Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1917-02-26
CONGRESS AND PRESIDENT MAY
BE DEADLocKED OVER
ARMED SHIPS ISSUE.
BITTER DEBATE RESULTS
IN SENATE SESSION
Lodge and Others Lead in Opposition
to Wilson's Request That Mo Be
Given Power to Use Armed Ships to
Protect Commerce on High Seas
Debate Most Sensational.

w aSshiiGtpii, L GU. -V.-~<AhoIh~t ~
ture of friendly relations impends, this
! time between President Wilson and
congress in regard to the policy Of the
ration i2 the face of the danger Of
war with Germany.
The legislative and the executive
branches Of the government are re-
garGing each other with hourly aug
menting suspicion and distrust. De-
velopments Saturday disclosed conclu-
sively that the two powers are en-
gagged in mighty struggle, the out
come Of which within the next week
will be the surrender Of one or the
other or compromise.
Wilson Demands Power.
President Wilson still holds to the
position that congress should author
ize him expressly to employ the armed
forces of the nation to deal with Ger
many as he deems circumstances de-
mand and then leave him to manage
affairs without legislative advice until
the next congress convenes.
In support Of this attitude the ad-
ministration headers In the senate set
cut to fight the republican filibuster
of pending legislation, which is de-
signed to force the president to call
the new, congress into session at once.
The republicans, with whom many
democrats are in sympathy. defended
their filibuster, contending it Is their
patriotic duty to hold congress in ses-
sion at so critical a time, particularly
with the president exhibiting indeci-
sion and unwillingness to prepare for
grave contingencies.
Storm Breaks in Senate.
A rumble of the gathering storm
was heard IN the senate Saturday
when Senators Lodge and Williams
cIasned in discussing the situation.
1t was the most sensational debate
on the German situation since Presi-
dent Wilson severed diplomatic rela-
tons with Germany. Senator Lodge
exclorated President Wilson for not
acting to protect American rights, and
democratic senators. including Lewis.
of Illinois, defended the course OF the
president.
Senator Lodge took the floor to an
swer Senator Williams, who charged
that congress-, and especially the re-
publican members, were embarrassing
the president in his handling OF the
German situation.
Blamss Diseord For Crisis.
Senator Williams asserted that nao
Germany at the outset of the war be-
lieyed the American people were united
behind President Wilson the Lusitanla
would never have benz sunk. no Amer
leans would have been killed, and no
American ships sunk.
He declared that in the present crisis
the republicans OF the senate had en-
tered into conspiracy to tie the presi-
dents hands.
Senators" shouted the Mississip-
plan, you are fiddling while Rome
burns. Germany has been fooled into
believing that the people Of the United
States and the American congress are
divided in their support OF the presi-
dent In this situation. What / want
the American people and congress to
do now is to unfool Germany. II you
do you will avoid a great, expensive
and bloody struggle. If you don't the
war will be on u.s."
Wilson Relies on Congress.
Senator Williams asserted that there
was question in the presid ent's mind
that congress would grant him author
ity to handle the situation IL he should
ask for it.
IF the president comes before con-
gress and asks proper authority to pro-
tect Americans and American proper
ty," retorted Senator Borah Of Idaho,
congress will grant It."
In closing his speech Senator Will
liams admitted it was matter OF hu-
initiation that American ships were
forced to hug their ports at this time,
as IL afraid Of the ukase, mot of the
American government, but OF some
foreign power"
Lodge Defends Congress.
Senator Lodge, arising to answer the
criticism Of Senator Williams, said:
Congress has given all that has been
asked with a lavish hand. I myself
have Just helped to prepare bill which
gives the president s115,00O,000 to ex-
pedite the construction Of ships.
II will refuse no authority and no
money needed for the defense of the
United States. When standing for this
country against any foreign nation the
president gets my support regardless OF
my personal feelings for him or OF my
particular party affiliations, but
shall not give my consent under
blackn,aii threat Of war to an objec-
tionable treaty"
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