The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1917-03-05

kota; Lindberg, Minnesota; Nelson.
wlseensln stsrord. wisconsin. will
DelosrA.s Decker. Missouri;
shaeklsford. Missouri; Sherwood,
socisiis, -London. New York. l.
The ~ senators who signed the
manifesto were;
Beckham, RroussArd. BryaE Cham
berlain Chiffon, Fletcher. tardwick
/ Hitchcock Hollis. Hughes, Hus,ing.
James. Johnson. :. d: Kern. Lea
, Myers. Nowiands. OvcrmAn. owen.
/ Phelan. rittmAn Pomerene. Itansdeu
| Reed. Robinson. salisbury. Shatroth.
sheppard. shieidA simmsns smith,
I son. Thomas Thompson -.uman, Tn
/ tcrWood Walsh and WilliamR-Ae
Rspublicnns--Borah Brady. Brande-
I zee. catron CLARK. Colt Curtis Dil-
I HarSins. Tones Lodge, Mccur1 Der
/ McLsan. Nelson. oliver, Page Pgln-
dexter. sherman. smith MICH.
smoot. sterling. sutherland Town
ard weeks-se
The oresidenrs statement In fun
I follows
The termination % the laNt Sos
sion OF the sixty fourth congrcss.
BY constitutional limitation. disclose
situation unparalleled la the his
tory % the countrg, perhaps un-
psrslleied In the history of any mod
crn government
In the immediate presence 81 a
] CRISIS fraught with more subtle and
tar-rsechtnR possibilities Of national
danger than ANY other the govern
1ent has known within the Wnulf
y history % SIS International relat onH,
. tho cvmgress hns been unable tu a,f
i either 20 safeguard the country 80
/ a. indicate the elementary rightl Or
i Its citizens.
More than 500 81 the 81 members
\ OF tha two houses were ready eud
4 anS tous 10 act, the house Of repre-
/ scntative- had acted. by an over
( whelmiuE majority hut the senate
7 was unable 20 act because little
/ group Of a. senators had determined
/ that ~ should not
1 The senate has no rule by whlrt
{ debate can be limited or brought o.
I an end no rules BY which diiifnrf
tactics OF any hind can be prevented.
\ single member an stand in thr
4 way ~ action n he have bur th"
physical endurance The result iu
I this case - complete parulJ Eis
alike % the legislative and OF tlf
executive branches ~ the govern
mont
rus inability % the senate % act
has rendered some 20 the most no~es-
Ncrv legislation 81 thr t"saiuu tln-
possible. - time when the need
Tor u vas most pressing and mos'
. evident
The bul which would have per
mIttcd s3ch combinations % capital
AID ~ organ iXatiun Ia tho export aud
import trade Of the country as tho
circumstances % iuternati0u1l GONE
/ pefitfon have made tmperB tlVf..-a
hili which the business Judgment 90
/ the whole country approved and de-
ma rded-has failed.
The opposition % one Or two
senators has made II impossible Co
| increase the membership Of the i'm
terstate commerce commission or 60
give " the altered organization
+ necessary for its efficiency. The
1 conservation bill which should have
released for immediate use the min.
sral resources which are still locked
up IN the public lands, now tina Z
their release 10 more imperatively
! necessary than ever, and the htll
which would have made the unused
water power OF the country inn
mediatsly avanabls for industry have
both failed though they have been
under consideration throughout the
sessions OF two congrssses and have
been twice passed By the house Of
The appropriations for the army
have failed. along with the appro-
priatlons for the civil esta biishmsut
81 the government. the approprla-
tons for the military academy a.
West Point. and the general den.
cheney bill. ~ has proved impossi-
bic 90 extend the powers Of the ship
ping board 10 meet the special needs
~ the new situation into which our
commerce has been forced or % in
crease the gold reserve Of our ma
tionai banking system 90 meet the
unusual circumstances % the exist
ing financial situa tion
IL would not cure the difficulty %
ordinary session. The paralysis of
the senate would remain The pur-
pose and the spirit % action are not
lacking now. The congress IL more
dshniteiy united In thought and pur-
pose at this moment. I venture 90
say. than II has been within the
memory Of any man nov In its mem
bership- There IL not only the most
united patriotic purpose but the OBJ
jects Members have IN view ore per-
senate cannot act unless its leaders
can obtain unanimous consent It's
majority ~ powsrisas. helpless In
the midst " q crisis ~ eKtra ord n
ary peril when only definite and 90
oided action can make the nation
safe or shield u from war Itself By
the aggression % others. action Il
impossible.
Although a. q matter % fact the
nation and the representative 81 the
nation stand back Of the executive
With Unprecedented unanimity and
spirit. the Impression made abroad
/ viii % course be that II is not 90
and that other governments may act
a. they please without fear that this
/ government can DO anything ~ all.
We cannot explain. The explanation
is incredibie
The senate % the United States
IL the only Legislative body In the
world which cannot act when lts
= majority is ready for action. A lit-
tie Eroup 81 wilifui men. represent