Evening star., 1917-03-04

openly go soon a1ter tne Sehaso uao
passed a bill with stringent penalties to
prevent discussion of such secrets. SEN
ator Stone retorted he had not SAID tns
plan had been adopted, but that IL mac
been advised and considered.
Americans have been selling quan,
titles of munitions to the entente and
American ships have been conveyins
them" continued Senator Stone. This
Is not unlawful. 1t IL permissible. ]
refused to support embargo resoiu-
tions. I would not deny our people
erens Just because the other cannot
reach our market. But II this govern
ment should arm merchant ships. put
punners aboard and send the ships,
ioad.d with munitions. to a belligerent
we would become by that very act the
ally of the government benefited We
would be in the war;.
Question for Congress.
Senator Lewis, democrat. asked:
Does the mere carriage Of munitions
change the responsibility of the Ameri-
can government to protect its citizens
or Germany's liability for their destruc-
tionr'
THAT would be question for Con-
rress to decide" Senator Stone an
swered.
.Tt is Incredible to my mind" said
Senator Hardwick, that the President
would use the power TO convoy mun1-
'Tf he would not" replied Senator
Stone. why do we bother ourselves to
pass this bill?'
Declaring that "to say the entente
are lighting our battles is a dream. q
nightmare of disordered brains, SEN
ator Stone called attention to the al
lies conferences for commercial CO.
operation after the war and said this
was a problem that must be faced.
people of the United States have good
reason to lean upon the strong shoul-
ders of Johnny BullT' asked Senator
Stone. whence came this impulse OF
dominating affection? There are SEN
ators and members of the House who
somehow have been duped or persuad-
ed or have persuaded themselves to
ally themselves with England; TO an
nounce themselves as partisans OF that
power. I can't share that idea.
Supports the Bill.
Senator Sutherland. republican. of
Utah. supported the bill. but declared
the President already had authority TO
protect American citizens on Ameri-
can ships just as much as he had
power to repel invasion without con-
sulting Congress.
notwithstanding the Presidents
authority" he said, 'he has asked Con-
gress for this authority. II TINS leeis-
lation were to fail. it would be mis-,
understood abroad. | am not a1raio
of the result of this legislation Wnat-
ever it might lead to. We ought TO
stand for our rights and maintain
them even II 1t leads to war
Senator Jones declared the neutral
ity bill was the most momentous
measure presented to Congress since
should not be criticised for desiring to
discuss it fully. He said he wanted
'sto stand by the President notwith-
standing the fact that the President
seemed to manifest no desire TO stang
BY Congress" He found 1t dihcult
to believe. he said. that the President,
as reported, did not want Congress on
his hands in the present crisis
Should Direct Action.
.sIf we want the President to arm
American ships and sink German sub
marines we should direct him to do so,
not pass discretion and responsibility
for decision onto him." said Senator
Jones.
The allies, he said. had closed the
sea to American commerce.. and II they
had not sunk any American ships IN
their barred zone 1t was only because
the ships had not gone there. Senators
Sterling and Nelson objected, saying
that the allies. in their blockade, al
ways had observed internationa! law.
In reply, Senator Jones cited the BLOCK
ade Of Greece, reading reports OF re-
sulting starvation in that country ana
Of the sinking of Greek ships.
This shows that England would. II
necessary. do the same thing that Ger
many is doing" he continued. The al
lies have no more regard for rights OF
neutrals than Germany. unless it's nee
essary for their preservation"
Senator Townsend said the bill would
give the President only such power as
he already possesses.
IF / thought it meant war in this
trying-it may be fateful-hour,, 1
solemn hour it seems to me l should
vote to give notice to the world that
Congress is behind the President"
Senator Townsend said that he IA
vored the portions of the Stone amend
ment which would exempt munition
ships from protection.
Senator Hardwick. denounced bit
terly those threatening to defeat the
bill. and pleaded that it be passed. ito
keep peace, support the President, and
we will not submit to murder on the
seas"
Mr.. Cummins Explains Stand.
At 10 pm. Senator Cummins took the
floor TO make a long speech against the
bill. He said there had been persistent
attempts to distort" the attitude Of the
measures opponents, and that he based
his opposition upon constitutional OBJ
jections against abandoning to the
President the war-making powers of
Congress.
ut is cowardly. as we'll as uncon-
stitutional act. for Congress to divest
itself of its power" he said Congress
will follow the President and the peo-
ple will follow him in any relation he
may establish under the law and the
Constitution. When it is the province
of Congress to establish relations to
other countries under the Constitution
the President should follow Congress.
The watchword of the time should be
changed a little. 1t should now be
stand by the government instead of
stand by the President or stand by
Congress
Il look upon German submarine war
fare on merchant ships as unspeakably
atrocious. i have no words of justiflca-
don for the practice of the imperial
German government in this regard. 1
have no word of justification for the
British act in spreading explosive mines
over the high seas"
Favoring arming of merchantmen,
Senator Cummins said he would expect
them to sink German submarines on
sight, providing they carry no NUM-
tions.
"Arming them is not an act of war,
but Of defense" he said Germany
might declare war as a result but we
must meet that ISSUE
Parenthetically he said Great Britain
~ Il ~