
ruthless sacrifices of American rights
and lives and a step nearer war if it
must be.
President Wilson arrived at the cap
ital just before l o'clock and promptly
at the hour stepped up To the clerks
desk in the hall of the house where
both branches of congress meeting in
special joint session were assembled
before him.
\ Solemn Occasion.
The presidents address was deliv-
cred without applause. The gravity
of the moment, as if by common con-
sent prevented any uproarious bursts
Of enthusiasm such as marked pre-
Vious appearances before congress-
From Republicans and Democrats
who have been pressing for forward
action in the situation there We're Wig
orouS mods of approval. The element
classed as pacifist and those who are
accounted as sympathizers with them
in some degree heard the address in
silence, and when it was over. re-
Trained from expressions, saving thew
We're thinking"
70 the very end of the address there
was no applause but when il was con-
cluqeu there was a storm of cheering
and hand clapping.
relieve S50O,00O.OOO Too Much.
Washington, Feb. 26.-Immediate
~ AFTER the president left the cani+oI
a meeting of the house forefgn - ffairI
committee was called and Chairman
stone OF the senate foreign relations
committee said mis- COMMITTEES would
De called together later this afternoon
SeiitiloF NJ simmons, chairman Of
me Ilnanee committee, said he be-
neved soQo 100000 would be suffi-
Gent at this time and that il might
be provided by an amendment to fhc
revenue bill now before the senate.
Some Republican senator's Declared
they did not want to sign bIant-
cheek for the president and predicted
flIlbuster against the legislation he
requested for the purpose of forciner
an extra session of congress. 4--'9
Those Republicans expressed =, ,,ia,,.
thar the presidents attitude was not
sufficiently definite. They would MOI
say. however, That an extra session
MnlGh they regard as Imperative
would he used = fight the Iee5slation
the president requested. NE vier,,
taken by Democrats is tina; the presi.