: '
PRICE FIVE CENTS. CHARLOTTE, N. C, SUNDAY MORNING, MARCH 4, 1917. '
PrDIMIIPIl milPIVI 1 innHITP TIIIT Ialmost half-million InnrnmriiT inn i Iwncnw u-v mmc i .......... .
irn v ni r n im r y i i mi tons of shipping was nk m n "v nM mv l mm rrrnnT n ni n j nr
I iilliiul it i mi v. vvr.r'.. miui in u 1 rrrim i iiu run i iih
UW nCdrUNdlDILI I I W I IL.UUIIIU LI I U II I U II I II II I UI .
FEW SENATORS TO KILL MEASURE
FOR ARMING II. S. MERCHANT SHIPS
EFFORT 15 IDE TO HJ AN
ALLK AGAINST UNITED STATES
' . , ' - ' ' II
Nor Are Washington Officials
Surprised at the Admission.
COUNTER-CHARGE; IS MADE
that ' Pan-American Union
Against Germany Was At
tempted by This Country.
Washington, March I. German
Foreign Minister Zimmennanns frank
admission that Germany did aek to
ally Japan and Mexico with her to
war against the United State caused
no surprise to American officials, al
though It may be said they did not
expect so full and tree an acknowl
edgment ot the exposure.
Some officials had thought there
might be an attempt to discredit the
authenticity of the revelations by of-
fering an explanation of a different
character. . .
American officials never have had
the least doubt of the authenticity of
the evidence In their hands.
Minister Zimmermann's defense of
' Germany's intrigue on the. ground
that it only was Intended to be car
ried out In the event the United States
did not remain neutral Is not taken
to change the situation la the slightest
degree. " - . .
Whether It was presented to the
Carransa Government or not. and the
fact that It is believed not to have
been communicated to Japan do not,
in the opinion of American officials,
alter the established fact that Ger
many, while seeking- the offices of the
United States to make peace, and
: while' protesting her Innocence of any
Intention to violate American Uvea,
was at the same moment preparing
unrestricted submarine warfare and
was intriguing to attack the United
States with two Allies.
Mr. Zimmermann's reference to
an alleged "plot" by the United States
to unite Fan'America against Ger
many,- are regarded with mingled
feelings of incomprehension and
amusement.
The Pan-Anferican Union, the Ar
gentine Embassy and the State De
partment can find record of no such
newspaper publication as Zlmmer-
mann contends revealed the "plot" In
xjuenoe Aire.
The only event which officials can
recall which Is susceptible of being
distorted Into such a charge as Zim
roermann makes was discussion early
in secretary or state Bryan's term of
office of a plan, to surround the Pan
Americas with a neutral sons in which
there were to be no naval operations.
Nothing ever came of it.
Zimmermann's statement was read
today in the Senate and some Senators
who were at first inclined to think his
published instructions to von Eck
hardt German Minister in Mexico
City, was a forgery, had the state
ment read twice.
At the Argentine Embassy here it
was said nothing was known of For
eign Secretary Zimmermann's charge
and officials there described it as
"fooIlBh."
Officials of the Embassy had no
knowledge of the so-called news ar
ticle said by. the German Foreign
IMPORTANT MEETING OF '
XAVAb CONSULTING BOARD
.New York, March S. A meeting
?' ?e. N,Tal Consulting- Board, at
tended by officers of the United
Javy, Including Rear Ad
lal W. S. Sims, president of the
Naval War College, was held today
to discuss "important questions
Pertinent to the conditions now
facing the United States. .
The meeting was arranged by a
committee of the consulting board,
and about 40 attended, represent
ing not only the Navy, but the
leading educational, manufactur
ing, industrial and scientific - or
ganizations of the United Bute.
.An authorized statement as to
what transpired at the meeting
said Its purpose was to obtain in
formation essential if the country
were involved In war or In any
other National emergency.
ALMOST HALF-MILLION
' TONS OF SHIPPING WAS
SUNK BY SUBMARINES
Germans Hardly Made Half Their
Coal for February British
Make Further Cains in France.
HOUSE
TO
AGREES
L BILL
Also Puts Through Resolution for
Navy Bond Issue.
Would Postpone 'Berne Drv'
Date Until July 1 Recess Ta
ken Until 10 A. M. Sunday.
BULLETIN.
Washington, March 4. The Naval
appropriation bill was sent to the
President shortly after 1 o'clock tills
morning, when final congressional ac
tion was taken, the Senate agreeing
to the conference report, previously
accepted by the House.
Washington, March 4. The Sixty
fourth Congress was approaching Its
close early today, with failure of some
of the major Administration measures
certain and the fate of others hanging
in the ha lance.
Held up by the determined oppo
sition of a small group of Senators,
who threatened to prolong debate un
til the end of the session struck at
noon, the President's armed neutral
ity bill was giving the leaders most
concern.
The naval bill, with its provisions
lor continuing the big building pro
gram, was one of the measures that
had been caught in the legislative
jam, but it was saved when the Sen
ate shortly after 1 o'clock interrupted
debate on toe neutrality bill long
enough to approv.e a conference re
port already accepted by the house.
There was no prospects that the
Senate would interrupt its session un
til expiration at noon.
By a vote of 284 to 86. the House
adopted a joint resolution designed to
postpone until July 1 enforcement of
British troops continue to main
tain their daily progress against the
German lines on the Ancre front In
France. On Saturday, Field Mar
shal Halt's forces, London records.
made an average advance of a quar
ter mile on a front of nearly five
miles In the face of stubborn Ger
man resistance.
The latest gain ws made east of
ruuueux au Mont and north of
Gommecourt which would bring it
almost on -the Easarts-Bucquoy-Ba
paume line, where It has been re
ported the German were expected to
mate a stand.
Berlin says there have been vlo
lent Infantry encounters on both
banks or the Ancre, and It is ap
parent urown ranee Rupprecht
offering greater resistance to the
British attempts to advance than hs
baa done recently.
Near Sauiy-SailllseL several miles
south of the scene of the British
advance, and northeast of Gueude
court, the Germans are said to have
iHianni wa oniun lines, xiepuiseo.
I at uueuaecourt the Germans, by
I bombing attack, gained ground east
or sauiy-sauiiseL The lost ground is
reported to have been regained in its
entirety by the British. On the re
mainder of the western front, raids
and artillery engagements have ee
curred.
Hamadan. in Persia, 140 miles
northeast of Bagdad, the goal of the
present British advance in Mesono
tamia, has been captured by the Rus
sians, according to a Teheran dee
patch. The occupation of Hamadan
may presage another attempt by the
Russians to advance into Mesopota
mia from the east to aid the British
forces there.
In a raid on Russian lines west of
Lutsk, vblhynla, which were pene
trated nearly a mile, Berlin says the
Germans destroyed the Russian works
and took 122 prisoners
There has been no great activity
elsewhere on the western front, and
heavy snows are reported In Ruma
nia. Raids and artillery actions are
reported from the Macedonian and
Austro-Italian fronts.
Except for - the announcement in
London that the Greek steamer Pro
eonnlssos, of 2,749 tons, has been sunk
by a submarine, no reports of losses
from German submarine activities
have been issued from the Entente
Capitals The French admiralty an
nounces that It will not issue a dally
list of submarine losses, but will give
out a weekly summary. Figures
vouched for In London show that
German submarines destroyed 490.
449 tons of merchant shipping in Feb
ruary; This figure is less than half
the 1,400,490 tons which Berlin has
claimed would result from unrestrict
ed submarine warfare.
)
Minister to have been published re-'the "bone dry" amendment to the
cently In La Prensa. Copies of the
paper received here were said to con
tain nothing on the subject
They further declared the Buenos
Aires newspaper certainly could not
reveal a "plot" when, they are certain
by reason of their intimate knowledge
of relations between the United States
and their Government, no such "plot"
ever existed.
zimmermannTadmits
alliance was proposed
Berlin, March 1 Via Sayville The
following was given out today by the
Overseas News Agency, (the official
German news bureau):
"Foreign Secretary Zimmerman
was asked by a staff member of the
Overseas News Agency about the Eng
lish report that a German plot had
been revealed to get Mexico to declare
war against the United States and to
secure Japan's aid against the United
States. Secretary Zimmerman an
swered :
"You understand that it Is Impos
sible for me to discuss the facts of
this 'revealed plot' Just at this mo
ment and under these circumstances.
I therefore may be allowed to limit
my answer to what Is mid In the
English reports, which certainly are
not inspired by sympathy for Ger
many. The English report expressly
states that Germany expected and
wished to remain on terms of friend
ship with the United States, but that
we had- prepared measures of defense
In case the United States declared war
against Germany. I fail to see how
such a 'plot' is inspired by unfriend
liness on our part. It would mean
nothing but that we would use means
universally admitted in war, in case
the United States declared war.
The most Important part of the al- !
leged plot is its condition and fom.
The whole 'plot' falls flat to the
postofflce bill, which became effective
when the President signed the bill to
day. , Supporters of the resolution en
tertain a faint hope that it can be
rushed through the Senate before ad
journment. Some members of Congress, includ
ing Representative Randall, of Cali
fornia, the prohibitionist, contended
that the resolution would not legally
extend the effective date because the
bill, including the Reed amendment,
already had been signed by the Pres
ident, and Its provisions could be
changed only by passage of a law
amending it
Others said if it passed the Senate,
the resolution could be signed by the
President on the legislative day of
March 3, the same date of his signa
ture of the bill, and would stand in
court as a part of the bill Itself.
At midnight house Democratic and
Republican leaders reached an sgree-
l men to recess until 10 o clock Sun
day morning as soon as the confer
ence report on the naval bill is dis
posed of. It was believed this would
be finished In another hour.
Without a roll call the house later
agreed to the conference report on
the naval bill Itself. Only Senate ap
proval and the President's signature
now are needed to complete enact
ment of the measure, but it was un
certain when the Senate would act
The separate resolution for a bond
issue of 1150,000,000 to provide for
hastening construction of naval ves
sels was passed by - the House to
night without opposition. -
The House recessed at 12:62 a. m.,
until 10 a. m.
POSSIBLE EXTENSION OF
WAR TO THE PACIFIC
Forecast by Inquiry Made at
State Department by Chinese
Official.
AMERICAN OFFICER
KILLED IN EUROPE
Rome, via Paris, March 1. MaJ.
Elvin R. Helberg, American military
ground In case the United State, doe. , Z iEJi'
( nav aaui n ww uaiv v laiuiiB UI AUOU V
Italian ironu Major ueioerg was on
not declare war against ua And if
W really, as the report allege, con
sidered the possibility of hostile acts
of the United Btate against us, then
we really had reasons to do so.
"An Argentine newspaper a short
while ago really 'revealed a . plot'
when it told that the United States
last year suggested to other Ameri
can Republics common action against
Germany and her Allies. This, plof
apparently was not conditional in the
least The news as published by La
Prensa (Buenos Aires) agrees' well
with the Interpretation given, for in
stance, by an American newspaper
man, Edward Price, In Berlin; .and
London, who said that the United
States was waiting only for the1 prop
er moment in order opportunely ko as- ;
slat the Entente. I ,
"The same American stated I that ,
Americans from the beginning, of the
war really participated In It by put
United States at the Entente's dispo
sal, and that Americans had not de-,
an excursion with a platoon of Italian
cavalry, when his horse became
frightened. He was thrown, his head
struck a rock, and died shortly after
wards. The body is being brought to
Rome, whence it will be sent to the
United States.
(Continued en Page Two)
Growing
Charlotte Must
Have More and
Better School
Facilities.
Washington, March I. Possible ex
tension of naval warfare to the Pa
cific was forecast again today in an
inquiry by a Chinese Legation offl
cial at the State Department as to
what this country, had done on the
armed ship problem.
It was stated that the Issue shortly
will confront cnina, and that expert
ence or this country in meeting it
would be of value.
Some time ago, the Japanese Em
bassy here asked the State Depart
ment as to the passage through the
Panama Canal by armed ships, un
der the understanding that -Japan in
tended to take precautionary meas
ures against the submarine peril.
Later reports from Japan stated
that Japanese vessels using the canal
for entrance Into the Atlantic would
be defensively armed.
Whether Japan intends to arm her
whole merchant marine, or whether
China' Inquiry was necessitated be
cause Japanese , boats armed to enter
the Atlantic also touched at Chinese
ports at the other end. Is unknown.
There has been deep agitation in
Japan, not only because of the sink
ing by submarine of Japanese ves
sels in the Mediterranean, but also
because of the fear o rmed raiders
entering the Pacific.
A short time ago. The Nlchi Nichl,
a . leading Japanese paper, reported
that such a raider had sunk two Brit
ish vessels in the South Indian ocean.
Insurance rates at once went up and
means of protectlori were hastened.
TO GET OFFICERS
FOR RESERVE CORPS
War Department Announces
Plans for Competitive Examinations.
Washington. March S. Plans to re
cruit at least S4 members In the Re
serve Officers Corps with rank of
lieutenant or captain in each con
gressional district were announced to
day by the War Department
"An examination is necessary," says
a Department statement "but inas
much as personality and probable
efficiency are given great weight by
the regular Army officers -who cop
duct the examination, there Is no
reason why eligible men should hesi
tate to apply for commissions on ac
count of being rusty or even deficient
on technical military matters"
4
STUDENT AT VIRGINIA
IS PLACED IN ARREST
TAKE OATH
OFFICE TODAY
' V e , ''
Ceremony Will Be Private, in Of
fice at the Capitol.
VICE PRESIDENT TO DO SAME
National Capital a Riot of Pa
triotic Colors for Monday's
Gala Events.
Washington. March S
Wilson will take the oath which makes
mm president of the United States
for another term, tomorrow, nrohahl v
at noon, privately and without cere
mony in his offlee in the Capitol,
where he expects to be signing bills
during the closing hours of Congress.
He will take the oath unnn th
same Bible he used when sworn in
as Governor of New Jersey and later
when he took his first oath as Presi
dent It is a family heirloom.
Monday, the President will take
another oath at the onen air Inau
gural ceremonies at the Capitol, Just
before he delivers his Inaugural ad
dress. There was ample precedent
In law for the President to take no
oath at all until Monday, but h lrt-
ed to take it tomorrow.
Vice President Marshall nrohahiv
will do the same thing, and repeat his
part of the ceremony in the Senate
chamber Monday.
me inclement weather nrevallln
nearly all the week has not damnen-
ed the inaugural enthusiasm any, be
cause the Weather Bureau has made
a prediction that while It may be un
settled Sunday, it probably will be fair
and colder Monday.
inaugural crowds which have
braved the capricious weather of
March will consider themselves lucky
to find anything but rain or snow.
everything is in readiness for the
ceremonies which promise to be a
great demonstration of Americanism.
Coming at a time when the country
is faced With foreign complications
of the gravest sort, the note of pa
triotism dominates all else.
The American naa- and th red.
white and blue 'comprise the whole
scheme of decorations Tonight hun
dreds Of "Old Glories" are rlnninr
and fluttering In- the white beam of
floodlights and the dome of the Cap
itol down at the foot of Pennsylvania
avenue looms up over Peace monu
ment brighter and sharper than it
stands on a sapphire day.
A great flghre of light shoots through
the darkness and points at the tin
of the Washington monument mak
ing It look as if it were the top part
of the shaft suspended 100 feet in the
air.
Before the White House, the "court
of honor" in which President Wilson
will review the inaugural procession
Is a flood of light The "courts of
State," constructed along Pennsylva
nia avenue are illuminated In a sim
ilar way, and the broad avenue Is
looped, trimmed and decked with
hundreds of strands of glimmering
lamps
Thousands are pouring into the
city. Troops, bronzed and hardened
from months of service on the Mexi
can border are here to line the ave
nue Monday as the President passes
by, the first time since the first in
auguration of Lincoln that soldiers
have been present in that way.
Hundreds of young milltnrv
are about In their attractive uniforms;
other visitors have crammed ....
tels and all available places.
President Wilson has asked that his
inauguration be a simple one. and
aside from the great manifestations of
patriotism which are seen on every
hand, It will be a simple affair, lack
ing pomp.
Governors of States are arrlvins to
night in gold laden uniforms Demo
cratic clubs, Boy Scouts, suffragists,
civic organizations and the world and
his wife, were coming in as the ad
vance guard of the great crowd which
will begin to pack the city Sunday
and early Monday.
The President himself has riven lit
tle attention to the preparations for
his inaugural. Late today he took a
short walk with Mrs Wilson and in
spected the "court of honor."
A large group of relative, and
friends Including Col. E. M. House.
are guests at the White House.
Members of the Cabinet were noti
fied late today to be at the Canitol
shortly before noon tomorrow to ad
vise the President on bills passed in
the last hours of Congress, and they
wilt be present when he takes the
oath of office.
The Inauguration. Quite aside from
the solemnity and dignity of Its place
In American Institutions promises to
be a great spectacle.
Is Expected to Take Opportunity
to Further Discuss Situation
in Inaugural Address Monday.
-
I Washington, aMarch 3. Whether
President Wilson will undertake to
arm merchantmen If Congress falls to
pass the armed neutrality bill grant
ing him specific authority was a sub
ject of speculation in the Capital to
night
The President declared In his ad
dress seeking congressional action
that "no doubt I already possess that
authority without special warrant of
law, by the plain indication of my
constitutional duties and powers." He
added that he preferred in the pres
em circumstances not to act upon
general "implications"
The Navy having already made
preparations for arming merchant
men, it was the opinion of some Ad
ministration officials that the Presi
dent might decide to carry out that
policy even if Congress does not act
He has given no indication of his in
tention.
The impression grew that the Pres
ident would take the opportunity to
discuss the situation in his Inaugural
address Monday. Although he has
written it it ha not been sent to th
public printer, and last minute
changes may be made.
Mr. Wilson remained uo until near
ly midnight tonight and kept in close
toucn with the Senate situation.
Every Effort to Negotiate an Agreement Whereby the Measure
Could Be Put Through Failed, and Open Desire to Defeat the'
Measure Avowed by Some of Its Opponents.
s
Democratic and Republican Senators Approving President's Pre-,
gram Circulate Manifesto Through Chamber, to Be Issued to
the Public if Opponents Succeed In Preventing a Vote State-;
ment Sets Forth That Those Behind the President Feel That
They Have Been Deprived of Their Votes by Filibustering
Tactics Bitter Denunciation by Hitchcock, Hardwlck and
Others of Those Trying to Bring Measure's Defeat; but These
as Well as Patriotic Appeals, Fails to Weaken the Opposition.'
' . r .
Washington, March 3. With Preside wilcAn'e
neutrality bill facing failure because of the opposition of a small"
group of progressive Republicans, Democratic and Republican Sena-
iwia lawimj u yicydicu lunigni a manuesto to snov the country ust
......v...vi.UiioVU1y nriu itoi ii uic measure is uoi passed.
At midnight, when the debate had devrinrwM
that the bill's opponents intended to prevent a. vote hefWfh
Presenting Defense to Dissolu- expires at noon tomorrow, the manifesto had been sirned bv mora'
non ouii orougni dv me uov- " w utuait, dim menus or wc dui saia tnat in. the
ernment 1 l"c cent or the Senators. . r .
ii wdi me imcnuon to noia oacjc the document until it became-
Washington. Mamh S Tn hwf. tcnun inai no VOte W0U1Q DC Dermittefl . and thn riA i w
' - I it - ... sT sv IVMU 4 Bit LU t 1C-
supreme court senate record with the names of those who had stood behind the"
sel CorporaUon. PrcMn'e u-a wuiuu . uxo
its airectors ana suDsidiaries present- tu.,'j T j T ...
ed their defense to the Federal Gov- 1 ne leaders had not entirely abandoned hope of savin? the
ernmenfs dissoiuUon suit measure, and some of them thourht circulation nf th .mnif JL
xne corporation, tne defendants as- I c;,n.r., ua j n. Z " iu.
sert. was not formed with intenuon f '"wacu uic possiDuiues or passage. It was conceded.:
uiuuv)ivuH w mouuiu u-aue, oas i "--,, ui mai yjxuimj auu Wa a rCluOlC One.
ui uuiw su, una tLciuuuy naa a Dene-
BRIEFS FILED BY
STEEL CORPORATION
nciai ana not narmiui eixect upon
we iron ana steel . industry, l a I
"good" comblnaUon, and has neither
power nor has it shown disposition
to control producUon prices or crush
competitors.
With admitted control of 40.1 per
cent of domestic consumption, the
brief assert "this falls far short of
controlling the supply and obviously
cannot control tne price." .
were sue ana power alone or a
AGREEMENT Fill PASSAGE OF BED IJEIMnT
BILL. IS SOUGHT BY LEASERS OF BOTH PARTIES-
Convinced of a determination "oh
comblnaUon, th defendants declare. I the part of a few Progressive Repub
are not inhibited by the Sherman lUcen Senator tell 111 the bill author-
taw . Also-they waist th anti-trust I ilng president Wllsoh- to arm Amor-
statute prohibits "unreasonable' re I lean merchant ships for defense
stralnt of trade, not necessarily re-1 against the German submarine block-
straint of "competition." lade, Democratic leaders tonight ap-
Relylng upon the "rule of reason" I pealed to some of the Republican
application made by the Supreme
uourt, tne defendants ask dismissal
of the Federal prosecuUon
That President Roosevelt was not
deceived in the corporation's acauisl
Uon of the Tennessee Coal and Iron
properties in 1(07 and that they were
bought to prevent a worse panic is
insisted in the briefs
leaders to negotiate an agreement for
a compromise on this proposed legis
lation for "the welfare of the coun
try."
The Democrats, in cloakroom con
ferences while the tenacious filibuster
conUnued on the Senate floor, de
clared to some of the Progressives
and Republican that it would be a
most serious blow to American pres
tige in this world crisis to refuse the
President any legislation In response
PRESIDENT SAYS WORD
FOR WOMAN SUFFRAGE to his appeal for authority to arm
American ships for protection against
Hopes Tennessee Senate Will Re
consider Vote on Votes-for
Women Measure.
Washington, March
Wilson telegraphed the president of
the Tennessee Senate today expressing
an earnest nop tnat tne vote by which
that body killed a woman suffrage
Diu a iew aays ago would be recon
sldered.
The measure already had passed the
lower house of the Legislature, and
the President said he felt the upper
nouse was sniraing a moral responsl
bility when It refused to accept it
The telegram follows: ,
"Hon. W. R. Crabtree, president of
tne Tennessee senate:
"May I not express my earnest hope
that the Senate of Tennessee wUl re
consider the vote by which it rejected
the legislation extending the suffrage
to women? Our party is so distinctly
pieagea to its passage that it seems
to me tne moral obligation Is complete
' "WOODROW WILSON."
EVIDENCE IN LAC0NIA
CASE IS ALL IN HAND
the German submarine blockade.
The minority leaders were told that
failure of the armed neutrality blU
not only would be a humiliation to
America abroad, but would be fear
ful in its encouragement of dissan-
S. President lon at hom-
senator Simmons, of North Caro
lina, chairman of th finance com
mittee, was chosen by the Adminis
tration forces to open negotiations
He conferred first with Senator
Brandeges, of the regular Republi
cans and Senator Kenyon, represent
ing the progressive Republicans both
of whom have supported the bill, urg
ing them to intercede with Senators
LaFoUette, Norrls, Gronna and Cum
mins. -
Open Opposition.
These four progressive Republicans
refused earlier in the night to ac
cept any proposition to' expedite pass
age of the biU, and some openly de
clared they would defeat its passage
if possible.
At 9 o clock, nothing had resulted
from the negotiations but it was re
ported that the Democrats had of
fered to accept the House bill in lieu
of the Senate bill If a blU could be
assured before noon tomorrow. With
a vote on the House bill, no enfer
nce would be necessary. If, in the
face of the existing filibuster, the
Shows That Twenty-Five Ameri
! K l 1 I aV'J Vi kilO VAJBJUI4B uuwueivi t a,u
cans were Placed in Jeopardy senate bin should be passed some
of Their Lives.
JO-JO SAYS
Charlottesville, Va March t
Dabney Crenshaw, IV., son of S. Dab-
ney Crenshaw, secretary of the Vir-
glnla-Carollna Chemical Company, 1
of Richmond, was arrested here to
day charged with grand larceny and
maliciously burning the chemical .
laboratory of the University of Vir- ;
ginia. He was released under $10,009 '
bond furnished by his father.
. It Is charged that young Crenshaw,
a fourth-year student at the Univer
sity, sold about $2,444 worth of
platinum from the laboratory and
that he started the fire which de
stroyed the laboratory to cover up the
is alleged- was found in Crenshaw's
room TH a fraternity" "house, r The
laboratory was burned January 24
last
MM
Kain and coiuei ; colder and probab- j
i lan siwitaay, 1
Washington, March 3. All the evi
dence on the destruction of the
Laconia now compiled at the State
Department shows that 26 Americans
were put in Jeopardy of their lives by
the German submarine. Three were
killed.
Reports on the submarining of the
Norwegian steamer Nyland, which
bore one American, show the ship was
warned, and that all had opportunity
u vacapo.
ANNOUNCEMENT AS TO
MAIL ON THE LACONIA
Ume tomorrow, it would have to go
back to the House.
Enactment of the law under such
circumstances seemed to the most
optimistic Administration leaders al
most impossible.
While negotiations for some form
of compromise were proceeding, sev
eral Senators sought to induce friends
of the biU to refrain from discussing
etosfn. and Helgesen. of Minnesota,, ' :
members f the so-called "pacifist" '
group of the House,, conferred with
Senator .Xoltottiw ,
The most serious of the conse
quence would not be so much th
effect upon Germany adduced by
failure of Congress to respond to th
President" Senator Simmon added,
but the encouragement It might civ
,.7rmrul Propaganda at home.
'If w want th President to 'arm
American ships and sink ; German
submarines, we should direct him to
do so, not pass discretion sad re- -sponsiblllty
for decision on to him.
said Senator Jones r-. '
The Allies, he said, had closed th
sea to American commerce,; and tf ,
tney bad not. sunk u 1m.. -
ships In their barred zone, It was only
becaus the ship had not gon4 there.
Cites Woofcad of Greece.
Senators Sterling and Nelson ob
jected, saying that th AlUes, In their
blockade always had observed lnter
naUonal law. i reply, Senator Jones
cited the blockade of Oreeos. read
log report of resulting starvation in
that country sad of the sinking of
Greek ships
"This show that England would, it
necessary, do the same thing that
2S?i,i7.! to.4oln " h ' o tinned,
rrhe Allies have no more regard for
right of neutrals than Germany, us-"
vation nece8IMUT tor 0wlr Preser-
Whii th negotiations' continued,
Republican and Democratic Senator
standing behind the President's pro-
rram prepared a manifesto to be is
sued to the pubUo tn case the few
opponent of th bill succeeded In -
preventing s vote by noon tomorrow.
The msnlfesto. which
favoring the biU will be asked to sign. .
sets forth that those who stand be-
nma ia treaaent reel they hsve ,
been deprived of their votes by fili
bustering tactics preventing the mess.'
ure from coming to cuiui hafWr.
the end of the session.
Manifesto Circulated.
The manifesto u dmii.M
throughout the Senate shortly befor '
midnight but was not to be given
out until all hope of reaching a vot '
urna aiawppesrea.
Among th Senators who prepared ,
it were Simmons Hardwlck, Hughe ' '
and Pomerene, for the Democrats, :
and Lodge, Fall. Sutherland and Nel- .
son, for the Republicans . .. ,
One Senator said that at least 40
per cent of the Senate 'membership
would sign. . . - .. ..-
Senator Hitchcock, In charge of the
it in order to force its determined j bill, said that th situation was more
Washington, March I. Mail lost
when the Cunard liner Laconia was
suns, tne fostomce Department an
nounced today, included that ad
" iSKSS! hadoedTeVotlations'wUh
opponents, LaFoUette, Norrls Gronna
and Cummins, to take the floor.
None had yet sooken. reservlns
themselves for the last 12 hours of
(he session in the hope of talking the
measure to death.
Senator Norrls openly declared he
would kill the biU if he could.
"No more disastrous thing could
happen to this country st this hour
than for Congress to refuse to vote
President Wilson the authority he has
asked, declared Senator Simmons
Germany, Austrls-Hunsarv. Bule-aria.
Turkey and Russia, received at New
York from noon February 14 to noon
February 17. as well as that for South
i America, West Australia and India.
Mall for Holland received at New
Tork from January 14 to February
17, and for Norway, 8wden and Den
mark, from February 1 to Fahruar
17, and parcel post mall for Great
some of the Senators on. the minority
side.
Refers to Mexico. '
"If we had not told American to
get out of Mexico, or stay there at
their own risk, Germany never would
have sunk the Lusitania or other
ships with Americans aboard," said
Senator Jones - declaring - that the
1 You never cantelL Many a man
says grace over hit meals who doesn't
bother himself to pay the butcher.
j Britain and Ireland received at New President should have notified Ger-
xors xrom January si to r SDrusry I iui iwuv uwvrvui uomuuv
17, also was lost I Mexican would be pursued as to mar-
litim travel.
GERMANY PROMISES AID "Germany had the right to assume
... I mat we wouia pursue tne same poi-
FOR FLEMISH FREEDOM icy regarding Americans in British
territory as we did as to Americans
in Mexico" h argued.
Hop that Senator Stone's amend
ment would be adopted was ex
pressed by the Washington Senator,
eayisa;-thaPresl(Isnt ought to wsU
come explicit direction from . Congress.
During the debate. Representative
London, March I. The aid Of Ger
many in establishing the independence
of Flanders was promised by Dr. von
Bethmenn-HoUweg, the German Im-
representing the Activist-Flemish par
ty which visited him, according to a
dispatch from Berlin received in Am
sterdam and transmitted by Reuters I Tavenner, of Illinois; Cooper, of Wt-
hopeful in view of the negotiations
Senator Hardwlck denounced bit
terly those threatening to defeat the
bill, and pleaded that it be passed,
"to keep peace, support the Presi
dent snd let the Oerman Government 1
know that we will not submit to
murder on the seas"
Senator Cummins took the floor to
make a long speech against the bill.
He said there had been "persistent
attempts to distort" the sttitude of '
tbe measure s opponents, and that he
based hi oppoaiUoa vpon constitu
tional objections against abandoning
to th President the war-making
power of Congress, and added:
"I look upon German submarine,
warfare on merchant shfpa as un
speakably atrocious I have no words - '
of justification for the practice of the .
Imperial German Government In this
regard. I have no word of Justifi
cation for the British act la spread
ing explosive mine over th high'
seas"
Favoring arming of merchantmen,
Senator Cummins said he would ex
pect them to sink Oerman subma
rines on sight, providing they carry
no munitions ,
? Not Art of War. .
"Arming them 1 not sn set of
war. but of defense," he said. "Ger- ,
many might cedar war as result,
but w must meet that Issue." 1
Pal wiUhetteaHyr e tM Brit -
aln had "violated sll laws of .Nations
and Interfered -with our commerce
(Continued on Page Two.)