Grand Forks herald., 1917-03-10
EVENTS OF A WEEK.

EVENTS OF a WEEK.
Tho week opened with the Alibustcr
against the arming of merchant ships
In full ana auccessrul operation. 1t
cloves with the government depart
ments making all speed to prepare for
tho arminR OF ships. which haa boon
ordered by the president. and for the
needs which are likely 10 develop out
| OF tho pursuance OF this course. On
tho day whom the nrming of ships was
ordered the president nlso issued II
cnll for an extra session of congress
to begin on April 10.
X X X X
Tho Incidents surrounding the close
Of the last congress- nrc very fresh In
tho minds OF tho people. and the
mcmory Of them liz not soon to he
loat. Until IL Into hour II Ind been cx-
/, pected that tho dozen mon who were
opposing tho taking OF u vote on tho
bill for tho armIng OF our anips. and
comforting on the president such other
authority nv he might need to Use.
would withdraw their opposition to n
vote. and would content themselves
with voting In the negative and per
mitttnk tho majority to take action.
u X X X X
This, however was not tho Intention
OF Senator LoFollottc. who wns the
most conspicuous figure in tho flllbus-
tor. And whom It. became evident that
he was determined. those who wcrc In
favor OF action arranged n program
which. whilo II had no effect on tho
pcnding measure. deprived l.aFpllettc
OF the opportunity for which he had
been planning and preparing himself.
that OF making a closing speech OF
tho session. before nm audience which
packed tho galleries. Lal'ollcttc en-
the mux3le with his great speech.
Preening and pluming himself. nc
prepared for tho moment when no
would take tho noor. That moment
never cAme. Hitchcock. OF Nchra ska,
got the floor and held IT, LaFollette
exhibited at flrst. impatlcnce. then
dlunay. then furious anger as 1t
dawned upon him that no was not to
close the session occupying his covet-
ed place In tho exact center of the
stage. with tho spot light full upon
him. with the tones OF his own voice
ringing through tho chamber, and the
applause OF tho assembled multitude
falling sweetly on his ears. Hitchcock
paused In his remarks from time to
timc to OFFER that he would yield the
floor II LaFollotte would permit n
vote to he talon before the closing
hour. Each time IAFollet,c refused
and tho Nebraska senator talked on
calmly and evenly until the gnvel fell
and LaTollctte's great speech remain-
! cd bottled mp within him.
X Il II
Senator Gronna, OF North Dakota
who takes his cue from LaFollette
was ~ stubborn as his chief in HIS
determination to prevent vote. and
4 after the decd was accomplished. he
& Expressed publicly his satisfaction
with the result and his conviction that
z he had aided materially In saving the
& country. That this feeling IL not shar-
ed by them has heen shown by many
Z hundreds OF his constituents who
have protested by telegram ana by
letter against this usurpatlon OF pow
4 er' by factious minority. ..-......
% X * u
During tho debate the point was
made that because OF cortain ancient
statutes tho president has not the
power 70 arm merchant vessels. but
tho attorney general and the secre-
tary OF state have decided that this is
mistaken opinion. and the announce
mont has been made that merchant
ships viii now he armed with all pos
sible Hpocd. Owners Of such vessels
4 nave boon anxious for tho adoption of
this course. as without II they nre
helpless II submarine Is encountered
sInasmuch NJ Germany has given no.
tice that all vessels entering tho pro
soribed waters will be subject to Mt
tack without warning. the only safety
fof an American vessel in those winters
now Hes in niEht, and Il Ia not always
possible to dodge a torpedo. with
guns on board the chances will be
imore nearly even. Details Of tho char.
actor of tho armament. and Of the in.
ISerucsions for its use will be withheld
~ the authoritiea. There is every ey,
dencs that the sentiment OF the ooun
~ would approve most heartily O
- fun armins Of American ships
Lev. Asrn and Absam. with instruc