Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1917-03-04

dictated and surrender IN advance all
claim to pass upon the question.
THE question here presented, he
said, rises above any man or any
president-it is fundamental i
Senator Hardwick, democrat, asked
Senator Stone If the president did not
have authority to defend or protect
American citizens without authority
OF congress. .t
ayes" said Senator Stone, IF war |
vessel Of the United States should see
4 merchant ship of this country as
saulted on the high seas and an effort
be made to destroy it, even though
that war vessel were not acting as
CONWAY. such warship would not
only have the right, but It would be
It's duty to protect that ship. But il a
foreign, power assaults merchant YES
sells OF the United States when our
war vessels are not present and we
hear OF it as we are hearing OF these
things now, do not think the presi-
dent could direct the navy OF the
United States to begin war on thar
foreign power. For that he would
have to come to congress.
Congress Only Power.
"If we want to enter into the war.
II the occasion is as grave as some OF
the senators say, let US say so. we
Lave the right, the power to say SO.
Congress is the only power in TINS
great government that has the right
and am unwilling to establish the
precedent OF shifting the war respon,.
sibility to the president OF the United
States. 80.
"Americans have been selling guam
tities OF munitions to the entente and
American ships have been conveying
them" continued Senator Stone. This
is not unlawful. It is permissible; !
refused to support embargo rtsolu-
tions. I would not deny our people
The legal right to sell to on. bellig-
erent lust because the other cannot
reach our market. But IT this gov
eminent should arm merchant ships,
nut gunners aboard and send the ships
loaded with munitions to belligerent
we would become by that very. act the
ally Of the government benefited. we
would be In the war"
When debate was resumed today
Senator Hitchcock, to perfect the
bills parliamentary status, had the
senate draft, with two slight amend
Inents. substituted after the cnacting
clause for the house text. One amend
ment eliminates the provision tor
arminr merchantmen "fore and aft"
thus removing specific. direction as to
armament. The other prevents
United States protection OF foreign
ships.
: Hot Speech by Brandegee.
Senator Brandegce, republican, Of
Connecticut, called the German pro-
hibited zone ian ambush where Ger
many laid in wait to deal death" to
! any one who entered against its ediet
creating it.
aShaii we sit supinely and allow the
ukase Of 1 foreign potsntate now TO
/, clear the ocean Of American shipping
and blockade our ports!", he asked.
. .Are we obliged to wait for the
slaughter to be accomplished before
Ne defend ourselvesi / trust that
neither congress nor the American
people have fallen to such depths OF
degradation that they are willing to
furl the American flag and withdraw
from the high SEES as the misguided
band OF pacifists seem to wish.
There is no use to issue . moral
hor.ilv ar a Salvation Army tract or
to repeat the Sermon on the Mount
10 / nation that has gone mad and
has begun through Its military au'
tocracy to act like . homicidal ma
MAC. Must we get off the face Of the
earth--lic. down and curl upl I'm fol
peace, but | am going to preserve
the liberties of my country. II thu
pacihsts had lived In the time q
George Washington we never woulc
have been q country and II they havt
their way now we will cease to be I
country. The peace propaganda, II
some aspects, closely approaches
treason"
Interest In Zimmerman Interview
Senator Sherman presented today
news dispatches from Berlin bringinl
Foreign Minister Zimmermann's sd
mission Of the attempted intrigu
with Japan and Mexico.
Senators minifested such keen In
terest in the dispatches that the
were read twice. Senator's who ha
been inclined TO denounce the cels
brated Zimmerman Instructions a
a forgery or a British plot Shove
particular interest.
Japan has denied receipt Of ovel
lures" Senator Sutherland of Uta
interjected. II ask if there is an
significance to the fact that our grei
and good friend, General Carranza,
our neighboring friendly republi
has not made any denial"
Bill. Means War.
.Are we going to lie down on 0,
backs and let this monstrons fran
enstcin tramplc over US ruthlcssly
resumed Senator Brandgce. Il a
not deceived BY the effect of this bi
The effect will be that the next pa
scnxer or freight ,hip with Americ'
gunncrs aboard which attempts
enter British or neutral port in 4
war zone will be attacked by Gt
man submarine. That means I'll
there will be war II this country is
TO live. If perchance our defensi
gunncrs should sink submarii
that would mean war"
That he and some other. forei
relations committee men, RS want
to amend the bill to direct" and I
merely authorize" the president
arm American merchantmen v
stated by the Connecticut senator
Mr.. Brandgee urged the passs
of the pending measure and not
house bill. because by its terms
status Of officers or men on m
chant shin resisting attack from