Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1917-03-09
Wilson to Arm Ships;
Calls Extra Session
Continued from rare One

Contin nued from raEe One
today for a definite statement OF the Presi-
dents plans. ,,,
Secretary Tumulty shortly after noon ana
told him that 1t was imperative that
stateuent of the Presidents intentions III
this regard be communicated TO the menu
bers of both houses at once, Speaker clark
said many OF the House members were re-
naming up in. the air" in Washington and
did not know whether to 20 home.
After a seven-minute session this after
noon the Senate adjourned until noon Mon
day to permit the Republican and Demo
cratic steering committees to complete the
reorganization of the Senate standing COM
mittees.
SENATE MEETS MONDAY
! The steering committees worked all
morning. but made little progress in COM
mittee assignments They viii work all
afternoon and tomorrow in an effort to
finish their work and enable the Senate to
get ready"for an extra session
Senator Mclean. Of Connecticut, intro
| duccd a resolution asking the President to
! call an extra session for March 26, but
, there was no discussion Of the mca
| sion in the expectation that the Presidents
call for an extra session might come any
! minute,
| Administration leaders declared that with
the assembling OF Congress the resumption
of American commerce on the high seas
| viii take place Immediately No difficulty
| is expected In jammng through both houses
| the bill granting specific authority for the
| President TO arm American merchant ships
ard send them forth in defiance of Ger
manys submarine decree.
what President Wilson most desires to
show is that he mas 4 united Congress and
nation behnG him The little group Of
willful men" who prevented the last Con-
Eress from giving him such authority af-
fOrded to Berlin much satisfaction and to
Washington much Chagrn. The fact that
the German press held mp the "wilful''
Senators as representing the best spirit
in America seriously disturbed the Ad-
muistration and made the necessity for a
new Congress all the more apparent.
Passage of the armed neutrality bill
would not only amount to vote of conf
dencc and announce to the world that
America IS uniGed and patriotic. but ii
! also would provide money wherewith to
operate.
STONE HOLDS POST
Senator William !: Stone has been tent
atively named chairman of the Senate
Foreign Relations Committee, according e
| ~
| steering committee late today,
The steering committee expects to com
plete a tentative list Of assignments shortly
This list will be subject to revision tomor
row. The completed list will be presented
to the Senate for confirmation Monday.
Senator stone is certain of his post, ac
cording TO Senator Lewis. Administration
, whip"
You may say definitely" Lewis said
that MIR. Stone will again head the com
! mittee"
Since criticism Of stones face about" il
i refusing to support President wilson
; armed neutrality plan has come largely
L from Administration sources. the unequivo
, cal statement of Lewis. Administrator
3 spokesman, was taken TO indicate an agree
: ment had been reached to retain the presen
, | chairman.
. "It is up to Senator stones constituency.
' | Lewis said Ito rebuke him If he is to b
! | rebuked."
CONSIDERED UNETHICAL
"It would he unethical for Senators T.
upbraid another Senator expressing his hon
!. est conviction. Members or tile Senate rep
Q ! resent state sovereignty. One state ma
, not question the stand Of another"
!, Opposition to stones retention at tn
l. head of the Foreign Relations Committed
! it is known, will be voiced in committee b
J, Senators James. OF Kentucky, and Hollis
J. Of New Hampshire. It is not believed
= however. they will carry the fight to tn
!, Sertate floor. ..
n Deposition of Stone it is felt, might caus
J; what would become disastrous split I
!, Democratic ranks. In view OF the dwindlin
! Democratic majority, Administration lead
ers are Ioath to do anything which woul
disrupt present party harmony.