Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1917-03-01

senator from Massachusetts will be
acted upon and I am sure the president
viii respond to it. There may be rea-
sons for not giving the information If
fncomaaubie with the public interest.
The fact is the Associated Press
has given this entire story 10 the pub
lic with what seems to be a most i'm
p0Trant document. 1t is probably au-
ehentic."
Form of No Consequence.
Senator Lodge said he cared little
regarding the form Of his resolution.
Nothing is further from my mind
than to suggest criticism Of the presi-
dent, said he. We ought to have this
5uTOrmarion-the people ought TO have
true or not If We are TO act together
we ought TO have that fact
Senator Pomerene. democrat, Of
Ohio. said that IL addition 10 the AssO-
ciated Press dispatches the senate had
the statement Of Senator Swanson that
the Zimmerman dispatch was au-
thentic.
Substantially correct" inter5ected
Senator Swanson IF there IS any
variance We ought to know that fact,
returned Senator Pomerene. The Tes0-
luton amply protects the president
permitting him to give the information
all realize the gravity of the situation.
[ want the most explicit Information
before acting in a matter which may
be so grave in its consequence.
Senator Smith, democrat, of Georgia, I
said he hoped the resolution would be
adopted at once.
Ought To Go To Committee.
Senator Stone, chairman Of the for
eign relations committee, said:
1T seems 10 me that resolutions
ought to 60 TO the committee on for
eign relations. There may be informa- /
ton in the hands Of the state DEPART /
ment of a confidential nature that It /
might not be thought compatible with {
public interest TO reveal Then again, /
this alleged dispatch may mes be au-
tbentic, IL may not be true.
There may be something behind all /
this We do not know about" continued /
Senator Stone
1T seems 10 me in the eXfgencIes of /
this moment it lis the part OF prudence
and sound Judgment to proceed delhi
eraJely- think the wiser course would +
be to send the resolution to the com
mittee and have that committee make
The necessary investigation and then
report what action in their opinion. +
should be taken.
But if that view is not conceded in Il
by the senate then We ought at least to (.
have the resolution broadened SO as to Il
call on the president for all iuforma- Il
ton respecting the sources Of this 4
statement. I would like TO know all II
ABOUT 1t; now it was obtained and from |
whom and / want to know the facts |
tending to establish its authenticity.
We ought 70 be fully advised not only
as 70 the Associated Press but as 10 the
state department"
Senator Smith, republican. Of Mich
gan, suggested the president could re
use TO give the Information If he de-
sired.
Senator PoindeZter. republican, of
" asnlngtOn. asked Senator Pomereua
why the publication Of the thinner
mann instructions created situation
2f great gravity.
Sees Little News i'm Item.
ial ro see very much news in
ne ten. he said, we have been read
nG Tor months Of alleged activities Of
ms Kind concerning which this Z1u-
l hermann note appears to me TO be a
mere incident"
have seen rumors and rumors Of
QmoTs, replied Senator Pomereue- B
out TINS morning, for the first time
We nave concrete statement purport-
Hg to be note issued by a high Off
-al OF the German government. IL
'ray TO God il is not true but at the q
anne time, when confronted with what
GEMS TO be documentary evidence and H
With the statement by the senator from n
lTginia IN effect that the president &
ala the matter published was sub
tantlaiiE correct I think Z am within Fl
ne bounds of reason when I say that 8
mere IS grave situation I ana not IS
sHllng to act until we can have the e
1lIest Information compatible with the b
ublic interests. Ne
Wen, that does not change our sit 81
alton Senator Poindaxter continued. 81
u does not alter the fact that II is
nposslble for US to send an army to n
-eH1co or Germany. or navies either" BE-
senator f#ardwiCk said he did not b
7Ject to referring the Lodge resoIu- E.
on TO the committee. but objected only 81
immediate consideration. HI
May Not Be a Tomorrow
Senator Townsend. republican. de- N
-ored the objection Of the Georgia Be-
.nator putting the resolution over IN
tomorrow under the rules. III
There may never be any tomorrow,
this session said Senator Town ~
nd This new element injected has
ade 1t very difficult for the senate to -
II on the resolution OF the senator
4ff=1ngfpf ~ ls1