Omaha daily bee., 1917-03-04
DENIS ASK Cop.
CHIEFS TO Save
ARMED SHIP BILL
Made to Leaders in Belief
Few Progressive Republicans
Plan to Kill Administra.
tion Measure.
FlLIBUSTER BY DEM. STONE
Handicap Tactics of Stone and
La Toilette May Prevent
Passage This Session.
HOT TALK BY BRANDEeEE

w ashihstOh, MdiSii o.-I uC5 Dlll "
empower President Wilson to estab-
! lish policy Of armed neutrality de-
veloped such persistent opposition in
the senate tonight that some of its
warmest supporters began to fear it
never could be passed before the ses-
sion ends at noon tomorrow. ~
| Virtually all the trouble came from
a small group Of progressive repub-
licacns, who blocked every effort to
get unanimous consent for limiting de-
bate or setting time for a vote.
Democratic leaders appealed to the
republicans to aid them in swinging
the little group into line, pleading that
in the present crisis failure of the bill
would mean national disgrace.
Grow More Alarmed.
For the most part the republican,
leaders showed willingness to CO.
operate. AS the debate proceeded,
however, without evidence of break
in the opposition, the administration
senator's grew more and more dubious
about the prospect
The embarrassment of the demo-
Gratis was increased by a dramatic
speech by Senator Stone, chairman
of the foreign relations committee,
opposing the bill as war measure.
That, however, was the only evidence
of detection i'll the democratic ranks.
On behalf of the administration
senator's, Senator Simmons conferred
with Senator Brandage of the regular
republicans and Senator Kenyon, rep
resenting the progressive republicans,
both of whom have supported the bill,
urging them to intercede with Sena-
tors La Toilette, Norris, Gronna and
Cummins, the four progressive repub
licans who refused any proposal to
expedite passage.
Norris to Kill 1t If He Can.
While the negotiations were pro-
ceeding several senator's sought to in
duce friends of the bill to refrain from
discussing it in order to force the four
progressive republicans to take the
floor. None of them had yet spoken.
at length.
They would not admit that they in
| tended to filibuster, but they had given
notice of an intention to discuss the
measure fully and that was interpreted
they were reserving themselves for
final effort to talk the bill to DEATH
Senator Norris had openly declared
| he would kill the bill if he could"
Status of Ships.
Senator Stone told the senate today
that he had heard that navy experts
had advised plan for protection of
American ships whereby they would
be equipped with small submarine
chasing boats. to be lowered in the
danger zone to scout for hostile craft
and attack them.
with this program carried out"
said Senator Stone. "a question arises
as to what would be tlfs, status, of
merchant ships so protected
Senator Hughes suggested it was
hardly a proper subject to be dis
cussed so soon after the senate had
passed bill with stringent penalties
to prevent discussion of sueh secrets.
Senator Stone retorted he had not
said the plan had been adopted, but
that it had been advised and consid-
cred.
Offers Amendment.
Senator Stone then offered his
amendment to prevent pi otection and
armament of munitions ships. The
course the president has pursued with
Mexico and during the European war
were pointed to by Senator Stone as
proof of his desire to keep the nation
out OF war.
Despite the clamor, the intrigue,
the subterfhges," he said, ito entrap
him into ali act Of war against Euro
pean power he has stood firm as a
rock. | would therefore rather trust
him than all the official weaklings
about him, who daily fly their kites to
see which way the wind blows.
IF | thought this question here to-
day were one only of faith and trust
in him, would nots shesitate.
But this is the first time the presi-
dent and | have not, been able to
reconcile our differences. | believe
the bill to be not only violative OF the
constitution, but destructive Of one OF
the most important powers vested in
congress-the war making power and
that its passage would set precedent
fraught with peril to our form of gov
ernment. The power to be granted is
too broad, too sweeping. There is no
limit whatsoever placed on other in
strumentalities and methods
Calls It War.
4 Reciting the possible exercise of
powers under the bill, Senator Stone
said it would authorize the president
to equip ships and drive the German
submarines from commercial paths of
the seas"
"No doubt" he continued, "that
would be proper thing to do, but it
would be war. 1t would not be an act
of war but the very essenct of war, in
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