The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1917-03-02
HOUSE SOLlDLY BEHIND
WILSON, PASSES ARMED
VESSEL BILL, 403 TO Is


be more apt to keep out than to get
into war. 1 don't want to be involved
in the European war, but I am will
ling to protect the rights of Ameri-
cans"
Mr.. Mann's speech swept away any
remaining opposition on the Republi-
can side.
Chairman Flood of the Foreign At
fairs Committee declared that in 1898
conditions were much the same as
they are today. England and France
were at war;" he said, land France
was preying upon commerce as Ger
many is today. Many people in this
country at that time said our rights
should not be upheld and that to up
hold them would lead to war with
France. We gave the President pow
er, our commerce was protected, our
honor upheld and war avefted. It
may be necessary only to arm our
ships. but if we must do more the
fault will not be ours
Vigorous applause also greeted a
speech by Democratic Leader Kitchin,
who had been numbered among the
pacifists. Mr.. Kitchin talked like a
man who was forcing himself to adopt
a conclusion personally distasteful, but
he came through finally and urged I'M
animous support for the bill.
Attacks ''Sinister Press
Representative Decker of Missouri
joined his colleague, Representative
Shackleford, in attacking the bill. Mr..
Shackleford prepared the minority
report which was signed by six mem
bers Of the Foreign Agairs Commit
To- II h ic tn n q
occupants of the press gallery, point
| ing his finger at them and saying to
! the House: "You are too cowardly
| to face the sinister press that is trying
| to force us into war;"
Mr.. Shackleford declared he was
ready to go to war, when the situa-
! ton demands it, but opposed dele
eating any authority to the Presi-
| dent.
Mr.. Decker, a young man and an
eloquent speaker surprised the House
| by his speech. He had not been
counted among those who would &C
| lively oppose the measure. He chal-
| lenged the House membership to stay
| in Washington and shoulder the full
| burden of responsibility Nor war, de-
claring that the passage Of the bill
meant war and nothing less.
| Mr.. Decker made some reference
to men of the South which Represen-
tative Stedman of North Carolina, a
Confederate veteran, construed as an
insinuation upon their valor. He
quickly jumped to his feet and de-
clared that, while opposed to war, the
young men, and the old men If need
be, Of the South would be the first to
respond to the Nations call. He
asked the House: What would Lin
coin do in this situation?" After the
applause subsidized, Major Stedman
added:
| Everyone of you knows what the
| great Lincoln would do. It is not
necessary for me to say, I wish to
affirm my support of this bill and the
President"
Decker said he intended no refec-
/ ton on anybody.
Representative Temple of Pennsyl-
vania,S Republican. member Of the
| Foreign Affairs Committee. in discuss
! ing the Prussian treaty of 1893, called
attention to the fact that Germany
recognizes the binding obligations of
/ that treaty, which requires the exami-
nation Of cargoes of American ships,
even those carrying contraband, and
provides for their release under GER
tain conditions. 'sYet," he said, Ger
many now proposes to sink our ships
! without warning
Attacks British Blockade.
Representative Cooper of Wiscon-
! sin, ranking Republican member OF
the Foreign Affairs Committee, read
| the original decree of Great Britain
! declaring the entire North Sea a dan
ger zone in order to enforce her
blockade against Germany.
1.-THE man who surrenders his in
dividual judgment in a crisis like
this he said, 'is not fit to sit in this
body. Our indignation appears to be
aroused only against German viola
tons Of international law. We say
that England has not killed any
| Americans. True. But we have not
dared to resist England's blockade.
American ship are not Drawing Birth
Representative Moore of Pennsylva-
MIA, who has been classed as a pro-
German because Of recent speeches
| was welcomed into the big camp OF
the Presidents supporters when he
proclaimed his support Of the bill.
Representative Sherley Of Kentucky
closed the general debate, declaring
the bill a peace, not war measure
THE proposition" he said, els to pro-
tect and defend the most sacred rights
on earth-human life.'
The reading of the bill proceeded
as far as the committee. amendments
to the original Flood bill when a par
1iamentary jangle developed. In the
melee that followed it soon became
apparent that a large number of mem
bers desired to speak under the five
| minute rule and that a vote on the bill
would be delayed until late in the
:, evening.
Republican Leader Mann obtained
unanimous consent for the introduc.
ton of the following amendment by
Representative Cooper in order thai
it might be discus sed at length:
provided that no ship of Ameri.
can registry while armed in the man.
ner aforesaid shall carry cargo con
| sisting in whole or in part of arms
or ammunition consigned to bellig-
erent country or citizen thereof
Mr. Mann expressed the conviction
that the President will not ARM mum.
tons carriers.
|
EX-MAYOR GLINES DEAD.
Somervil1e, Mass, March 2-Ed-
| ward Glines, who has been elected as
| a ReDublican to mauv Offices died al