Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1917-03-02
SPURRED To ACTION.
AGREEMENT IS MADE
TO VOTE IN 8 HOURS
House Is Notified Wilson
Stands SquareIy Behind
Senate Measure "FirSt, Last
and All the Time"
(By Associated Press.)

WASHINGTON, March 1.-Spurred by
the developments of the international
situation the house today took up the
bill to clothe the president with au-
thority to deal with the German sub
marine menace under an agreement to
vote after three hours debate.
The statement was made officially
that the White House stands behind the
bill as drawn in the senate first, last
and all the time" and does not approve
the house bill in it's entirety because it
does not provide the "other instrument
talities" which the president desires,
and proposes to refuse war insurance to
ships which carry munitions.
The portion the administration wants
may be inserted on the floor of the house
or after the bill gets to the senate.
A special rule for immediate consid-
Grafton of the Flood bill to empower the
president to arm and protect ships "un-
der United States registry" was favor
ably reported today from the house
rules committee.
Without a roll cali the house unani-
mously adopted the rule and three hours
general debate on the measure was be-
gun Immediately.
FLOOD STIRS HOUSE
At the outset of the house debate
Chairman Flood aroused intense en-
thusiasm on both sides. Every refer
ence to Americas willingness to pro-
tect the rights of citizens wherever they
had a right to travel was met with
volley of applause. He cited that au-
thority for the president to act as sug-
gested in the bill had been granted to
other executives in 1894, 1898, 1905,
1915, 1889 and 1856, and, incidentally,
attacked the pacif1sts protesting against
the bill.
'In 1885, he continued, many people
in this country at that time said our
rights should not be upheld and that to
uphold them would lead to war with
France. We gave the president the
power, our commerce was protected, our
honor indicated and war was averted."
Even greater applause greeted Re-
publican Leader Mann's stirring speech
in favor of the bill, his remarks being
interrupted by patriotic outbursts.
at is well known" Mr.. Mann said,
that 1 have done and will do every
thing in my power to keep this country
out of the European war and the peace
settlement that is certain to follow its
end. But 1 do not see how it is posi-
bic for a patriotic nation to refuse to
give the president at the time of this
crisis power which he asks and which
is provided for in the pending bill
REFUSES TO CAVID.
II recognize the fact that those oppos
ing this proposition are filled with pa
triotism and devotion 20 the country as
the rest of us are" he continued, but
1 am not willing to cavil over the terms
OF power conferred on the president.
when the time comes that our ships
shall be assaulted and the limit of our
patient bearing of insults or destruction
that may be heaped upon us is passed.
it becomes the duty of a great or sma II
to defend its rights upon the
sea.
"I hope and believe that by giving
this power to the president we shall
be more apt to keep out than to get into
war"
Representative Kitchin, of North
Carolina, Democratic leader of the house,
amid applause, that he would
vote for the bill.
Il shall vote for this bill-but not
without hesitation and misgiving," Mr..
said.
THE nation confronts the gravest
crisis. 1t faces the supremest RESPONSE
bility to itself and to the world.
Already the European catastrophe
threatens the faith of mankind in Chris
tianity, in civilization.
THE widening of that catastrophe by
a great, powerful nation like ours would
seem to challenge the right of Chris |
tianity to exist. 1t calls to the test
the potency of civilization itself"
Representative Cooper. Wisconsin, !
contended the bill surrendecs !
10 the president the war power.
Representative Campbell, of Kansas, |
contended the warning pow |
ers should not be delegated.