Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1917-03-01

Washington, Feb 26.-President 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 the
German submarine menace-to put the
nation in armed neutrality.
The immediate response was the intro
duction in the House of "A bill. approved
in advance by the President. empowering
him to furnish guns and gunners to Amer
lean merchantmen and to employ such
other instrumentalites and methods" as
may become necessary; and providing for
a 500, 900 600 bond issue, to be used in
his discretion for war insurance to en-
courage American commerce to brave the
submarine peril. The bill may be
brought up in the House tomorrow with
special rules for its immediate consider
alton.
A similar bill will be considered to-
morrow by the Senate foreign relations
committee
EXTRA SESSION POSSIBLE.
The Presidents long expected action.
while received in the main with express
sions of support. threatens to force an
extra session Of Congress.
Republicans, disinclined to grant blan-
ket authority while Congress is in re-
cess, give evidence of opposing the legis-
lation the President asks, not for the
purpose of withholding it. but to force
him to have Congress in special session
70 take a hand in the next steps which
they feel will lead to war. The republic
cans are receiving passive support from
the democratic element classed as pacifist.
The Presidents advisers deplore this
situation for its effect in Germany where
they are convinced it will feed the off,
cial impression that Congress will not
support the President IL he finds 1t neces-
sary to go to war. and that he is not
speaking the sentiments Of a united coun.
try.
The Presidents request for authority to
use "other instrumentalities" is the prin.
cipal sticking point. Even the republi.
cans. and some of the democrats who
hesitate to give him what he asks. say
they would be willing to give him author
ity to arm American ships or act on a
definite proposal. but are reluctant to
"sign q blank check
WILSON MEN DIVIDED.
The administration faces this division
in its own ranks in its effort to convince
the German Emperor that the United
States now is preparing to enforce re-
spect for it's rights on the high seas
Some democrats point to the Presidents
own statement in his address to-day thai
he considered he already had implied
authority to act. and might do SO with
out sanction of Congress. Mr.. Wilson
himself. however. said he preferred moi
to act on Implications, and did not desire
to be left without specific authority and
no Congress to which to turn. All these
things point toward an extra session. al
though a way out may develop at the las,
moment.
Although President Wilson told Con.
gress he was not acting because of the
long-feared covert act" news Of the
destruction of the Cunard liner Laconia
with Americans aboard. was received hers
as he was entering the doors of the CAPT
toll and was passed from mouth to mouth
through Congress while he was speaking
Lacking details. its seriousness could no
be estimated. but it was apparent every
where that it gave weight to the Presi
dents words. then falling upon bod!
of grave silent legislators. assembled be
fore him in sombre moment of Ameri
can history. weighing the declaration
which may lead the United States to war
NOT CONTEMPLATING WAR.
But the President made 1t clear tina
America was asking to exercise none blu
the rights of peace: that he was not pro
posing nor contemplating war. He wa
thinking. he said. OF the right Of life itself
the rights of humanity without whicl
there is no civilization" II : Right
deeper and more fundamental than merel,
the rights of Americans.
mo course of my choosing nor u
theirs" said the President. will lead t
war. War can come only by the wilfu
acts and aggressions OF others"
Four WeakS ~ I'm rost riot cd RIA IN
President told Congress-. has seen the de
struction OF at least two American ships
American commerce driven In a larg
measure from the seas through fear @
the undersea peril. and a resulting conges
ton OF Americas vital industries GROWN
more serious every day. The fact tina
more American lives had not been lost, h
said, was due more to the fact that Gel
man submarine commanders had exercise
IAN unexpected discretion and restraint
rather than because OF the instruction
under which they were acting. To be ur
prepared. with Congress out Of session tn
President said, would be most imprl
dent" Consequently he asked for az
thority to act.
: NO CHEERS AND APPLAUSE.
Standing at the clerks desk in the ha
2 OF the House, calm, grave, speakin
earnestly, the PRESIDENT delivered MS az
dress while Congress sat in tense. n
: spectful silence. No cheers and applaus
such as have burst out before punctuate
his sentences. BY common consent II
members refratned from demonstrate
as II in respect to the dignity and fatefu
: ness of the moment. There were vigorol
mods of approval from democrats and r.
publicans who have been urging for
ward course; silence and Indications
reserved thought from those opposed.
But at the conclusion OF the addre
when the President spoke of the funds
mental rights on which are based Il
structure of family. state and libert
and said: II cannot imagine any ma
with American principles at his hear
hesitating to defend these things" Il
cheers broke forth and resounded throul
the chamber.
Whateyer might have been the opil