The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1917-03-02
HAS THE EVIDENCE
CONTINUED from First Page

condemning the attitude Of Senator
Stone, chairman of the foreign rela'
tons committee, who declared the
story of the plot was given out by the
government to affect public opinion.
and insisted upon asking the President
whether the Information was received
from the representative Of anE. oelltG-
erent nation.
Senator Fall, Republican. said he
did not wonder that the President de-
cided 20 reach PUBLIC opinion through
/ the press in view Of the attitude or
members of the Senate, who ought to
be his advisers.
. The Subject Came Up
soon after the Senate assembled, and
iensrosSed attention nearly all day in
spite OF the mass of legislation await
Ing action. Senators on both SIDES or
the chamber expressed Amusement at
the story, and declared If it were true
the Senate should be informed.
Senator Swanson. the fourth Demo
cratic member Of the foreign relations
committee. announced that ne had
been authorized by the President to
say that the note from German For
eign Minister Zimmerman 10 the Ger
man. Minister at Mexico City. order
ing and outlining the plot. was sub
stantialIy" correct as published.
Senator Lodge at once asked that
the President be asked to inform the
Senate whether the Zimmerman note
was authentic. and 10 furnish any 9th
-. information about IL not lncompat'
ib'e with the public interest. This was
referred 10 the foreign relations com
;ni;lce. which soon reported II favor
ably. w>iih minor amendments.
Chairman Stone,
ht- hi
:!!tlec. carried TO the floor the fight to
learn how the note came into the gov
rrnmeu,'s possession. He insisted
;uaJ il. any OF the nations 1t war had
.u"aishc;! il. the Senate and the coun-
ny should know II. apd proposed an
;,;t!cnGmeu; embodying the question.
burning the long debate Senator
Ho,ie Smith made a suggestion, the
!.nn0rtance OF which was promptly rec
uc:i!2sa and which served to overcome
liz. doubts of many Senators as 10 the
proorlety OF questioning the President
III regard 10 so grave a matter on
n:Ci. Ne had not seen lit 10 communl-
CO. voluntarily. The Georgia senator
pointed our that for The executive on
tf!, uwn Initiative. 10 send such Il docu-
2n.ai as the Zimmerman note might
H.. con Sirued as Il request for action,
whereas he probably would be graft
,.,t 10 have il in the Senate's hands 1T
his own request. The Senator offered
he following as 4 substitute for the
resolution and amendment:
Resolved, That the President be
requested to furnish TO the Senate
whatever information he has con-
corning the note published in the
r:css OF this date. purportlng 10
haze. been sent january 10. 1917,
By the German Secretary for For
eiga Affairs TO the. German Am
haSSador TO Mexico, which. in his
opiniCn, i not Incompatible WITH
The public interest.
I'hc discussion closed WIN speech
b. senator Stone, defending his posi-
ton. He said the resolution before
81. Senate Was not introduced b. the
President. and the President could
take care OF himself, adding. Il flatter
uv$slf that he holds me in higher cs-
iuayl than some Of the truckers who
come and bow and, say What do you
senator Stone concluded BY saying
ne would be glad to accept>> Senator
Smiths substitute. The substitute
was adopted without a record vote.
The Senate Debate.
'rh. communication Of, Germany 20
nncc :srainst the United States. as pub
llSh.! Today. was brouEh: up In the sen
~. when * convened, by Senator Lodge
,rho .ir,ro,lucrd q resolution proposing
IN, tie President inform the senate
!. the note signed Zimmerman is
authentic.
Senator Swanson OF Virginia. said he
vas authorized To state that II Is SUP
stan,:a!fy correct.
Ssntor Swanson Informed Senator
Todvr that the Democratic senators had
ba.r au,nh;zcd By tho President Ia state
.hnt the account OF the Zimmerman
NOT IS revealed by 'rhe Associated Press
Was substantially correct.
senator l.aE'oll"tt: OF Wisconsin,. s&tu
~. would not object 10 passage or the
L.odg. resolution providing II was
amended to ask the President TO state
wh.u the Zimmerman note had come
INTO possession OF the United states
government .,,.;o,
Seurtor Lodge added 70 his resolution
= clause requesting that th' senate DC
sunrj..d with all other Information re-
gar(linc this matter 1t not lnconpetio'e
With The public interest
-: "a time" said Senator LaFollctta.
"rba; We should know how long the
rrrSIlor,. or ar!- branch Of tn" gov
rratm"rl has had IN" document In his
possession. :,
senators Reed and ffardw;ck objected
70 E,sty uaSSage at the Lodge reSolu-
ton and had 4 cc-r"nd.
Senator Lodge declared TINT wher
great news gathering ASSOCIATION liKe
'.Ec Associates! Press put forward Scri-
nuyIy and solrnlnly what. purportS to he
n GrSra,rh from the secretary OF foreign