Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1917-03-01
HOUSE UNANIMOUSLY VOTES TO DEBATE
FLOOD BILL ON EARNED NEUTRALITY"

/ OF the power we confer on the President,
| said Mr.. Mann. When the time comes that
our ships are assaulted the limit is passed
| and IL becomes the duty Of free people
and a great nation--aye, and small natlon
to defend It's rights upon the seas
II long ago would have. given the Presi-
dent the power to protect against unlsw-
ful attack the citizens Of the United states
engaged In lawful and peaceful pursuits
in Mexico and ! believe we ought 10 give
him power now to save our rights our
patriotism. our people and our nation.
hope and believe that in giving this power
to the President we are more apt to Keep
out OF war than to get into u. noh
want to become involved In the european
war, but am willing to protect the r'gh's
OF Americans"
The world holds It's breath at every step
the Congress takes. at every utterance the
President makes" Representative Clauue
Kltchin, the Democratic floor leader sa'o'
giving the bill his support.
~ shall vote for this bill, but NOT w'tn-
out hesitation and misgivng,' he said'
'"The nation confronts the gravest Crisis
II faces the supremest responsibility 10 IL
self and to the world.
Already the European catastrophe
threatens the faith Of mankind IN 'hrls-
tianity. in civilization
''The widening OF that catastrophe ny
great powerful nation like ours wonld
seem to challenge the right OF CHRISTIANITY
to exist Il calls to the test the potency OF
civilization itself"
concluding. Majority Leader kitchin
said
putting my trust in him whose steady
hand has thus far guided us In the ways
Of peace ] shall support this meRsure-and
then pray God daily to give him the WISDOM
and the strength To find or make way 10
continue amid the increasing horrors OF an
almost universal war to hold this nation up
OF hri igt
hope and assurance of peace on earth, good
will toward men
'The rebel yell" was invoked by the
Democrats this afternoon as both sides or
the House applauded speech made III
favor OF the Flood bill by Representative
Stedman OF North Carolina, former Con-
federate soldier.
PROTECT THE FLAG
1T is said we are delegatng the power
Of Congress to the President" said the
old Confederate warrior, "He does not
want that power given HIM They say the
Flood bill is a war measure. 1t is "A peace
measure There il something worse than
war II is dshonor. The House ought TO
send a message to all nations that II will
protect its rights, the lives of its people
and the American flag in its pristine splen-
dor wherever it may float, over land or
sea"
iteptet entatNe Decker. OF MlSSOuTl, WHO
voted for the McLemore resolution to keep
Americans off the ships Of the belligerents,
in the last session of Congress, spoke in
opposition to the bill. as did Representative
Dillon. of North Dakota.
That the United States is virtually COM
mitting an act Of war in arming or con-
voying ships that carry munitions and con-
traband Of war was contended by Repre-
sentative Cooper. OF Wisconsin. minority
member of the Foreign Affairs Committee.
in opposing the Flood bill
"A man who surrenders his judgment in
a time like this. even to the President"
said Mr. Cooper. "is not worthy TO sit in
this House. Suppose were at war and
suppose that some foreign nation, in per-
feet English or perfect German or perfect
Russian, any other language should in
sist that it desired to he peaceful and neu.
trail and yet should pass a resolution to
arm and defend ships bringing ammunition
to be used against us-s there an honest
man ON this floor who does not know the
United States would construe that act as
an act of war? And this is what we are
proposing to do. while all the time talking
of neutrality"
"lf | have to choose between w. J.
Bryan and Woodrow Wilson I'll choose
Wilson" said Representative Longworth,
of ohio, speaking in favor Of the Flood
bill.