Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1917-03-01

ions Of some of those who dissented from
the speakers view 1t was plain that they
were touched by his words at once the
wheels of the Congressional machinery
began turning. The immediate E:.ciist
element took stock of the war making
possibilities Of the authority the Presi-
dent requested: republicans. reluctant to
leave the next steps to the President
without Congress close to take n hand.
considered means of forcing an extra ses-
sion, while democrats who support the
President set about doing what he asked.
DOES NOT LOOK TO WAR.
The armed neutrality, which the Presi-
dent proposes. does not look to war;
whether 1t shall become war depends
upon those who infringe upon the rights
it seeks to protect There is ample his
torical precedent for it; northern Europe
under the leadership of Russia formed a
league and used 1t to protect it's COM
merce in the wars between England and
France and Spain.
Altought the President. when he sew
cred diplomatic relations with Germany.
invited other neutrals to follow his lead
he has not so far as is known suggested
that neutrals join the United States in
the armed neutrality he proposes. All for.
eign governments. however. have been
officially advised Of his address to Con .
gress to-day and official copies have been
delivered to their diplomats here. By
wireless, the text was sent to Berlin.
Congress is asked to empower the Presi-
dent to act as may become necessary.
Every confidence Is expressed at the
White House that Congress ultimately
will act as the President asks taking
into account his efforts Of more than two
years to preserve peace as sufficient evil
| dence that he does not desire to plunge
the country into war.
| No steps toward the arming Of mer-
chant ships are to be taken until Con-
gress acts. The conveying Of merchant
men Is not approved by naval authorities
as an effective or desirable strategic
policy.
WHAT REPUBLICANS WANT.
Republican members Of the foreign
relations committee let it be known that
when the committee meets tomorrow
they will seek to modify the measure in
several particulars. They want to elm.
mate from the first clause the qualihca-
ton to the authorization to the Presi-
dent for arming merchant ships, reading
SHOULD it in his judgment become neces-
sary for him to do So and to direct as
u
/ clause which would empower the Presi.
dent ito employ such other instru-
mentalities as may in his judgment and
discretion seem necessary" they viii
seek to modify and make more specific.
Some of the republicans object TO tho
provision leaving arming Of ships to the
Presidents judgment because they declare
this form of expression implies that the
emergency for arming Of ships does not
yet exist. when they believe that it doe:
now exist and has existed for some time
Many OF the minority say there can bt
no criticism Of the President for askinl
broad powers in the emergency because
there are many presidents for it in tn,
history Of the country. Mckinley wa.
given power to employ broad powers ant
methods before the Spanish war, the re
publicans admit. but they say that thi.
situation is moro grave than that which
confronted the country in 1895.
FILIBUSTEE FEARED.
What Senator LaFollotte may Go is III
turbing administration leaders who woui,
like to have the bill passed at once. The,
fear that he may conduct filibuste
against 1t even should it he modified t,
meet objection of all other senator's.
Senator Simmons, one of the democratic
leaders, said tonight he feared the repub
leans would flibuster on the measure L
the extent OF forcing it over March I.
THE PRESIDENTS APPEAL.
Gentlemen OF the Congress:
u have again asked the privilege o
!, addressing you because we are movini
through critical times during which i
seems to me to be my duty to keep II
close touch with the houses OF Congress
% n ,ntt h.-
run at cross purposes between us.
ION the third of February | official,
, informed you OF the sudden and unex
I pected action OF the imperial German
: government in declaring it's intention T.
disregard the promises II had made T.
this government in April last and under
take immediate submarine operation
against all commerce whether Of belliger
ents or Of neutrals. that should seek L
; approach Great Britain and Ireland. tn
) Atlantic coast of Europe or the harbor
of the eastern Mediterranean and to con
, duct those operations without regard I
the established restrictions of inter
: national process, without regard to an
considerations OF humanity even whic
might interfere with their object. Thu
policy was forewith put into practice. !
has now been In active exhibition 10
u
fully exposed The commerce of othe
neutral nations is suffering severely bu
. not perhaps very much more severed
than 1t was already suffering before tn
. first Of February when the new polio
u Of the imperial government was put int
operation. We have asked the co-opera
ton OF other neutral governments to pre-
= vent these depredations. but ! fear the
,. have not thought 1t wise to join US In All
Z common course OF action.
OUR COMMERCE SUFFERS.
: "Our own commerce has suffered. Ia su
Q fering. rather In apprehension than
:. fact, rather because so many OF our sni;
n are timidly keeping to their home po
/, than because American ships have bee
q sunk.
h 1.-TWO American vessels have been sun
tho Hoosatonic and the Lyman W. Law
!. The case OF the Hoosatonic which WI