Arizona republican. [volume] (Phoenix, Ariz.) 1890-1930, 1917-03-01
WILSON SEEMS
ASSURED NOW
Of AUT HORIT.Y
FROM CONGRESS
[RepubIican A. P. Leased WIre1

-
WASHINGTON, Feb. 2s.-Opposition
in congress to granting President Will
son authority to protect American
rights and lives on sea began melting
today and the administration leaders
confidently predict action within an
other twentyfour hours.
There were indications that MANY of
the republicans OF the senate who.
though favoring the steps proposed in
sist that congress should be called in
extra session, would vote for the meas
ure requested by the president when
the roll was called. The chief, if not
the only reason for uncertainty was
found in the attitude Of Senator La
Toilette, who has given indications Of
preparing for a single handed filibus-
ter in the closing hours of the session.
Details Of the destruction of the Gu
nard liner LacOnia published in the
morning papers and telling OF the suf-
fering and death of an American moth
er and daughter among the passen-
gers had its effect during the dav.
Members of the house and senate
whose COMMUNICATIONS had come large
ly from pacificists began receiving
kilograms from their constituents CALI
I ing for vigorous action BY the govern
ment
- -Aot-'N Att 6ii eAAd4lS ttiItIltltE
early in the day reported out the Flood
! bill authorizing the president to arm
American ships with amendments elm
! mating the provisions for the use Of
other instrumentalities and adding a
prohibition against the insurance Of
munition ships by the government war
risk bureau. a special rule to expedite
passage of the measure was introduced
by Chairman Flood of the foreign af-
fairs committee who said he probably
VIII press it tomorrow. II would pro-
vide for vote not later than
o'clock y. m.
The administration plan is to have
| the senate substitute for the house
measure the bill reported by the SEN
ate committee and based upon a mem
orandum prepared by the president In
the form of a conference report the
leaders anticipate no difficulty in hav-
ing the house pass the substitute
promptly
Former Secretary Bryan appeared at
the capitol tonight while the house
was debating the District of Columbia
prohibition bill. II developed however.
that he had not come to support the
efforts of the pacificist group and in a
general way endorsed President Will
sons, address to congress.
Another aggravating incident was
added to the situation today by the
receipt of word from Germany that
four American consuls were being held
in Germany because a German consul
on his way from the United States to
Ecuador had been delayed in Cuba. A
statement of the facts for a request for
immediate release of the Americans
was cabled tonight
| Announcement was made at the state
| department that instructions had been
| sent to Ambassador EIkNs at Constan-
| tinople to report definitely and immed-
lately whether Turkey would guaran-
| tee. not only for herself but for her al
| lies, the safety of the American cruiser
| Des Moines and the naval collier Cae-
sar in taking relief supplies into Syria
| and bringing out the 1000 or so ma
| rooned Americans there. Ambassador
| Elkus, having sent a rather ambiguous
| promise from the Turkish authorities.
| was told to say that unless definite and
specific guarantees were received from
! Turkey binding all the central powers
that the two vessels would not be al
| lowed to proceed
II The veering of opinions at the capitol
in favor of the armed neutrality bill
was apparent throughout the day. The
first concrete indication came at
meeting of the Michigan republican
delegation in congress, called by SEN
ator William Alden Smith. The dele
CATION agreed to support the bill de-
! sired by the president, not to oppose
defense measures or to try to force an
extra session and to stand squarely
behind the president in the emergency.
Wait until members of congress
hear from the country" declared Ma
iority Leader Kern to several of his
r colleagues, "and 1 think we shall see
rallying of members of both houses"
A few minutes before he heard of the
action of the Michigan delegation one
republican insisted that an extra ses-
sion of congress be held. When in
S formed of the attitude of the Michigan
} republicans, he expressed surprise and
/ added:
, Perhaps that may be catching"
Senate leaders determined today not
to attempt to reach vote on the bill
v until the house bill had been passed
9 but they expect that the house will vote
r before tomorrow night. In the mean
t time the senate bill may be formally
acted upon and reported in from the
S foreign relations committee and dis
( cussion may proceed.
A minority report signed by six
! members of the foreign affairs commit
Continued on page two)