Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-02-27
PRESIDENT ASKS1|...' /.
POWER TO PROTECT
SHIPS AND LIVES
Makes Plea Of Congress for
Authority to Resist Sub
marine Menace.
LEGISLATIVE MACHINERY
BEGINS TURNING AT ONCE
Republicans, Disinclined to Give
Blanket Support. May Force
Extra Session.
DIVISION GREATLY DEpLoRED
Will Feed German Impression That
Executive Is Not Speaking for
United Country.
LEGISLATIVE MACHINERY
BEGINS TURNING AT ONCE
DIVISION GREATLY DEpLoRED

W .NHIii.>b I'N. fcbrllarS p6,-T'rcS-
ident Wilson to-day took the inevitable
step and asked Congress for authority
to use the forces OF the United States
To protect American ships and lives
against tho German submarine men
acc-to put the nation in state oC
armed neutrality.
The immediate response was the in
PRODUCTION in the House of "a bill. an
proved in advance by the President
empowering him to furnish guns and
Sunncrs TO American merchantmen. ..to
employ such other instrumcntalities
apd methods as may become neces-
sary. and providing for a 100000 300.
pond issue to be used in his discretion
ior war insurance to encourage Amer
icanN commerce to brave the subma-
rine peril. The bill may be brought
up in the House tomorrow. with spe
cial rules for its immediate considera-
ton. "a
\ similar bill will be considered ts,-
morrow by the Senate Foreign Rcla ,.
ttons COMMITTEES -
The Presidents long expected action,
while received in the main with eysS
prcsslons Of support threatens 10 force;
an extra session of Congress.
Republicans. disinclincd to grant hin
hianket authority while Congress 4 4
III recess, give evidence of opposi.a
the legislation the President asks, not
Tor the purpose of Withholding ii, but
l" iorce him to have Congress In spe-
cial session to take n hand in the next
steps. which they feel will lead to war.
The Republicans are receiving passivs
support from the Democratic element
classcd pacihst
DEPI.ORE DIVISION FOR
EFFECT IN -GERMANYa
The Presidents advisers deplorc this Il
situation for its effect in CiermanvE
where they are convinced it will feed a
the official impression that Congress-
VIII not support the President IL hes
finds it necessary to go 10 war, and&
that he is not speaking the sentimentss
OF a united country. H
The Presidents request for author-ss
ity to use other instrumentalities" isf
the principal sticking point. Even thos.
Republicans and some Of the Demo-
Gratis who hesitate to give him what 4
he asks say they would be willing to 4
give him authority to arm American
ships or act on a definite proposal b!iL>
are reluctant TO sign a blanket check.t y
The administration faces this diviL &
sion in it's own ranks i'm its effort to s.
convince the Kaiser that the United &
states Is now preparing to enforce re- Z
spect for its rights on the high seas.
Some Democrats point to the Pres
ldents own statement in his address
To day that he considered he already,e
had implied authority to act and might
do so without sanction of Congress-.
Mr. Wilson himself. however. said no
preferred not to act on implications.
and did not desire TO be left without y
specific authority and no Congress to X
which to turn. All these things point
toward an extra session, although a e
way out may develop at the last mo.
ment
Although President Wilson told Com
cress he was not acting because OF
the lonS-fearcd overt act news o4
the destruction of the Cunard lints
l-aconia. with Americans aboard wa
received here as nc was entering thl
doors OF the Capitol and was passe
from mouth to mouth through Cor
Gress while he was speaking I.acl
ing details. it's seriousness could nd
he estimated. but ii was apparer
everywhere that it gave weight to m
Presidents words. then falling upon
body OF grave. silent legislators. as
sembcd before him in a somber md
mcnt OF American history. weighin
the declarations which may lead thy
United States to war.
ASKS TO EXERCISE NONE
But RIGHTS OF PEACE
But the President made II clear that
America was asking to exercise none
but the rights OF peace; that he was
not proposing nor contemplating war
lie was thinking. he said. of the right
of life itself: the rights of humanity,
without which there is no civiliza-
ton: rights deeper and more funda-
mental than mercly the rights of Amer
leans.
NO course OF my choosing nor Of
theirs. said the President. will lead q
to war. War can come only by the &
willful acts and asSressions or othersys.
-Four weeks OF unrestricted subrna : IN
rlne warfare. the President told Con. 1.
Srcss. has seen the destruction OF sat n
least two American ships. Amertca,i
commerce driven in large meaaugnMI