The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1917-03-02
Casting ALI Party Lines
Aside, Members In Wave
Of Patriotism Vindicated
Stand Of President.


Stand Of President.
# Bill Now In the Senate Is
Adopted, House Will Prob
ably Substitute It for Its
Own Without Change.
wasrington March 2-The Armed
Neutrality Bill, authorizing the Presl-
dent to arm merchant ships defensive
ly and protect American citizens from
attack on the high seas, passed the
House last night by a vote of 4oS TO
13, with one. member not. voting.
1t was a magnificent victory Tor
President~Wilson, showing the House
virtually a unit behind him in the
critical international situation. PARTY
lines were eliminated early in the de-
bate.
OF the thirteen who voted against
the bill nine are Republicans, three
Democrats and one Socialist.
! The only other record vote came
er of wisconsin, leader of the opposl-
ton. to recommit the bill to the Com
nittee on Foreign Affairs with In
structions to report it forthwith with
a proviso that arms should not be fur
nished ships carrying arms and am
munition to belligerent. This mo-
ton was lost by vote Of 124 to 2s5.
All Attempts to Amend Fail.
t+
Every attempt to amend the bill on
the floor failed. The amendments
put in the bill by the House commit
tee were adopted by virtually unani-
NOUS votes. The most important OF
these eliminates the words "other in
strumentalities and methods" and
confirms the direct protection afford
ed American ships. to guns and men.
The bill empowers the President to
protect such ships. and citizens of the
United States against unlawful at
tack while engaged in lawful and
peaceful pursuits on the sea.
Another committee amendment de-
MES war risk insurance to American
ships carrying munitions.
Chairman Flood, of the Foreign At
fairs Committee said last night that
he was advised President Wilson is
satisfied with the language of the bill
as it passed the Senate. The admin
istration prefers the Senate bill, be-
cause it contains more Of the Ian
guage embodied in the measure origi-
nally prepared in the State Depart
ment.
Should the Senate pass it's own bill
House leaders say it will be substl-
tuted for the Flood bill and carried
by an overwhelmingly majority in the
House.
Opposition Had Melted
il Consideration Of the bill began In
the House few minutes before noon
E when Chairman Henry Of the rules
committee presented a special rule
for the passage Of the measure. The
rule. (which was passed by unan1-
nous vote, provided for three hours
OF general debate, followed by the
reading OF the bill for amendment
under the minute rule General
debate began at 1910 o'clock.
It became apparent the moment
Speaker Clark recognized Chairman
Henry that the expected opposition
to the bill had melted away follow,
ing the publication Of Germany's
McXlCO.J1Qc1uN I'LL A6 uC' @APPANeAo>
greeted the Texan as he laid the rule
before the House In a speech occupy
ing only a. few minutes. Mr.. Henry
commented on the evidences OF ap'
proval Of the bill which CAME from
both sides Of the House. He de-
clared that the President had asked
for no unconstitutional power ano
would not do so. He urged every
member to vote for the special rule
The House was worked up to a
patriotic fervor by the speech OF
Representative Flood of Virginia
chairman Of the foreign affairs com
mittee, at the outset Of the debate
Members Of both sides Joined in round
after round of applause every time
Chairman Flood mentioned American
rights and demanded support for Pres
ident Wilson in enforcing them.
Mann Gets Ovation.
Republican Leader Mann them fairly
swept the House off it's feet by unex-
pectedly and boldly proclaiming his
support of the bill and Of President
Wilson. He was given a splendid
ovation, the most demonstrative which
any person has received in the House
except the President himself and
Uncle Joe" Cannon the venerable
former speaker, who later declared ii
to Be his duty to support the ad
rrinistratdon and the Commander in
Chief OF the Army and Navy
1--WE may follow the teachings OF
the Master, he said, land turn the
other cheek, but, as the old negro
said, the third cheek is enough.
The CHAIR found it necessary to ad-
nomish occupants of the galleries fol-
applauding Mr. Cannon.
Leader Mann's speech was the fea-
ture of the general debate, his recent
utterances having led many to be-
1ieve he WOULD back and fill and trim
After declaring that he had done and
will do all in his power to keep the
country out of the European war, Mr.
< Mann said:
"But do not see how it is possible
for patriotic nation to- refuse to give
| the President at this crisis the power
which he asks and which is provided
for in the pending bill. recognize
the fact that those opposing this prop
oeition are filled with patrdotim and
devotion to the country, as the rest OF
us are.
ssWhen the time comes that o,1l