Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1917-02-08
WILSON ACT
RECEIVES
APPROVAL
BY SENATE:
5 OPPOSE
iRy Associated I.rcss.l

tBy Associated I'rcssD
WASHINGTON. ID. C.. Feb. S.-Pre>i-
dent Wilson's severance OF diplomatic re
lation, with Germany was approved for
mally late yesterday ~ the senate.
BY vote Of IS to 5 the senate express
ed confidence in the presidents course,
adopting resolution submitted by Chair
man Stone of the foreign relations com
mittec, endorsing the withdrawal OF Amer
lean Ambassadors Gerard from Berlin and
then giving 10 German Ambassador won
Bcrnstorif his pa.soprt~. Senators who
voted against the resolution were:
Democrats-kirby of Arkansas and
Vsrdamsn of Mississippi
epublicans-tironna. North Dakota /;
Works, California. and laFollettc, Wis
cOnsin.
Other senators who objected to the
president action. announced that they
would vote for the endorsement for the
sake of national unity. All. however,
pledged their support IT the country went
To war.
Asserting that the United States has
not been neutral "a a nation and that f
il had the country never would have been
brought to i breach With Germany. Scna-
tor Works, republican, of California. pro
tested IN the senate today against the ac
tion of the president III seNerns diplo-
matte relations.
Senator Works said hc did not qucS-
tion the good faith of the president and
gave him credit for conscientious mo-
tive, and patriotic purposes" but protest
ed against this or any ether movement
that tends toward war with Germany for
no greater cause than has Yet been given
u.s.
Il insist" said the senator. after re-
viewing the German negotiations and the
presidents determination to uphold Amer
lean rights on the seas ''that neither pri-
vate citizen nor the president nor con
grcss can be justified IL driving this ma
tion into war or cndangcring IT. peace by
an, such false sense of courage or ma
tional prestige or dignity"
Reviewing the LuStania ease at length
and branding II "crucl and unjust
wrong to our people and 70 the nation.
the senator said il wa~ well to consider
how far I'VE ourselves. by our course Of
action. contributed To thi, loss of Amcrl-
can lives
"Our government knew what was
threatened" he We allowed the ship To -aIi.
carrying American citizens into the very
Jaw, Of death. Germany was fighting for
her life. 80 were England and France and
the other nations engaged m the war. What
could have been expected of Germany un-
der such circumstances
"What moral right have we to tempt
her To this fearful act by th'S threat
against the lives of her people,
Eve have not been neutral a nation (;
many Of our people have note attmeptcd
to conceal the fact Of their unneutralIty.
II We had been wholly neutral a. We pro-
fcsscd 10 be. we would never have been
brought to our present relations with Ger
many. That Germany ha> violated the
rights of our people on the seas. under in
tcrnational law. no one can deny. but .
has Great Britain. % would any belllgercnt
nation fighting for existence If necessary
for success. would we | apprehend, under
the circumstances.
IL say To keep our ships and our people
out of this danger zone until the war l.
over or the embargo removed"
Senator Lodge. republican. probably the
presidents most frequent and bitter critic
in International affair. pledged his whole
support Ia the presidents action unre-
servcdly and called upon his colleagues ia
follow HIM
Senator Stones resolution was taken
up for action immediately after Senator
Works. in prepared speech. had a,sailed
the presidents course
Senator Stone began by reading cabl,
dispatch from London the day the presl-
dent severed relations. which II meant
America in the war on the side of the en-
tcnte allies.