Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1917-03-03

attitude of congress as to a declaration
of actual war, Fall retorted: FCongress
would declare war in Is minutes il
necessary -
The general attitude of senators was
that arming of merchantmen would lay
the country open to actual war, but that
+" if it must come after America 3 un
questioned patience, then let it come. ,
9 If an American ship is now sunk, y
Senator Brandegee said, " or, in view OF
the German attitude, if one OF our arm
ed ships sinks an approaching sub
marine, war will come"
There is far more safety in an un
flinching course now than in an llncer.
tain one, Senator Hitchcock declared
Senator Fall declared that it would be
public calamity for congress to re
main in session during the next two
months, and held that the duty to pro.
teet American rights is manifestly vest
ed in the executive branch.
Stone Gives It Up.
AS debate progressed there was more
and more evidence that the measure Ill
timately will go through. Even Senator
Stone let it be known that while he op.
posed it he will not prevent its pass
age.
There was enc big question mark in
the whole proceedings.
Bob LaFollette fighting senator. who
has "gone it alone" before in the mat
ter of opinion, refused early this aft.
ernoon even to be "counted out. y
While Brandegec and Fall were speak.
ing, he retired to the cloak room and
was soon lost in restful sleep. He has
always before taken such restful cat
maps before starting out on his noted
filibustering expeditions.
just before turning his face to the
wall he was asked about his attitude
by another senator. He replied that
he resented any questioning on the mat
ter.
After holding the floor for more than
an hour Senator Fall concluded bv
pledging his support to the bill. Senator
Stone then got the floor, and said:
1.-The president has kept us out of
war with Mexico; he has kept us out of
war in Europe.
II would rather trust him than the
horde of wealzlings about him who daily
Fly their kites to see which way inc
wind is blowing"
Would Trust President.
Stone declared he would rather trust
the president than the "jingoes who arc
50 prevalent in some sections of the
country
In congress" he added, ~ am sor.
ry to say that the men who are clamor.
ing for war are dominant.
He said he was opposed to involving
the United States in the great war
without Infinitely more provocatlon
than we have had''
Stone said he believed the president
+" is in sympathy with this view"
The president wants peace. he
said. ~ think he is honest about It.
Congress can put us into the war. but
the president can do more than all 9th
ers TO keep MS out of war;
Referring to the Mexican situation.
Stone said that Americans had been
killed in Mexico and that the
president had been subject to great
pressure to force to war upon Mexico.
Instead of wanting to hurt Mex
ieo," he said, the president wants TO
help Mexico,
Before beginning the speech Stone Of
feTed HIS amendment to both the senate
end house armed ship bills. The Stone
would prevent United States
sailors from being assigned to merchant
vessels to operate guns-wOuld refuse
guns to ships carrying munitions, and
supplies to .belligerent nations, and re-
fuse conveys to such ships.
Such Men AS We"
" For four years" Stone said. ssI,ve
worked by the side Of the president and
enjoyed his friendship and esteem. I've