Sioux County pioneer. (Fort Yates, Sioux County, N.D.) 1914-1929, 1917-03-01
President Asks Power
To Defend Commerce
President Wilson Pleads for Authority
to Take Such Steps as Necessary to
Defend U. s. Shipping

washington, Feb. 27.-President
Wilson appeared before a joint ses.
sion of congress and asked for au.
thority to place the United States in
u state of armed neutrality" to re-.
sist the German submarine menace.
Continued invasion of the plain
rights Of neutrals on the high seas,
further sacrifices of American lives
and ships, the intolerable blockade of
American commerce-almost as effect
ual as If the country were at war
have taken the place of a dreaded
covert act" which was expected to
shock the world-and have forced the
president into the next step toward
war.
President Wilson in asking to be
empowered to take whatever steps
are necessary, which Includes the arm
ing Of ships, the conveying of mer-
chantmen by war vessels or what 9th.
or steps are necessary, made 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.
lie Not Contemplating War.
ut is devoutly to be hoped" said
the president at one point, "that it
will not be necessary to put armed
forces anywhere into action. l am
not now preparing or contemplating
war or any steps that need lead to it.
War can come only by the willful acts
and aggressions of others.
Continuing his remarks the presi.
dent said:
Il merely request that you will ac-
cord me by your own vote and def.
mite bestowa1 the means and the au.
thority to safeguard in practice the
rights Of great people who are at
peace and who are desirous of exer.
cising none but the rights Of peace
to follow the pursuit of peace in quiet.
ness and good will-rights recognized
time out of mind by all the civilized
nations of the world. No course of
my choosing or Of theirs will lead to
war.
"War can come only by the willful
acts and aggressions of others.
"You will understand why 1 can
make no definite proposals or fore.
casts Of action now, and must asl,
for your supporting authority in the
most general terms.
1.-THE form in which action may be.
come necessary cannot yet be fore.
seen.
Hopes Public Will Trust Him.
II believe that the people will be
willing to trust me to act with re-
straint, with prudence, and in the true
spirit of amity and good faith that
they have themselves disployed
throughout these trying months; and
1t is in that belief that request that
you will authorize me to supply our
merchant ships with defensive arms
should that become necessary, and
with the means Of using them, and tc
employ any other instrumentalities or
methods that may be necessary and
adequate to protect our ships, and our
people, in their legitimate and peace.
full pursuits on the seas.
Il request, also, that you will grant
me at the same time, along with the
powers ask, sufficient credit to en-
able me to provide adequate means of
protection where they are lacking, in
cluding adequate insurance against
the present war risks.
II am thinking not only of the
rights Of Americans to go and come
about their proper business by way
Of the sea, but also of something much
deeper, much more fundamental than
that.
II am thinking Of those rights of
humanity without which there is no
civilization"
Fear Of War Causes Tragedy.
Chicago, Feb. 27.-Fear that disrup.