The Daily Missoulian. [volume] (Missoula, Mont.) 1904-1961, 1917-02-08
SENATE BACKS
PR ESTDENT IN
TEUTON BREAK
After. Stormy Debate, Conf
dence in Wilson's Course
Is. Expressed by Vote Of
70. to 5.
RESOLUTION ADOPTED.

Washington, Feb. by a vote of
IS to S the senate expressed confidence
in the presidents course, adopting a
resolution submitted by Chairman
Stone of the foreign relations commit
tee indorsing the withdrawal of Amer
ican Ambassador Gerard from Berlin
and the giving of Ambassador Bern
storff his passports.
The senator's who voted against the
resolution were:
Dcmocrats-Kirby of Arkansas and
Vardaman of mississippi.
Rcpublicans--Gronna of North Da-
kota Works OF California and La Fol-
lctte of Wisconsin.
Five hours of debate preceded the
vote, but the carly active opposition
, came from the five senators who stood
out against the resolution when the
roll was called. The ranking Repub-
lican leaders joined the Democrats in
declaring their whole-heasted support
Of the president. The text Of the reso-
luton follows:
The Resolution.
Whereas, the president has, for
the reason stated in his address,
delivered to the congress in joint
session on February 3, 1917, sew
cred diplomatic relations with the
imperial German government by
the recall of the American am
bassador at Berlin and by hand
ing his passports to the German
ambassador at Washington, and. :
Whereas, Notwithstanding this
severance of diplomatic intercourse,
the president has expressed his
desire to avoid conflict with the
Imperial German government, and,
Whereas, the president declared
in this said address that if in his
Judgment an occasion should arise
for further action in the premises
on the part Of the government of
the United States he would sub
init the matter to the congress
and ask the authority of congress
to use such measures as he might
deem necessary for protection of
AmericaL seamen and people in
and legitimate errands of the high
seas; therefore, be it
Resolved by the senate that the
senate approves the action taken
by the president as set forth in his
address delivered before the joint
session of congress as stated
above.
Stone Explains.
Il have presented the resolution
said Senator stone, in bringing tn
matter before the senate, because
think we should let the world knoy
that we support the president of tn
UnitedsStates whenever, acting within
his constitutional power, he speaks au
thoritatively for the country. Their
are senators who thought it woul
have been the better part of wisdom
If the president had postponed tn
severance of diplomatic relations wit
Germany at least until Germany ha
committed scme overt act offensive t
this government and sufficiently ag
gravated to warrant a step so gray
in possible consequences; but the pres
idcnt took a different view, which wit
great ability he strongly supported
his address before the joint session.
Il think it both wise and advisabl
for the senate to say officially that
accepts and approves this action {
the nations chief magistrate"
Kirby in Tirade..
Senator Kirby made his first aG
dress to the senate, an impassione
declaration that he would oppose IL
resolution.
II regard it as a preliminary declf
ration of war;" he said, IF the resol,
ton shall be voted upon favorably tt
day, l do not believe the time h;
come, in the history of this countl
when we shall side with Germany
when we shall side with the allie
The time has come in my opinit
when we should not commit ourselv
by the adoption of this resolution
any policy that the president may her
after pursue. CAher the constitute
and the law he has not power to d
clare war. but he has in fact the po,
cr to. plunge the nation into war and
make it necessary for congress to d
clare it and he has almost done So"
Lodge Favors Action.
Senator Lodge, ranking Republic
member of the foreign relations col
mittee. led the discussion in the fav
of the resolution for the minority.
asserted that the president had tax
grave action and that he felt it
duty to support him ito the utmost
my power?' He also appealed to I
senate against divisions in the cri
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