The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1917-03-06
WEIGHED AND FOUND WANTING.

| To the thirteen congressman who were
Fwilhng to make of our flag a symbol of
shame, must be added twelve senators
who, with LaFollette and Stone leading
1.-THE bushwhacking attack on the presi-
dents proposal to protect American prop
erty and lives from thuggism, prevented
THE measure from coming to vote. An
Overwhelming majority of the senate was
lin favor of the BILL but they were simply
ldisfranchised. To deprive a man of the
right to vote for constable is tyranny; but
what shall we say of the motives that were
willing to withhold the highest suffrage in
the land, the right of the senate to vote on
Ia question involving the peace and war of
la hundred and three million people
1t is a victory that will compensate
IPotsdam for the Turkish flight from Kut-
iel-Amara, the German retreat along the
IAncre. Well did the Kaiser lay his plans
Ito provoke the United States during the
Hast days of congress; he calculated the
train of events as nicely as his submarine
commanders the course of torpedo bet
ter acquainted with our laws than many
Of Our own constitutional lawyers, he
knew of the old statute, which prevented
American merchantmen offering opposi-
ton to any country with which the United
States is not officially at war, without con-
gressional authorization; and that Presi-
dent Wilson would have to call a new, I'M
tried, unknown congress, with every pos
sibility of another disloyal, ignorant, and
cowardly filibuster-or at least sufficient
delay to enable the perfection of kaiserist
plans against this country.
1t is this vaccillation, it is such opposi-
ton that has encouraged Germany to be-
lieve there is a divided allegiance in this
country, has inspired her with disre-
gard of the presidents protests, and has
tempted her to take the step that is forcing
us into war.
Unparalleled in the history of the coun
try and perhaps unparalleled in the history
of any modern government" is President
Wilson'S description of the failure of thC
lSixty-fourth congress in what should have
been the grand climax Of achievement, t.
do its obvious duty. 'In the immediate
presence of a crisis fraught with NOR,
subtle and far reaching possibilities of ma
ltional danger than any government known
within the whole history of internationa
relations he continues, congress ha
been unable either to safeguard the coun
try or vindicate the elementary rights o
its citizens"
This does not refer to the armed neutral
ity bill only-Congress has also failed t,
pass the Webb bill allowing exporters t.
form organizations, and bill for the con
servation of natural resources; besides
others, such as the army appropriation bill
etc.
In terrible crisis we have learned tina
a nation, as we'll as an individual; NAV b
ruined by too much talk. At the specia
session of the senate he has called, Pres
ident Wilson will endeavor to have tn
working rules of that body changed, an
the right of unlimited debate curtailec
Unless this is done, there will be little us
in calling a special session of congress, 70
another clique of wilful men, representing
no opinion but their own, will be able t
render the great government of the Unite
States helpless and contemplate again.
Clapp, (Minn.), Cumn1ins and Kenyon
(Ia), Gronna, IN. d., LaFollette, Owls,
Norris, (Neb.), Works, (Cal), Kirt.N
(Ark.), Lane, (Ore.), Ogerman, IN. Y
Stone, (Mo.), Vardaman, (Miss.), the onl
lSoutherner-these are the twelve senat
Tors who were opposed to protecting Amer
leans, these are the men who thought NOR
OF the Kaiser's ukase than of the pres
dents plan, these are they who have il