The Washington times., 1917-04-02
SAYS IT'S USELESS
TO FIGHT U-BOATS
II England Can't Suppress
Them, How Can We Hope Tor
La Toilette Asks.

ship bill. prefaced by complaint
against the ''tyrannical action" OF
the majority, which "resortsd to the
very fiiibustering methods which IL
30 violently Condemned In order to
prevent me from obtaining the door,"
The Senator's objections to the bin
fall under four heads, which may be
summarized as follows:
i. It was unconstitutional, for Il
gave the President the right to make
war. - -
?. 1t was useless, for il seems to be
impossible y fight the German sub
marines
8. It was not impartial, for II we
mean to assert our rights by armed
force we should do so not only
against Germany, but against Eng
land, which established the first war
zone in violation Of international
law" i-
4. It was injected into Congress AZ
the last moment, when urgent bills
awaited consideration. 4>''> H'st =
A War for @Fat Proats.S
Shall we break the peace Of the neu-
tral haf Of the worid?" he asks and
for what? For commercial advantages
and fat profits beneficial to limited
number Of our dollar-scarred patriots.
for neutral rights which we surrendered
to the belligeren1s on one side during
the nrst three months OF the European
war. So far as the masses Of men who
are killing each other are concerned.
the European war II q bootiess conflict
The multitudes who are dying in the
franphoa nd fkn -. -
fering more agonizing pain at home do
not know what 1t Is all about 81
IF the silent masses who found op-
for expression at the Noveun-
Der election could today make them
selves heard above this ciamor for war,
instigated and sustained by the money
power and a .subjugated press.s they
would with even q stronger voice, pray
God that this country be kept out Of
war" .E
In arguing the unconstitutionality
Of the law, the Senator calls stten-
ton to the provision that the Presi-
dent, besides arming merchant ships,
could use any other method and in
In his Judgment necss-
sary to protect them.
"He might decide" says the Ssna-
tor. shat the best way to protect our
ships would be to land an
army in Germany and destroy iths
Rrupp works and any other manufac-
turing plants where Germany u con-
structing submarines
THE armed ship bill me6ht war. In
to force IL through In the
ast hours OF the Sixty-fourth Con-
yress the President made It plain
hat he desired to be left alone to ex-
power affecting the destiny OF this
country and the world. from the
Ith of March to the assembling of-the
lew Congress in the following De
-
Sees Resistance ~ Useless.
As to the alleged inadequacy Of the
the-Senator ssys:
There was no evidence before Con-
yress that would warrant the conclu-
don that arming these ships would
Lfford protection. The Laconia was
Lrmed, but she was torpedoed twice
md sunk without q chance to fire q
hot Merchant ships Of the allies
re armed. Their great loss OF tom
lage ls conclusive evidence that guns
,lanted on merchant ships are inef-
ectual in warding on submarine at
ack. ]
'If It il so easy to clear the trans
tlantic lanes OF submarines, Why IL
lot the British admiralty keeping
hem open and free for our commerce
since our carrying trade across the
atlantic DOW consists OF supplies for
he allies-food and ammunition?
he British navy is not attempting
his perilous task, but Is keeping In
ide carefully guarded harbors. What
ssurance have we that we can clear
he German war zone? Manifestiy Il
, an undertaking which the British
declines for good and sufn-
lent reasons.
81 have the best authority for the
tatement that the chances OF hitting
periscope at the distance of two
liles, q range at which the subma-
Inc discharges its torpedo with
eadly accuracy, would in 100 shots
q practically zero Would not q com
iand to clear the sea of German sub
iarines be analogous to the order to
ring villa out OF Mexico, dead or
liver
''The one overpowering motive that
light justify our entering the war is
nat OF carrying food to the hungry
/ Europe. but then we should go, to
II the starving nations-through the
attic to the Poles, who are suffering
. terribly from the effects of the
ar as the Belgtans, and geeting no
elIef; we should force our way
trough the Mediterranean to the
reeks, whose poor, we are told, are
assisting on roots and grass.
"But food riots In our own great
ties and, the eyer-increaSfnR dim
llty Of the masses of people to main
lin the normal standard of living
ecause OF the worlds shortage and
le wicked speculation Of Wall
treet in the necessaries OF life Inn
demand that we should not
lter upon an aggressive war for
ends, much less for
profits in carrying NUM-
ons"