Free trader-journal. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1916-1920, 1917-03-28
TO CALL ON CONGRESS
TO TAKE PROPER
ACTION.
CONFERS WITH HOUSE
FRIEND AND CLOSE ADVISOR IN
CONSULTATION WITH PRESl-
DENT THIS MORNlNG-WAR r
CRISIS Is DISCUSSED.
BY JOHN EDWIN NEVIN.

Washington, March 2S-president
Wilson conferred at considerable
length today with his closest adviser,
Col. E. NJ. House. 1t is understood
that the chief topic under consdera-
tlon was the presidents message TO
congress and the defense plans now
under way. Col. House reached here
last night having been summoned by
the president 1t is understood that
he is being consulted also in a gen.
eral way about financial matters in
connection with the present crisis.
Administration officials continued
today to display evidences of serious
resentment over what they declared
was the placing of President Wilson
in false light" as a result of his
interview yesterday with Senator
Hitchcock. The special cause of COM
ment was the declaration that the
President was not certain that the
German situation demanded anything
further than endorsement of the
policy of armed neutrality" now in
effect The exact contrary Is the
case, officials declared. The president
has not the slightest doubt in mind,
they say, that at the present time
Germany actually is making war on
the United States and he will tell
congress. The only matters not de-
cided, they say, are those of policy.
There is the highest possible au-
thority for saying that unless Ger
may before next Tuesday completely
reverses her present submarine stand
"a possibility which everywhere it is
agreed Is utterly remote and improh-
!e-President Wilson will present
| to congress the complete recoru OF
German crimes against the United
States and will say in unmistakable
( language that these offelses constitute
acts of war. And the President will
ask Congress to officially recognize
this fact and take the proper steps to
meet it with the army and navy
incidentally, administration officials
who are handling the legislative prob
lens, say that while it is true that
several Senators will oppose in the
initial stages, /. declaration that a
state of war exists, they will--with
one single ception--support the war
measures as soon as the majority Is
on record to that effect,
One of the first resolutions expected
to be introduced in the Senate when 1t
convenes will be one which will set
forth that the acts Of Germany have
nullihed the various amended Prussian
treaties and declaring them null and
void so far as the United States is
concerned
To be "State Of War"
Washington, D. c., March 2SPres-
sure to have the UniteG States de.
clare war on Germany coming from
certain influential political sources.
VIII be resisted in administration cir.
cles Canvass Of leading members Of
the senate and house inreign affairs
committees today indicated that there
is no sympathy with such move ap-
parent at present Members believe
that the United States c2n best serve
the interests Of its pople by declaring
through resolution of congress, that 4
state Ct war exists entirely through
the acts Of aggression of Germany
he self
Practically every official in Wash
inston who has studied the situation
is agreed that Germany's acts have
brought on "a state OF war" They
po.nt out that for the United States
to declare war and not recognize this
fact would be to surrender strategic
advantage and TO depart from the
time honored traditions Gf the nation.
Because of this they say that it is
extremely unlikely that the president
/ will suggest any additional step oth-
or than to accept the fact that Ger
many is warring on bis government
and to ask congress to authorize the
necessary reprsals
While no one is authorized to speak
for the president where were ey-
dences today of resentment in admin
stration quarters over suggestions
that the President had no definite
plan of action, bur simply was drift
ing along waiting to see what would
develop While it is true that he has
an open mind insofar as the receipt
OF suggestions from everywhere Is
concerned. no one who knows what
has been going on behind the scenes
since the announc cement OF Germany
that she would not longer recognize
submarine pledges. can doubt that
the president has laid down a
straiehaway course which he in-
tends to follow The first move OF
this was the calling Of CONGRESS 'rto