Jasper County Democrat, Volume 19, Number 96, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 28 February 1917 — WILL ARM ALL MERCHANT SHIPS [ARTICLE]

WILL ARM ALL MERCHANT SHIPS

President’s Address to Congress - Gets Quick Action $100,000,000 BOND ISSUE I __ Authorized to Cover Emergency Expenditures In Taking Such Steps As Are Deemed Necessary. Washington, February’ 26.—Authority to place the nation in a state of "armed neutrality,” as requested by President Wilson in his address today before a joint session of congress, will be granted immediately, according to administration leaders in the senate and bouse. Resolutions providing for the supplying of guns and trained crews for merchant ships, for a special bond issue of >100,000,000 to cover necessary emergency expenditures and general power to take such steps as may be considered necessary by the President probably will be passed without delay. Continued invasion of the plain rights of neutrals oh the high seas, further sacrifice of American lives and Alps and a practical blockade of American commerce, almost as effective as if the nation were at war, have taken the place of th© "overt act” and lead the President to take the step which brings the country nearer an actual declaration of war. Th© President again made it plain that he desired peace, but not at th© price of American rights and lives or by driving tbe American flag from the seas. Hardly had the nation’s executive left the somber gathering of senators and representatives than steps were taken to frame resolutions acceding to his request. When Mr. Wilson was at the Capitol he gave Chairman Flood of the house foreign affairs committee a complete draft of his idea of what the resolution to be adopted by congress should be. The resolution was broad and .embodied exactly what the President proposed to congress. ” A copy of the draft was also given to Senator Oliver. It would authorize the President to supply and man guns for merchant ships, give general authority “to employ any other instrumentality that may be necessary" and provide for a special bond issue of $100,000,000. At a brief meeting tonight, the senate foreign relations committee determined not to take up until tomorrow President Wilson’s request. Chairman Stone said there had been no debate in committee and that adjournment had been taken until tomorrow morning to permit members to. give the, request careful consideration before acting. After conferences with Democratic and Republican leaders. Chairman Flood of the house foreign affairs committee introduced a bill authorizing the President to arm merchant ships and use such "other instrumentalities as necessary’’ to protect them on the high seas, and providing a special bond issue of >100,000,000. The bill wa® referred to the committee which will meet tomorrow morning to consider it.

Seven Dutch vessels were sunk by a German submarine Saturday and the Hollanders i;e very wrath over the matter, but dare not take 'a precipitate action because of their proximity of the kaiser’s sword. • The big Cunard liner Laconia, bound from New York to Liverpool, was torpedoed and sunk off the Irish coast Sunday night. There were six Americans among the passengers on board and twenty members of the crew were Americans. Two hundred and seventy-eight survivors have been landed at Queenstown. Some are mi wing The Laconia carried 1.060 bars of silver, 40,000 bushels of wheat and other war supplies.