South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1917-03-05
Declares a Little Group of
WiIful Men Have Render
ed Government of the
u. S. Helpless.
OLD LAW PREVENTS
ARMlNG OF VESSELS
Fight to Amend the Rules is
Likely to be Made in Sen
ate-la Toilette to An
SWer President.
International News Service:

WASHINGTON. March ;. - "A
little group of wiIlfuI men. repre-
senting no opinion but their own.
have rendered the great govern
ment Of the United States helpless
and contemplate"
| This declaration by Pres't Wood
row Wilson, made within a few
hours after he had taken the oath
as his own successor. in assailing
the senator's who prevented pas
sage of the armed neutrality bill'
| stood out today as the greatest SEN
sation i'm recent American history.
( 1t came as an electric shock TO the
entire nation coupled as il was with
the admission by the president that
he had been mistaken when ne told
the congress that he had the power
TO arm merchant vessels for their
own defense against German sub
marines. II has complicated the
international situation so far as the
| United States is concerned. Officials
who were endeavoring today TO find
ont what the next step Will he
professed themselves as completely
puzzled
Resentment shown.
There were many open evidences
OF deep resentment in certain
quarters over the presidents state
ment Naturally the senators who
were directly assaulted in the formal
statement issued from the white
house last night were bitter. They
had company i'm a number of SEN
ators and representatives who had
! fought their hardest 10 secure for
the president the legislation that
he had asked Their position was
that had the president taken the
country into his confidence. even
as late as last Saturday. and frank
" admitted that the ancient laws
Of the nation bound his hands and
made il impossible for him TO arm
American vessels. public pressure
would have forced the opposition to
permit a vote on the bill in the SEN
ate.
Accepting the presidents words
for what they seemed 10 mean. ii
was agreed that the hands Of the
United States seemed tied until an
extra session of congress should
give the power already requested.
But in this connection, il seemed
apparent that the president was
standing by his already announced
policy Of Withholding any call for
an extra session until the last pos
sible moment. The president had
frankly declared:
Would Not Help.
1T would not cure the difficulty
TO call the 65th congress in extra
ordinary session. The paralysis Of
the senate would remain. The pur-
pose and the spirit of action are not
lacking now"
Senators closest TO the admins
tration openly stated today that
they hoped 10 start a fight in the
senate 20 amend the rules The
| senate. meeting today i'm eNtraordin-
airy session for the purpose Of con-
sidering nominations may he i'm ses-
sion for some time Friends OF
Sen la Toilette declared that he
will reply 20 the presidents state
7 ment as soon as he gets the oppor-
tunity
The legislation which Pres't Will
son has discovered will prevent him
arminE American merchant vessels
are the laws Of 1918 and 1919 The
! first law permits the arming of
I merchantmen against pirates. The
second specifically prohibits such
armed merchantmen against pirates
| The second specifically prohibits
such armed merchantmen from
| opposing and defending against
any aggression by a public armed
vessel Of any nation in amity with
1.-THE United States submarines are
public armed vessels and the United
States at present is in amity with
Germany despite the breaking Of
| diplomatic relations.
Meanwhile. pending a clarified
tion OF the situation. il was stated
| officially that the president would
mark time" IN dealing with the
l general submarine situation. Z