Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1917-03-03
ARE BACK OF PRESIDENT
No Man With American Blood in His
Veins Could Hesitate in Such a
Course, Mr.. Flood Declares.

The Virginia delegation in the
House of, Representatives, holding
true to the tradition Of the Old Do
minion to uphold the president whel
this nation is threatened by a foreign
power, voted as one man for the
Flood resolution empowering Presi.
dent Wilson to furnish guns, gunners
and ammunition to American ships
to protect American lives and prop
erty from foreign aggression.
Congressman Flood, of Virginia,
chairman of the foreign affairs COM
mittee, made strong speech in pre-
senting the resolution to the house
and an equally forceful address in
closing the debate for the resolution.
No man with American blood in
his veins and American sentiments in
his heart, declared Chairman Flood,
could hesitate to give the president
the authority he asked to protect
American citizens and uphold our ma
ticnal honor.
Congressman Carter Glass and
Montague, and two or three of the
other Virginians had intended to
speak in favor of the resolution, but
delayed making application for time
: until the time for debate had all been
given out.
Chairman Floods speech was as
follows:
Germany has declared her purpose
of withdrawing a promise she made
to this country to conduct her SUBJ
marine warfare according to the rule
and principles of international law
as modified by the notes which passed
between this country and Germany
in reference to use Of submarines.
She is now undertaking to destroy
every merchant vessel, whether bel
ligerent or neutral, bound for Great
Britain. or Ireland or the Mediter-
Tanean.22-.- .,s-,.z..se7
s"Thc American merchant marine Is
tied up in our harbors and Amerl-
can commerce is blockaded as eff
fectively as if Germany had block
AIDED our ports.
"This condition is intolerable to a
free and brave people, and it mas con-
tinued as long as the American gov
ernment and the American people
are willing to submit to it. Cap
plause).,
"The pending legislation provides
the president. means. to remedy this
intolcrable condition and free our
commerce and protect American
lives and citizens in their lawful
pursuits upon the high seas"
"There arc ample precedents for
this action. There have been numer-
GUS occasions when an invasion of our
rights have been such that the
American congress thought it nec-
essary to vest the president for the
time-being with extraordinary pow
crs. We enacted such laws when we
were weak and feeble, but a brave
nation. We gave such powers IN 1884,
in 1906, in 1915, in 1889, and 1886.
"In 1894, when France and England
were at war, France was preying on
our commerce just as Germany is to-
day. There were many people then
who contended our commerce could
not be protected, the rights OF our
citizens could not be guarded ana
our honor would not be upheld with
out going to war with France. But
we gave the president those powers
and acting under them our commerce
was protected. American lives saved
and the honor of America vindlcated
and war with France was averted. :"
(Applause.)
''We are asking these same powers
for the president today. This legisla-
ton may not avert war, but It will
do little to bring about war, and if
we should unhappily become en-
gagged in war the passage of this
legislation will bc but minor cause
when we give the president this
authority and he exercises it, the is
sue of war or peace will be with Ger
many and not with US.
Oar ships have the right to sail
the seas. our citizens have the right
to go there. and we propose TO pro-
tect them. hope we can do it peace
fully. If we cannot we will do it with
force and with arms. (Applause).
Our duty is clear to protect oul
citizens and their PROPERTY in theil
lawful pursuits. If Germany wa:
proposing to conduct her warfare &C