The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1917-03-03

| Washington, March 3.-The armed
neutrality bill was running a neck
and-neck race with time in congress
today. Democratic leaders were aim
/ ing to get 1t through somehow before
the session dies at noon tomorrow but
were not entirely sure of the position
of its opposition.
In the senate, where the bill was
being debated, there were some long
Opposition speeches ahead. Although a
great majority Of the Republicans
urged its passage, the leaders were
not sure where the last moment would
| find Senator Toilette and the strain
twas drawn out by Senator Stones Of
fering Of amendpents disagreeable to
the president.
1t was evident on all hands that the
situation had forced all other legisla-
tion into an eleventh hour jam where
much of it would be sacrificed.
After heated executive session in
which Secretary McAdoo participated,
the house ways and means committee
reported favorably the resolution to
authorize a $150,000,000 bond issue for
hurrying naval construction.
Unlimited power for the president
to spend the money as he will, either
for work already authorized or for
new projects, was denied by the COM
notice despite vigorous efforts OF
Democrats to obtain it.
Republicans contend that in case Of
national emergency congress probably
would be in session and it would be
possible to quickly broaden the presi-
dents power. They discIaimed any de-
sire to hinder the president.
Administration leaders approached
the closing continuous session OF con-
gress fearful lest opposition by SEN
ators LaFollette and Stone to the
bill authorizing arming of American
merchant vessels might prevent en-
actment Of the measure by noon to-
morrow. Senator Stone, it was declar-
ed, was. determined to fight for his
amendment which would withhold
protection from munitions-ca carrying
ships. Senator LaFollette. who yielded
a point late last night in permitting
an advance in the parliamentary posi-
ton of the bill, was ready to make
long speech against 1t.
When debate was resumed today
Senator Hitchcock, to perfect the bilIs
parliamentary status. had the senate
draft, with two slight amendments
substituted after the enacting clause
for the house text One amendment
eliminates the provision for arming
fore and aft" thus re-
moving specific direction as to arma-
ment. The other prevents United
States protection for foreign ships.
Senator Brandegee called the German
prohibitive gone IAN ambush where
Germany. laid in wait to deal death" to
anyone who entered against her edict
creating it.
Should we sit supinely and allow
the ukase Of a foreign potentate to
clear the ocean OF American shipping
and blockade our ports?' he asked.
Are we obliged to wait for the
slaughter to be accomplished before
we defend ourselves? I trust that
neither congress nor the American
people have fallen to such depths of
degredation that they are willing to
furl the American flag and withdraw
from the high seas as the misguided
band of pacifists seem to wish.
There is no use to issue moral
homily or a Salvation Army tract or to |
repeat the Sermon on the Mount to a |
nation that has gone mad and acts
through it's military autocracy like a
homicidal maniac. Must we get off |
the face Of the earth--lie down and
curl up? The peace propaganda in
some aspects, closely approaches trea~
son."
Senator Sherman presented today's |
news dispatches from Berlin bringing