The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-03-02

by Minister Won Eckhardt, although this is only surmise on their part
 was untrue, fit ought to be stamped as untrue at once"
 "The President of the United States he said lis the one person who can give such decisive answer on that question. think we should not inquire into the source of his information.
 Senator O'Gorman inquired what ac- ton the Senate would be requested to take if the President says the note is authentic and whether the Senate was Ito take action solely and alone upon the opinion of the executive"
 The Presidents opinion. he added, would carry great weight, but the Senate should not close it's eyes to the fact that for months there had been propa- ganda in this country seeking to embroil the United States in war.
 "If it should be disclosed that this al- legged letter came into our hands," he said through the active agency of belligerent enemy we may well suspect It's authenticity. Suppose it would be disclosed that agents of the British gov ernrnent handed this down to officials of our government? It would not be the first time that one belligerent resorted to forgery to line up support against her enemy"
 DEMOCRATS DENOUNCED
 Senator Smith of Michigan, repub-
 ican member of the committee, said he thought the Senate should have the in- formation asked for before acting on the, armed neutrality bill, in order that sen- ators may have the whole view of our in- ternational complications.
 Senator Fall, republican, bitterly de- nounced the democrats for their attitude toward the resolution, declaring demo- cratic senators by suggesting that the
 letter was given out for information Tor public opinion was accusing the Pres- dent of verest trickery and impossible practices
 Never since the impeachment of An drew Johnson, Senator Fall declared, had he heard of such insinuations" against a President from his own party. You are saying to the President in this resolution" he went on, that ~you want him to declare whether this note is authentic and in your speeches here you are saying you will not believe him when he says it is authentic if it comes from belligerent government Senator Fall also declared that if the President had at all times felt he could trust those in the Senate who could be his advisers, he probably would have sent this informa tion direct to the appropriate committee. In view of the attitude of l certain democratic senators, he added, he did not wonder that the President had
  1 through the press
 | 'rThe time seems to have arrived when the President felt that by informing pub lie opinion, public opinion would do what l loyalty to him as a great party leader l has not done" continued Senator Fall. | "Is it right in a democracy that the peo- 1 pie should be informed Of machinat tions 1 against their peace? Give the people in- l formation and they wel make you act here as you should act. I am grateful ! to whoever gave this information to the public.'
 SALISBURY DEFENDS ] In heated speech Senator Salisbury, democrat, the president pro tenn of the Senate, answered Senator Falls senti- ments.
 l 'I think his criticisms are in large measure deserved as to some of the speeches made here,' said Senator Sauls- bury. There is just one man who may be able to keep this country out of war and that is the President. I have sat I here and heard criticisms made upon him, aspersions cast upon him, until I wonder 1 if senators really represent true Ameri- canism and are imbued with the avera ge patriotism an American ought to have Senator Pomerene, democratic mem
 Der of the committee, reminded sen
 ators that the President and the Sec
 retary of State as well as they had
 taken an oath of office. The Senate l he said, was proposing to treat him | "as if they were witnesses in po- l lice court"
 He said the hour had struck when any doubt about the question should
 be resolved in favor of the President and Secretary of State.
 STONE GETS FLOOR A vote was about to he taken wher Chairman Stone took the floor again l to advocate his amendment.
 "The President" he said "did not 1 introduce this resolution--it was in- troduced by the senator from Massa- 1 chusetts It may be that some sena- tors who have become suddenly indig- | nant may think the senator from Mas 1 sachusetts represents the President 1 and speaks for him, but if so the 1 knowledge would be very surprising | to many of us here. The President has not indicated that he desired the reso- l lution to be adopted"
 1 Denying that the personality or prestige of the President is involved, Senator Stone asserted that Senator
 Lodge introduced his resolution out of | patriotic curiosity"
 And now 1t is intimated that ] STD at fault" he continued, for sesKipN to add a request to that of the zep ator from Massachusetts who is ss anxious to support the President wfen | it pleases him and always quick tn pps
 pose him when it pleases him.. 1 Turning to Senator Sauisbury, sam ator Stone said: Senators must pc ax- ceedingly sensitive. There mus pf some nerves running through Wesf 1~-~ ~~< X1-x