Free trader-journal. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1916-1920, 1917-03-08
SPRING RESOLUTION UPON
COLLEAGUES AT T0DAyS
SESSION
GIVES WILSON POWER
ILLINOIS SENATOR, AS DEMO.
CRATIC WHIP, DEMANDS THAT
PRESIDENT BE GIVEN RIGHT TO
PROTECT MERCHANTMEN.

Washington, March S-Senator Lew
is, Democratic whip Of the Senate this
afternoon introduced a resolution de-
claring it to be the sense OF the SEN
ate that the President has the same
authority to protect American Com
merce as he has to safeguard inter-
state traffic. Senator Lewis pointed
out that he had in the past employed
the arms of the United States to pre-
vent obstruction of commerce be-
tween the states. The resolution fol
lows:
BE it resolved by the United
States to foreign nations to the same
extent that he has to protect inte-
state commerce between the states
and in the navigable waters Of the
United States.
BE 1t resolved that it is the sense OF
the Senate that this power is not de-
rived nor necessarily related to any OF
the provisions of the constitution or
| laws that have to do with declaring
war, but is derived from the power
vested in the President as head civil
officer Of the United States govern
ment to execute these provisions OF
commerce between the United States
and foreign nations.
"Be it resolved that to secure prop
er protection of commerce between
nations the President OF the United
States has the power to protect COM
meree destined to foreign countries,
by all the means he has the right to
employ for the protection OF CON-
merce between the States.
Washington, March THE new pol
icy OF the government to arm merch-
antships and send them en- their voy-
ages regardless of Teutonic submar-
ines was rapidly taking shape today
for its presentation to the nation.
While President Wilson is known to
have definitely decided that he has
sufficient authority under existing
statutes to arm the vessels, formal
announcement of the step probably
will be withheld until the cloture fight
in the senate is concluded. The Presi-
dent it was said, in administration
circles does not again wish to run
a foul of "The little group of vii.
full men if it can be avoided. 1t is
believed that within week the mat
ter will be decided.
Meanwhile the Navy Department is
going ahead preparing to furnish arms
to all American ship owners who de-
sire them. large force of experts
will be ready to mount the guns the
minute they are given the word
Whether President Wilson's new
policy will carry him 80 far as to pro-
vide naval conveys to American ships
was still a debated question today
There apparently is division of Of
fetal opinion on the adyisability Of
this, some holding that it should be
done and others that it will be better
merely to arm the ships and send
them forth.
Indications continued to point today
to an extra session OF congress not lat.
, er than the middle Of April. The
, President is keenly desirious of get.
ting congressional sanction for the
arming of the ships, despite his belief
that he already has the power The
moral effect of such sanction would
, be emphasized because of the failure
, of the last congress to give il. 1t will
show, the President supporters oe
lieye, that he has at last a united con
gress behind him. When the senate
adopts the cloture rule II will be q
comparatively simple matter to jam it
thru. The effect in Germany is espe
clally desired inasmuch as the Ger.
. man press has seen it to term the
a "Wilful men, as the best spirit In
|. America"
(. viii pass Cioture Rule.
8 Washington March S---An over.
d whelming majority Of the Senate
n stands ready to revise the rules to
take from The little group of wilful
ID men. the power again to tie the
a. Presidents hands in combating the
German submarine warfare, lndica-
tions were however that The cloture
rule despite the endorsement OF both
Nj the Republican and Democratic eau
y cuses would be subjected to much in
dlyidual discussion before its adop'
" ton
~ Senator Lewis. reelected Democrat
ef ie whip, predicted that at least
" weeks debate would be necessary
81 to bring the adoption Of the rule to a
49, vote. The flihusters against the