Norwich bulletin., 1917-02-08
SENATE VOTES CONFIDENCE
 IN PRESIDENT Wn SON
Approved Severance of Relations With
 Germany-Vote Stood 78 to 5.


 Washington, 1eb. 7.-President Will sons severance of diplomatic relations with Germany was approved formally today by the senate, 7S to 5.
 Senate Votes Confidence in President.
 The senate expressed confidence in the presidents course. adopting sug- gestion adopted by Chairman Stone of the foreign relations committee en- dorsing the withdrawal of American giving to German Ambassador Bern stoff his pass ports.
 Those Who Dissented.
 Senators who voted against the res- olution were:
 Democrats: Kirby of Arkansas and NardamanSo of Mississippi.
 Republicans: Gronna, North Dakota; Works, California, and La Toilette, of Wisconsin.
 Five Hours of Debate.
 Five hours of debate preceded the vote but the only active opposition came from the five members who stood out against the resolution when the roll was called. The ranking repub- Hcan leaders joined the democrats in declaring their wholehearted support of the president. The text of the res olution follows:
 The Resolution.
 Whereas, the president has. for the reasons stated in his address, deliver ed to thee congress in joint session on relations with the imperial German government by the recall of the Amer ican ambassador at Berlin and by the handing of his passports to the Ger man ambassador at Washington, and
 Whereas, notwithstanding this sev- erance of diplomatic intercourse, the president has expressed his desire to avoid conflict with the imperial Ger man government, and,
 Whereas, the president declared in this said address that if in his iudg- iment an occasion should arise for further action in the premises on the part of the government of the United States he would submit the matter rb the congress and a11 the authority of congress to use such measures as he might deem necessary for protec- ton of American seamen and people in the prosecution of their peaceful seas,
 Therefore, be 1t resolved by the sen- ate that the senate approves the ac- tion taken by the president as set forth in his address delivered before the joint session of the congress, as stat ed above"
 Senator Stone Explains. .a T have presented the resolution" said Senator Stone in bringing the matter before the senate, because I think we should let the world know that we support the president of the United States whenever. acting with In his constitutional power, he speaks authoritatively for the country. There are senators who thought it would nave been the better part of wisdom IT the president had postponed the sew erance Of diplomatic relations with Germany at least until Germany had committed some overt act offensive to this government and sufficiently ag- gravated to warrant a step so grave in possible consequences. but the president took a different view which with great ability. he strongly SUD- session.
 T think it both wise and advisable accepts and approves this action of the nations chief magistrate"
 Kirby in Opposition. Senator Kirby made his first address to the senate. an impassioned declara- tion that he would not support the res- olutfon. T regard 1t as preliminary declar- ton shall be voted upon favorablv to- day. l do not believe the time has come in the history of this Country when we shall side with Germany or when we shall side wiAp the allies The time has not come in my opinion, when we should commit ourselves by the adoption of this resolution to any pol- icy that the president may hereinafter pursue Under the constitution and the law he has no power to declare war, but he has in fact the power to plunge the nation into war and to make 1t necessary for congress to de- | clare 1t and he has almost done so.s
 Lodge Favored Resolution.
 senator Lodge, ranking republican | member oe the foreign relations com | n1ttee, led the discussion in favor of | the resolution for the minority. He asserted that the president had taken | grave action and that he felt If hi.