Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1905-1919, 1917-03-03
ACTION COMING T0DA|
President Wilson Onl|
Awaiting Authority to
Place the Guns.
WAR AT DOORS OF NATl0
Speakers Declare Sinking d
Submarine Sure to Bring
German Declaration.

WASHINGTON, March 3.-(Satut|
day).-Early this morning, after NOR
than eight hours debate on the arme
neutrality bill in the senate leader
reached an agreement for recess ur
I'll 10 u. m, without setting tim
for vote on the measure.
The recess was taken at 1874
o'clock. The agreement was reachc
after Senator La Toilette had with
drawn his objection to taking up tn
bill as passed by the houae, with
view to substituting for it the broade
senate measure approved by tn
president.
Up to Congress.
ArmiEg of American ships to def !
the German submarine menace wait
only upon authority from congress
which probably will be given befor
another day passes
1t became known tonight that Pres
ident Wilson is ready to give the orde
and that the navy department had
| made its preparations to begin equip{
| ping merchantmen fer defense at q
moments notice
The senate debated far into thd
night the bill approved ty the presi
| dent authorizing the arming of ship4
|
| nentalitles' to protect American
tights and providing for a bond issud
| OF 800. .00N, 600.
Little opposition developed and Red
publican and Democratic leaders pred
dlcted passage of the measure by AM
overwhelming majority
No Party Lines.
There were no party lines in the de-
bate today and tonight and most of
the pacifist element of the senate de-
clared willingness to fall in behind
| the president in his move for an
armed policy.
Senator Stone. head of the foreign
relations committee however. by vir-
tue of his position the logical admin
| stration spokesman on such ques-
tions. withdrew from the task as soon
as the armed neutrality bill was
| brought in by his committee. He said
candOr would not permit him to take
| the floor for the measure and sub
mitted an amendment to exempt mu-
nttions carrying ships from the pro-
| lection to be extended other mer-
chantmen.
To Senator Hitchcock and Senator
Lodge. the ranking Democratic and
| Republican committeeman, fell the
] leadership. Senator La Toilette,
about whose attitude there has been
some uneasiness, announced that he
would talk at length on the bill, but
had no intention OF filibustering.
Backed by Administration.
The senate bill in addition to au-
thorizing the arming Of merchant
ships, would extend the authority re-
quested by the president for use OF
"other instrumentalities' in protect
ing American rights. That feature
| was omitted from the house bill
which also contained a proposition
Objectionable to the president against
the insurance by the war risk bureau
OF vessels laden with munitions.
More than one senator declared
passage Of the senate bill would mean
war sooner or later, but almost with
out exception they added that they
were ready to accept war on those
terms. A few insisted that it would
not mean war. None expressed any
other expectation than that II would
be passed and then be accepted to-
morrow by the house
Senator Hitchcocks first move as
floor leader was to obtain unanimous
consent to have the foreign relations
committee relieved from further con-
sideration of the house bill so that
when the senate Is ready to vote the
| senate measure can be substituted.
Senate and administration leaders be-
lieve the house then will accept the
senate bill In conference.
Move With Care.
In his opening statement Senator
| Hithcock said he regretted that Sem
ator Stone could not manage the bill.
Iecited the powers asked Of congross
by the president and continued:
when the committee came to con-
sl6er these requests attention was
/ called to an old statute which pro-
| hibited United States vessels from re-
sisting by force public vessels Of 9TH
er nations Therefore the COMMITTEES
added authority to United States ves-
sells to defend then selves against un-
| lawful attack. IL was feared that IL
this 'aw was not repealed that Unit
ed States merchantmen would subject
themselves to treatment rs pirates 1t
| they resisted.
"The bill does not exactly repre-
sent my own views but have accept
cd 1t because of the overwhelming
| judgment cf the committee.
May Lead to War.
"The bill has been reported Us one,
| II enacted, that may lead TO war. But
the United States will be in less dam
ger Of war during the next few
months or the next critical few weeks
| II the president Is equipped with tho
| power he seeks in assuming a position
Of armed neutrality.
Il believe the attitude Of the United
| States under his administration and
with his strong purpose to keep tho
United states out of war If possible
is less likely to lead to war than II
the United States is TO continue in
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