Evening star., 1917-03-03


are doing what we ought to have done
long ago
Mr.. Brandegee urged the passage of
the pending measure and not the House
of officers or men on merchant ship
resisting attack from a war vessel
would be clearly established under
| American law. and they could not be
treated as pirates. as they might be
treated without such a law.
Il want such men," he said. ito be
treated as prisoners Of war. acting un-
der authority of the American Con-
gress. and not to be hung at the yard
arm as pirates"
Debate Covers Eight Hours.
more than eight hours debate. the
Senate took a recess until 10 o'clock.
There was no agreement as to a time
to take final vote on the measure.
The bill was taken up Immediately
after the Senate had passed the navy
bill. on motion Of Senator Stone Of
Missouri. the veteran chairman of the
foreign relations committee, by a vote
of 10 to Is.
There were no party lines. and most
of the paci1st element of the Senate
declared a Willingness to fall in behind
the President in his move for an armed
policy.
Senator Stone. by virtue of his posi-
ton the logical administration spokes-
man on such questions, withdrew from
the task as soon as the armed neu-
trality bill was brought in by his COM
mittee. He said candor would not per-
nit him to take the floor for the meas
ure, and submitted an amendment to
exempt munitions carrying ships from
the protection to be extended other
merchantmen.
To Senator Hitchcock and Senator
Lodge the ranking democratic and re-
publican committeeman. fell the leader
ship. Senator La Toilette, about whose
attitude there had been some uneasi
length on the BILL but had no intention
of filibustering.
Remarks of Senator Hitchcock.
In his opening statement Senator
Hitchcock said: when the committee
came to consider the Presidents re-
quests attention was called to an old
statute which prohibited United States
vessels from resisting by force public
vessels of other nations. Therefore,
the committee added authority to
United States vessels to defend them
selves against unlawful attack. 1t was
feared that il this law was not re-
pealea United States merchantmen
would subject themselves to treatment
as pirates if they resisted.
The bill does not exactly represent
my own views, but | have accepted it,
because of the overwhelming Judgment
of the committee.
The bill has been reported as one
if enacted. that may lead to war. But
the United States will be in less danger
of war during the next few months or
the next critical few weeks if the
i President is equipped with the power
he seeks in assuming a position OF
armed neutrality.
"1 am perhaps sometimes classified
as a pacifist. and I do not shrink from
that classification, but ] believe there
is more safety in a certain position
| than in an uncertain one. and would
! rather trust the President. who breads
war. than 1 would trust this body
Itself
! Americans Should Be Protected.
Jones as to whether the President
would be given power to protect ships
of other nations. Mr.. Hitchcock called
attention to the words Vessels of the
United States" in the bill. Senator
/ Lodge also said the measure gave the
| President no right to arm a foreign
ship. but added
/ Il do think most decidedly. however,
that American citizens in peaceful pur-
suit of trade or travel who are law
fully on belligerent merchant ship.
have rights which it is the duty of
this government to guard"
Senator Lodge then read the able
gram sent to President Wilson by
Austin Nc. Hoy. whose mother and sis
ter were lost on the Laconia. In the
message Hoy offered his services to
the United States to fight, and declared
IL no opportunity were given him by
| the United States to avenge the death
| of his mbther and sister, he would en-
list under foreign flag
| That to me-" Senator Lodge declar-
ed, lis painful reading. Those two
women were lawfully on that ship.
They did not sacrif1c their rights as
American citizens. 1t was a merchant
ship. torpedoed without warning in the
dark. the women perishing miserably
in an open boat.
Il don't think this bill gives the
president any rights to convoy such a
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