The Sentinel=record., 1917-03-03
KIRBY WILL
 VUTE AGAINSI

not be more businesslike to take our fighting ships and go out hunting sub.
 marines"
 Senator Sustin interjected that the
 methods proposed in the bill "leaye 10 Germany whether she will commit | the get that leads to war and Sena- | tor Walsh reminded Senator Reed | that "all the power given the prcsi- dent is to defend, not attack
 Senator Reed insisted that while he intended to vote for the bill, sen ators should not shut their eyes to
 the fact that the final result of it probably is war"
 Firing by a merchant vessel upon a German submarine will amuont to
 the same thing as if fired from a Unit ed States man of war he said. We are practically saving that an attack will be replied to from the threats of United States naval guns If Germany wants 10 cause war on
 that basis. l am willing 10 meet her
 upon that basis" said Senator Bran degee.
 Senator Lane asked why the United
 States. if it armed it's ships, should not insist upon their going into Ger
 man ports. This reefrence to the al l jed blockade drew a quick objection
 fr m Senator Pondexter, who de- l clared there is a deep and fundamen- tai distinction between the British blockade and the killing by Germany 1 of American women and children with
 out warning
 Senator James cOtended that the sinking of a German submarine by an
 armed American merchantmen would lnot necessarily mean war and that the United States must protect our commerce or get off the seas
 Senator Cummins moved early in the debate to amend Senator Stones amendment by providing for conveys for merchant ships, and later Sena- tor McCumber proposed as a substi-
 ute for the entire bill a resolution de l claring the rights of neutral merchant vessels engaged in commerce. includ- ng the right to arm for defense only 1 Belliserents would have the right un-
 der the resolution to blockade in a l zone around an enemy and to search,
 seize or destroy cCntraband cargoes. Neutral vessels challenged could he fired upon only in case of attempt l 10 escape.
 Senator Kirby of Arkansas, one of the senators who voted against the resolution recently proposed by the senate approving President Wilson's severance O. relations with Germany, said ne expected to vote against the bill because Wall street and the hire lngs of the press are responsible for the conditions that now exist and wish protection for intuition carrying ships.
 Apparently greatly agitated, Sena tor Kirby astonished his colleagues by beginning an appeal to my fellow cit izens" and when that brOu2ht a roar of laughter from the floor and gal ler,es he changed to gentlemen of the convention"
 "Fell0S citizens gentlemen of the conyention-the peoples mind has been inflamed, he shouted "The hireling press has inflamed them so that we hardly dare deliberate here.
 The senator said he did not ques- ton the presidents power or his dis creton but opposed the bill because he felt that under it sooner or later an American ship with American guns and American gunners would meet a German submarine.
 When that gun roars,' he said, "it will be an American gun speaking and that will mean war. If we go to war with Germany. we must carry the
 war to her shores and I am thinking of the millions Of young men of this country
 Even if we have war With Germany it would be nominal because of physi- cal conditions" aid Senater Poin- dexter, "perhaps fortunately for IS ;n our present condition No glory can come from a conflict with Germany bled white and staggering, but much dishono- can come from abandonine
 our right to trayal the sea although there is w.de rroparganda in favor of it."
 Murder of American citizens at sea
 i. just as actionable as their murder 1 by invasion cr American soil the Washington senator declared in con cmsiol. He said those proposing noa- Iprotection of Americans on the seas would "cry aloud for protection if their own were murdered on Ameh-
 can soil