The Keota news., 1917-03-09
APPEALS TO PEOPLE IN cRl8is
CAUSED eY FILlBusTER OF
TWELVE IN SENATE.
President Declares situation at Close
Of sixty-Fourth consress to 0e
Unparalleled In History Of
Modern Government.

western Newspaper Union news Service.
Washington. March 5.-President
Wilson Sunday night issued the fol.
lowing statement, addressed "to the
Nation:
The termination Of the last session OF
ehe Sixty-fovrth Congress by constitu-
tional Limitation discloses . situation
unparalleled In the history OF the coun-
try, perhaps unparalleled in the HIS
the immediate presence OF crisis
fraught with more subtle and far
reaching possibilities of national dam
ger than any other. government has
known within tho whole history OF its
international relations. the Congress
has been unable to act either to safe
elementary rights Of It's citizens.
More than five hundred Of tho five
hundred and thirty-one members OF the
two houses were readX and anxiou; .,l.oa Ito 20
acted. by an overwhelming majority.
but the Senate was unable to act, be.
cause a little group of senator's had
determined that 1t should not.
The Senate has no rules by which de-
end: no rules by which dilatory tactics
member can stand in the way OF ace
ton II he have but the physical en-.
complete paralysis alike Of the legisla..
.S. i've .-ot ana q the r. executive branches Of
This inability the Senate to act
sary Legislation Of the session impossi-
BILE at time when the need for It was
the most pressing and most evident.
Tns bin wouf ssuH ana ei
organisation in tho export and import
trade Of the country. A. tho circum-
stances Of international competittio,n pssio,,
the business Judgment of the whole
country approved and demanded-has
failed.
The opposition Of one or two ssna.
the membership Of the Interstate Com
nerce Commission or to give Il the Al
tered organisation necessary for its ef-
ficiency.
have released for Immediate use the
mineral resources which are ntili
locked up in the public lands. now that
their release il more imperatively nee
would have made the unused water
eeS.iiable eSM for a' Industry. have both
consideratioa sH n throSghout @ the sessions
twice passed by tho House Of Repre-
The appropriations for the army
have failed. along with the appropria-
tions for the civil establishment OF the
government. the appropriations for the
military academy at West Point and
the general deficiency bill.
It has proved Impossible 70 extend
the powers of the shipping hoard to
meet the special needs of tho now situ-
alton into which our commerce has
been forced or to increase the gold re-
serve Of our national banking system
to meet the unusual circumstances Of
the existing financial situation.
It would not cure the difficulty to
cali the Sixty-fifth Congress In extra
ordinary session. The paralysis of the
Senate would remain. The purpose and
now. The Congress is more definitely
united in thought and purpose At this
moment, I venture to say. than IL mas
been within the memory Of any man
only the most united patriotic purpose.
but the objects members have In view
are perfectly clear and definite.
But the Senate cannot act unless Its
leaders can obtain unanimous consent.
Its majority. II powerless, helpless In
peril when only definite and decided
action can make the nation safe or
shield It from war itself by the ag-
kression Of others action 10 tmpos-
sible.
nation and the representatives of tho
nation stand back of tho executive
with unprecedented unanimity OF s.Pir.
IT. the impression made abroad WILL OF
course. be that It IL not 90. and that that
please without fear that this govern
ment can do anything at all. We can
not explain. The explanation 10 tncred-
ible.
the only legislative body In the world
,~harh ca nnot act when it0 majority 10