Norwich bulletin., 1917-02-27

Washington, Feb. 26. - President Wilson took the inevitable step and asked congress for authority to use the forces of the United State to protect American ships and lives against the German submarine menace-to put the nation in a state of armed neutrality
 The immediate response was the in troductIOn in the house of a bill ap- proved in advance by the president empowering him to furnish guns ano gunners to American merchantmen and to employ such other instrument talities and methods as may become necessary; and providing for a $10o. GOO, 900 bond issue, to be used in his discretion for war insurance and It encourage American commerce brave the submarine peril The bill may be brought up in the house to- morrow with special rules for it's i'm mediate consideration
 A similar bill will be considered to- morrow by the senate foreign relations committee
 May Force Extra Session.
 The presidents long expected action threatens to force an extra session of congress.
 ing the legislation the president asks, so as to force him to have congress | special session to take a hand in tn next step which they feel will leao ing the passive support from the dem ocratic element classed as pacifist
 The presidents request for author1tJ to use other instrumentahues Is the principal sticking point Even the re- publcans and some of the democrats who hesitate to give him what ne asks, say they would be willing to glV him authority to arm American sh1ps or act on a definite proposal. but are reluctant to sign blank check
 Not the "Cvert Act"
 Although President Wilson told con gress he was not acting because or the long feared overt act" news Of the destruction of the Cunard nner IAconia. with Americans aboard, was received here as he was entering the doors of the capitol, and was passed from mouth to mouth through congress while he was speaking. Lacking de tails its seriousness could not be eS- timated, but it was apparent every where that it gave weight to the presidents words, then falling upon a body of grave, silent legislators as semb1ed before him in a sombre mo ment of American history. weighing the declarations which may lead the United States to war
 Rights of Peace.
 But the president made it clear that America was asking to exercise none but the rights of peace; that he was not proposing nor contemplating war He was thinking, he said, Of the right of life itself the rights of humanity, without which there is no civiliza- tions"-rights deeper and more funda- mental than merely the rights Of Americans. theirs" said the president, will lead to war War can come only by the wilfuI acts and aggressions. of others.
 Unrestricted Warfare.
 Four weeks of unrestricted warfare, the president told congress, has seen the destruction of at least two Ameri e1a4r in a large measure from the seas through fear of the underseas peril and a resulting congestion of Amefl- ca's vital industries growing more se- rious every day. The fact that more AmericaR lives had not been lost, he said, was due more to the fact that German submarine commanders had exercised ian unexpected discretion and restraint" than because of in structions under which they were act ing To be unprepared, with congress out of session. the president said, would be most imprudent." Conse quently he asked for authority to act.
 Congress Sat in Tense Silence.
 Standing at the clerks desk in the hall of the house, calm, grave, speak ing earnestly, in the attitude now be- come familiar, the president delivered his address while congress sat in tense silence. By common consent, the members refrained from demonstra- ton.
 Cheered at Conclusion.
 But at the conclusion of the ad dress, when the president spoke of the fundamental rights on which are based the structure of family, state and liberty, and said: q cannot imag- inc any man with American principles at his heart, hesitating to defend these things" the cheers broke forth and resounded through the chamber.
 At once the wheels of the congress sfonal machinery began turning.
 Secretary McAdoo conferred with the leaders who will have to do with authorizing the bond issue, and Post master General Burleson. who looks after lining up administration forces in the house, was active in conferences. The result was the introduction of bill which was referred to the foreign affairs committee. td be reported to the house tomorrow, $hd meeting of the senate foreign relations committee to discuss a similar measure.
 Opposition May D0seiop.
 Tomorrow perhaps, or next day at the latest, will develop the breadth and depth of the opposition the presi- dent must face in order, as Senator Williams recently expressed it, "to un- fool Germany" The most serious con- cern of the presidents friends Is that s4ut of the situation an impression may