Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1917-02-27
ASKS CONGRESS
FOR AUTHORITY

ASKS CONGRESS
FOR AUTHORITY
CONTINUED From Page ~
public printer was called to the execu-
tive Offices and given the manuscript
Of the presidents address. Soon after
Secretary Tumulty made the announce
ment
Forced to Act
The president concluded that 1t
might not be wise to await for an overt
act before asking additional authority
! of congress. The accumulation of VIC.
lations Of American rights and the
conditions brought about by the fall
ure of American merchantmen to
leave port brought him to the decision
to act before congress adjourned.
When President Wilson announced
to congress the severance Of diplomat.
ic relations with Germany, he said he
was unable to believe that Germany
would sacrifice American rights in the
campaign of ruthlessness which she
had proclaimed. but added:
eff this inveterate confidence on my
part in the sobriety and prudent fore
sight of their purpose should unhap-
PLY prove unfounded: II American
ships and American lives should In
fact be sacrificed by their Germany
naval commanders in needless contra
vention of the Just and reasonable I'M
derstandings OF international law and
the obvious dictates of humanity, l
shall take the liberty Of coming again
before congress to ask that authority
be given me to use any means that
may be necessary for the protection OF
our seamen and our people In the
prosecution Of their peaceful and leg1t.
innate errands on the high seas, can
do nothing less"
In addition to giving authority to
establish a state Of armed neutrality
congress is expected to place IN the
presidents hands. authority to get ad'
ditional money if needed. A bond issue
NAV be authorized.
President Wilson will point out that
rights of other neutrals have been az
fected but they have shown no ols.
position to follow the course laid out
bv the United States. No new direct
appeal is made to them.
Faces Grim Body.
The grim faced body of senators and
representatives who less than month
ago heard the president pronounce the
words which announced a severance OF
automatic relations with Germany -
an act which in all the history of first
class nations always has led to war
heard today In tense silence, and grave
attention the words which carry tina
American republic step further IN its
stand against ruthless sacrifice OF neu'
tral rights and lives and step nearer
war if it must be.
President Wilson arrived at the cap
itol Just before 1 o'clock and prompt
ly at that hour stepped up to the
clerks desk in the hall Of the house
where both branches of congress, meet
ing in special joint session, were as
sembled before him. He spoke as FOL
lows:
gentlemen Of the congress:
"I have again asked the privilege Of
addressing you because we are moving
through critical times during which l!
seems to me to be my duty to Keep
| in close touch with the houses or con
sress 80 that neither counsel nor action
shall run at cross purposes between us
"On the third OF February / officially
informed you of the sudden and unex
pected action Of the imperial German
government in declaring its intention
to disregard the promises 1t had made
to this government In April last and
undertake immediate submarine opera
tions against adj commerce whether o.
belligerents or Of neutrals, that shoulc
seek to approach Great Britain and Ire
land, the Atlantic coasts OF Europe, OF
the harbors Of the eastern Medlter
ranean and to conduct those operations
without regard to the established re
strictions of international practice
without regard to any considerations O
humanity ever which might interfere
with their object. That policy wa:
forthwith put into practice. 1t has now
heen in active execution for nearly foul
weeks.
Its practical results are not full!
disclosed. The commerce OF other neu
trail nations is suffering severely, bu
not perhaps. very much more severel!
than it was already suffering before thu
first of February, when the new pollc!
of the imperial government was put IN
to operation. We have asked the coop
Grafton of the other neutral govern
ments to prevent these depredations
but | fear none of them has thought
wise to join us in any common cours.
of action. Our own commerce has SUI
fered. is suffering, rather IN appre
hension than in fact, rather because 81
many of our ships are timidly keepin'
to their home ports than because
American ships have been sunk.
1.-TWO American vessels have beel
sunk. Nhe Housatonic and the Lyman
NJ. Law. The case of the Housatonic
which was carrying food stuffs con
! signed to a London firm, was essenti
ally like the case Of the Frye in which