The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-03-02
STONE AMENDMENT OPPOSED


 Senator Hitchcock, speaking for the committee, declared that to ask the Pres
 dent's opinion and then cross-examine him as the Stone amendment proposed, would be an affront.
 Senator Hitchcock read from the Pres idents last address to Congress express ing his desire to keep out of the Euro pean conflict to show that he was averse to any step that will lead the country unnecessarily to war.
 This solemn statment of the Presi dent said Senator Hitchcock, was made to us only a few days ago and l feel justified in saying it was made after the note now in controversy came to the attention of the President. Any man of intelligence knows our government, like every other, has had much information brought it which was put away in pigeon- holes without action.
 If it is true that this note came from one of the belligerents, should not that fact be called to the attention of the country?" asked Senator Hardwick. NO" Senator Hitchcock answered 'I simply think we ought to ask the President for a definite statment of his opinion regard ing its authenticity"
 Isn't the material fact to us and this country whether someone who is in- terested in getting us into war has given the note to us?'' insisted Senator Hard wick.
 Not at this stage" replied Senator I Hitchcock If we were to decide for peace or war it might be, but we are not
 stro an assertion by Senator Hardwick l that the public mind has become in- | famed by publication of the note Sena-
 tor Hitchcock said:
 'It the President feels that the public
 mind is not to be inflamed, he will take
 the proper steps in sending the Senate his information to reduce It.
 KIRBY READS NEWS ITEM l Senator Kirby read a newspaper story
 that the administration was convinced publication of the note would influence l Congress to pass the neutrality bill. If the President gave this to the press | instead of to the Senate--if he expected
 to influence the Senate, wouldn't it have
 been as well to have given it to the Senate and not to the newspapers? ?'' | ed Senator Kirby.
 This newspaper statement is not veri-
 fled" Senator Hitchcock answered. | There may come a time when it might ] be desirable to investigate this note fur l ther, but now the people want to know
 only if it is authentic.
 WILLIAMS URGED CAUTION l Senator. Williams urged "cool and dis passionate" consideration.
 | If the Zimmerman letter is authen- | tic" he said, it must have come from, l the German embassy in some cf those
 devious ways governments have of ob- ta;ning information The question here | is: Is that letter authentic?" The instru- mentality whereby the United States got | possession of the letter does not bear in the remotest degree upon it's authentic ity or it's existence.
 T didn't share curiosity with most peo- pie this morning about this note. I
 wouldn't have introduced this resolution.
 can see no good to come of it one way or another. If we are to have trouble with Germany it will not be because of
 anything like this. There will be no trouble because of this letter alone. The letter is only one of a chain of circum- stances to demonstrate at least that Ger many is careless about whether she goes to war with us"
 | Senator Williams said he was opposed to the Stone amendment, as was the rest l of the committee.
 VIEWS OF LODGE l Senator Lodge. author of the resolution, | said he did not care to discuss the mo- lives of newspapers. nor enter into the 'duestion of peace or war, but he thought
 if the story of the Zimmerman note