Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1917-02-28

ONE STEP NEARER WAR.
PRESIDENT Asks Authority to Us.,
FORCES OF U. s. for Protection,

f~S MA ~ WI l-IOlccILOU.
, Washington. Feb. 27.-president
Wilson to-day took the inevitable
step and asked Congress for author
ity to use the forces Of the United
States to protect American ships an,;
| lives against the German submarine
menace-to put the nation in n state
Of armed neutrality.
The immediate response was the
| introduction in the House OF a bill.
approved In advance by the presi-
dent, empowering him to furnish
! guns and gunners to American mer.
chantmen; to employ such other
instrnmentalities and methods" as
may become necessary, and prOviding
for a $780, 100000 bond issue to be
used in his discl elton for war insur-
| ancc to encourage American COM
mercc to brave the submarine merit.
The bill may be brought up in the
| House tomorrow with special rules
| Tor Its immediate consideration. A
similar bill will be considered to-
morrow by the Senate foreign rcla-
tions committee.
Some Trouble Ahead.
The Presidents long expected nc.
ton. while received in the main with
expressions Of support. threatens to
force an extra session Of Congress.
| Republicans, disinclined to grant
blanket authority while Congress is
III recess. gave evidence of opposing
the legislation the President asks.
not for the purpose Of withholding It,
but to force him to have Congress irs
special session to take n hand in the
next steps which they feel will lead
to war. The Republicans are receiv-
ing passive support from the Demo-
cratic element classed as pacif1sts.
The Presidents advisers deplore this
situation for it's effect In Germany.
where they are convinced it will feed
the official impression that Congress
VIII not support the President II he
finds 1t necessary to go to war anG
that he Is not speaking tho senti-
ments Of a united country.
The Presidents request for au-
thority to use "other instrumentali-
ties' is the principal sticking point.
Even the Republicans and some OF
the Democrats who hesitate to give
him what he asks say they would be
willing to give him authority to arm
| American ships or act on a definite,
proposal, but are reluctant to "sign
a blank check"
Clear-Cnt Violation Of Rights.
! Washington, Feb 27.-The sink
ing Of the Laconia, with the loss Of
! American lives. Is looked uDon by
the American government as q clear
cut violation OF American rights, ac-
cording to an authoritative express
sion Of opinion obtained after con-
ference between President Wilson
and Secretary Lansing. No further
investigation Is considered necessary.
Offcial dispatches confirming re-
ports OF the death Of Americans Or
the Laconia, torpedoed without
warning, established the case as the
covert act"
The situation, however was un-
changed from where the President
left it yesterday when he asked Con-
gress for authority to deal with the
submarine peril.
| President Wilson and State De-
partment officials took the position
that no further step would be taken
| until Congress has had an Opportu-
nifty to act on the Presidents re-
quest.
Doubtless Arm Merchantmen.
Washington, Feb. 27.-After to-
days cabinet meeting 1t became
known that the administration will
oppose any vital change in the pro-
posed legislation to authorize Presi-
dent Wilson to protect American
lives and rights.
The administration expects that
while a number Of changes may bo
suggested, the bill as now framed
will be adopted by both houses with
out material alteration.
The Senate foreign relations COM
mittee late to-day agreed upon bill
to give the President authority to
supply merchant ships with arms and
gunners and to use other means nee
essary to handle developments in the
submarine situation. A motion to
"dtrect" the President to arm the
ships was voted down.