Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1917-02-26
Wilson's Plea
Based on Right
Of Humanity

| Of Humanity
Washington, Feb. 26-Congress heard
today in an intense silence and grave
attention the words which carried the
United States closer to war If 1t
must be.
President Wilson arrived at the
capitol just before l o'clock and
promptly stepped to the clerks desk
in the hall of the house, where both
houses of congress were assembled.
He spoke as follows:
Promises Disreearded.
Gentlemen of congress: l have
ing you because we are moving thru
critical times, during which 1t has
seemed to me my duty to keep in
close touch with the houses of con-
-greSs.
"On the Sd of February I officially
informed you of the sudden and un-
expected action of the imperial gov
ernment in declaring it's intention to
disregard the promises it had made to
this government in April last and
undertake immediate submarine oper-
ations against all comm erce, whether
OF belligerentS or Of neutnals that
should seek to approach Great Britain
and Ireland, the Atlantic coasts Of
Europe or the harbors Of the Mediter-
raneRna and conduct these operations
without regard to the established re-
strictions +hft international practice
without teg&tdsto auy. considefation of
humanity which might; interfere with
their object. That policy was forth
with put into practice It has now
been in practical execution for nearly
four weeks. The commerce OF other
neutral nations is suffering severely
but not, perhaps. very much more
severely than it was already suffering
when the new policy of the imperial
government was put into operation.
We have asked the corporation Of
other neutral governments to prevent
these depredatlons, but fear none Of
them thought it wise to join us in any
common course of action. Our own
comm cree has suffered, is suffering
rather in apprehension than in fact,
rather because so many of our ships
are tin1idly keeping to their home
ports than because American ships
have been sunk.
American Vessels Sunk.
1.-TWO American vessels have been
sunk, the Housatonic and Lyman NJ.
law. The case Of the Housatanic,
witch was carrying foodstuffs, con-
signed to London, was essentially like
the case Of the Frye, in which, it will
be recalled, the German government
admitted it's liability. for damages and
the lives of the crew, as in the cast Of
the Frye, were safeguarded with rea-
lsona.ble- care.
"The case of the Law, which was
carrying lemon box slaves to Palermo,
disclosed a ruthlessness Of methods
which deserves grave condemnation,
but was accompanied by no circum-
stances which might not a1ave been
expected at any time in connection
with the use Of the submarines against
merchantmen.~as the German govern
:ment has used it.
Shipping Tied Up.
"1n sum, therefore. the situation we
find ourselves in with regard to the
actual conduct of submarine warfare
against commerce and its effects on
our own ships and people is substan-
TALLY the same as when addressed
you on the Sd of February except for
the tying up Of OUR shipping III our
own ports because Of the unwilling
ness Of our ship owners to risk their
vessels at sea without insurance or
adequate protection and the very
serious congestion of our commerce,
(which has resulted in congestion
growing more serious every day.
tThis in itself might accomplish in
effect what the German submarine
orders were meant to accomplish, in
sofar as we are concerned.
No Overt Act.
we can only say, therefore, that
the overt has not occurred.
"But while this is happily true, 1t
must be admitted that there have been
certain additional indications and ex-
pressions Of purpose on the part OF
the German press and German auth
| critics which have increasd the i'm
pressions that If our ships and our
people are spared It will be because
of fortunate circumstances or because
the commanders Of the German SUBJ
marines exercise an unexpected dis
|. cretion and restraint, rather than be-
l-cause the instructions under which
those commanders are acting.
! Situation Grave.
"It would be foolish to deny that the
situation is fraught with the gravest
possibilities and dangers. No thought.
| full man can fail to see that the nec-
esslty for definite action may come at
any time, if. We are In fact, and not
IN word, merely, to defend our element