The sun., 1917-03-31
Message to Congress Will
Urge Positive Policy
Against Germany.
BACKED BY THE PEOPLE
Returning Senator's and
Representatives Assert
Action Is Endorsed.
HOUSE PREPARES TO ACT
Legislative Calendar Will Be
Cleared and Presidents
Proposals Rushed.
HOUSE PREPARES TO ACT

WASHINGTON. March 30.-America
will throw her sword into the scales
against Germany if Congress responds
to the will of President Wilson.
With his mind made up and tenta-
tive draft Of his message to Congress
before him, the President made 1t clear
to-day to his Cabinet meeting for the
last time before Congress assemblies
that he had decided upon his course
of action. A positive and aggressive
war policy is to be this Governments
reply TO Germany's accumulative acts
Of lawlessness. The President and his
advisers believe that Congress will be
ready for his message on Tuesday.
This message was characterized to-day
by member Of the Cabinet as strong
and vigorous and straight to the
point"
Backed by Cabinet.
The reticence of Cabinet members to
discuss the Governments policy gave
way kO-ody " IdiileI lltIlN
TO its general character. There was
obvious relief that the Administration
had reached It's decision and that Il
merely remained for Congress to reg
lister its approval.
Among the members OF the Cabinet
there was no dissent as to the plan Of
action proposed. All were OF one mind
as to the necessity for aggressive steps
to meet Germany's acts Of lawlessness.
pTaSi1pnt's mas ,t-tn
sress no alternative except to follow tho
path pointed out by him or to retreat
from the stand which this Government
has taken in defence of its rights,
Preparations preliminary to the sub
mission OF the supreme national question
to Congress virtually have been COM
pleted. II now rests with the legislative
branch OF the Government to determine
whether the policy upon which the Pres
ident and his Cabinet have agreed shall
be carried out.
Prior to the Cabinet meeting the
President locked himself up in his study
and began the preparation of his mo-
mentous message to Congress. Before
! beginning this task he went unaccom-
panied on a long motor ride in pursu-
ance OF his custom of turning over
in his own mind and without disturb
ance the plan he had decided upon.
! He ordered the chauffeur to drive any,
where outside the city limits In fol-
| lowing these instructions the chauffeur
took the machine to the Aqueduct
Bridge. where picture of preparedness
, was unfolded 10 the President in the
armed sentries stationed to guard this
Government property. The sentries
saluted in military fashion as the Presi.
dent passed. He returned the salute.
Believe War Is Certain.
! The general belief tonight is that
| the President will ask Congress to
| recognize that a state of war exists and
has existed since Germany. In defiance
| OF this Governments warning attacked
| the first American ship under her barred
! zone decree. on this point nothing was
| forthcoming from to-day's Cabinet meet
/ ing, other than the statement made by
several OF the members that the Presi-
| dents message meant war with Ger
| many TO certainty.
| some members of Congress including
Representative Gardner. Massachusetts.
| believe the President will ask for "A DAT
declaration of war against GERMANY
/ Thoy base this on the ground that he is
a close student OF history. and particu-
| larly will desire this Governments posi-
/ ton to stand the test of time In this
| connection Representative Gardner said:
| II the President asks Congress to de-
| ciare that state of war has existed
since the recent attacks on American
ships he will be passing over the f,rst
! instance OF Illegal German attack OH an
American ship-the Gulight-with the
\ loss OF American lives"
! Concident with the Presidents mes
sage probably will come recommends
/ tions concerning measures to put the
army and navy on a full war footing
There was an indication to-day that the
! IbraS ilAt frYl,s
| sage proposal for some form OF uni
versal service as one OF the stens %
meet the emergency. This will not be
part of the army bill. That bill. as IL
! stood at the last session. will be rushed
through to loosen much needed purse
strings and relieve the War Department
from embarra ssment. Secretary Baker
said that such measures as universal
I service. &c. would be separate measures
Defence Measures ON List.
The President is also expected TO ask
for credit OF $500. 900, 600 and to sue-
gest prompt action on several mea suros
which failed In the last Congress, includ-
ing the espionage bills and a necessary
form OF censorship. He will recommend
preparations on "A large scale for the de-
fence OF the country.
| Among Administration leaders there Ia
st!ll some misgiving lest there should be
opposition to the war plan which the
President will propose. and that although
its adoption Is all but certain there may
be a division In the ranks of the legis-
lators upon whom rests the constitu-
tional responsibility of declaring that q
state of war does or does not exist
But there were indications to-day that
the reaction against the most recent out
burst of pac!!ist activity has ret In. A
Cabinet member commenting on the sit
uation In Cunsr..s. remarked sisnif,-
cantly that everything would he al