New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-02-17
Bitter Colloquy Between
Mann, of Illinois, and
Dies, of Texas
ONE REBUKED FOR
EXTREME PACIFlSM
The Other Calls Upon the
President to Protect
American Shippers
From The Tribune Bure,ul


Washington, Feb. 16.-Representative
Martin Dies, an admitted ex-pacifist
from Texas, rebuked Republican leader
James r. Mann to-day in the course OF
a pacifist speech by Mr.. Mann, in which
he brought out some reasons for keep
ing out Of the war no matter what Ger
many or any other nation might do to
this country in the meantime.
Mr.. Mann was pointing out that 1t
would be terrible thing if the United
States got into the war.
The Republican leader said;
"Now, we may be drawn into the
struggle. If we are, whatever opinion
we may have in reference to the pro-
priety Of being drawn into the struggle
will be merged in a universal opinion
to stand for the country in what it is
determined to do.
Would Abandon Isolation
81 want to call attention to this. Sup
pose we become engaged in this Euro
pean war, and finally there are over
lures for peace from one side or the
other. If we are party to the war we
have got to sit in at the final councils.
eve will have to help determine the
terms of peace, and at once. at one
swoop, We will have abandoned the
tradition and long continued policy Of
the United States TO remain supreme
l.. m Keen
out of the complications of Europe.
"And when we engage n determining
the boundary lines of the various ma
tons of Europe, We will have placed
ourselves in a position where 1t be-
comes our duty TO endeavor TO regulate
what Bulgaria or Greece or Serbia or
the great or small powers, wherever
they may be-, shall do. And when we
undertake TO enter a policy which re-
auires US to interfere in European al
fairs we can no longer ask or insist on
the traditional policy of the United
States that European countries shall
keep their hands off American affairs"
Here Mann was interrupted by Dies.
81 would like TO ask the gentleman
from Illinois," he said, eff some nation
in Europe involved in this war should
order our peaceful commerce of the
sea and declare that we should no long
er conduct our commerce in obedience
TO the laws of nations, does he think
we should refuse, in obedience to that
request or warning, to declare our
rights to commereeT
Determined TO Avoid War
"The gentleman is asking me a ques-
ton in order to embarrass mel" re-
piled Mr.. Mann. at is a question he
cannot answer now, and when ne an
swers it / will answer il. | do not
know what position | viii take or what
position Congress will take when
specific cases may arise, but ! will say
this for myself. | am determined to
do everything within my power to keep
our country out Of the present Euro
pean war"
Mr. Dies tried frantically to get some
time in which TO state his position, but
he could get none from neither Chair
man Dent of the Military Committee,
who parcels out the majority time on
the military bill, nor the ranking Re-
publican, Kahn, of California, who par
cells out the minority time.
Determined TO be heard. Mr.. Dies
threatened a flibuster. Knowing that
there were far from enough members
in reach TO make a quorum, he rose
and questioned the presiding officer
as to- whether such a point could be
entertained At once he was offered
all the time he wanted.
"Shall we keep our ships covering
cowardlike in our harbors?" he de-
manded. 81 asked the Republican
leader what we should do with a ma
ton that tells us to keep our ships
off the seas. The President is face
to face with that question. | do not
know what can be in the minds Of
some gentlemen here. | have not al
ways had so much regard for the
President. But | say that under
these circumstances, with the aid of
! Providence, Old Glory shall be main
tanned on the high seas.
Must Enforce Rights
"As Grover Cleveland once told
Great Britain, there are some things
worse than war, and, while | am not
like my colleague, Mr.. Gardner. of
/ Massachusetts,, a bloodthrsty man. |
do not believe that our ships should
be kept in our harbors. ! asked the
Republican leader what he would do,
and he sat in his seat, silent. | rely
on the President to enforce the de-
mands of the American people that
our ships sail the seas, unafrad OF
Germany, of England or any nation
Al. 4