The daily Gate City and constitution-Democrat. (Keokuk, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1917-02-26

vould precipitate Z wrangie ina
would make an extra session NEW
able. -
a The president has been further ao
vfsed that In the house particularly
itbera Is not only united repuniicai
onnositton against giving broad POW
ers until congress reconvenes. pu
there is also strong opposition
such q program by members OF IN
Town party. .,s.r,
fha. been told IL he wishes some Gen
mite concrete action by congress y
This time-power for instance to arm
/ merchantmen. for positive means o.
protecting American lives ana prop
erty on the high seas, ne can Se'
Lit In Jig time.
In other words. the presiuou. :
friends in congress say that repuon
cans and democrats alike STAND ieaoy
| to support any definite ana uniIeu
action he deems necessary now oo.
they do not propose to vest IN niil
unlimited powers for the future.
| In spite of this, some democra. ].
declare the president IN the rae :.
this situation has only one couse
topen and that is to ngnt Ior -
he wants-f it takes all suHnael. =.
torder to show Europe THIS COUNT
presents united front In me
ent crisis. .,r,.s
In the house. pacifist democrats
claim to have "a or so who VII III.
up with the republicans asls ,e
granting individual power TO nano
developments in the absence OF e
gress.
Nevertheless the belief Is strong
among the presidents advisers ena'
eventually he could beat the opposi
t;nn IN this question II he nan alss
II couldn't be done, they admit, IN
the few days left before adjournment
unless all legislation was sacrinceu
and an extra session rendered necss-
sary. The general situation In con
gress ia not unlike that FACING inc
PRESIDENT when McLemore fntroducea
his resolution warning Americans on
armed ship. At that time the presi-
dent forced the issue to oecisioh
and won-but 1t required some tine-
Many advised his adoption OF sin.-
lar course at this time the pres
aen, has canyassed the sftuaslon
fhoroughly. Postmaster Generai Dut
Lesson. legislative go-between' -
comforting with party leaders ~ w ~
eress has presented his report 70
the president and Speaker Clark, eA
nlaininr the outlook in detaii.
Armed Neutrality.
WASHINGTON, Feb. 20 :. f nlsa,
neutrality for the United states
-, President Wilson's answer TO Ger
nsnr,s determination to wage re-
1entisss warfare with her Q boats :,
IN message TO be delivered al
o'clock this afternoon before a Joint
se.s;on az congress, the president
rIn ASK the means Of protecung oy
nae Of American land and sea FORCES
~ necessary OF American rights On
rha high seas. He will poin. ou1
Cermany,s obvious intention as inoi
Ecated by a long list of ruthless a..
,acks on neutral shipping, OF goino
head with her unrestrained Doa.
warfare. He viii tell congress tAa.
material things are NO longer 10 w
| considered in The grave internasaona.
situation which has developed ~.
that there remains the one sreas
/ principse-"rhe rights and pr1VneEes
Of American citizens-oo De uphe.a.
The president win Indicate piainiy
that the action he finds necessa3'
does not necessarily mean war
Once before the United States gov
| a-,mans when a critical situation
developed with France, was called
Snon 70 declare a state Of armed
na,,4raIitr" 1t permitted the arming
oS American merchant ships, tne
conyoyinx Of American ships-in facs
avery warlike measure short OF an
actua1 declaration Of hostiiues.
The president worked throughout
Yesterday on his mes sage. He ahan
doned his customary practice OF go
ing to church in the morning ana
worked in his study. Early today ne
called Secretary Tunulty to the
xhita house and read the message to
him.
At $50 Senator Stone went TO the
wh;.e house and the president told
him of his intended course. Tumulty
sent the message to the public print
ar al s.45 a. N, and 10 O'Clock the
request for a Joint session was sent
70 Senator Kern and Representative
Kitchin.
n L6sllE d(t<cA t0HNsb 49,
iaeu. fulfilled the promise he made
TO congress on February 8, when ne
announced severance OF diplomatic
relations with Germany.
AT that time after saying ne De
Ifsyed that Germany would not dis
regard the ancient friendship" be
tween her peoples and those OF this
country by prosecuting the ruthless
naval program they haye annoaacee.
the president declared: only actual
orert acts on their part can make mo
believe IL even now"
He then promised "if this inveter-
ate confidence on my part In Inc
sob-tety and prudent foresight o.
their purpose should unhappiiy prove
untounded; IL American ships and
American lives should in fact be
sacrificed By their naval command
err In needless contrayention OF the
! inst and reasonable understanding o,
international and the obvious dictates
Of humanity. / shall take the liberty
4