About Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920 | View Entire Issue (March 9, 1917)
She VOLUME XIV. WILSON ADVISED HE HAS POWER TO ARM SHIPS CLOTURE RULE DEBATE IN SENATE PROPOSAL TO LIMIT : DEBATE«OP BV i UMIMOOS COW Senator Sherman, Republican.! Says He Opposes Making! Rules of Senate Scapegoat' in Present Emergency J»5 Associated Press. WASHINGTON. March 8. —The cloture amendment to the senate rules, appro*-! ed by ho.h Democrats and Republican caucuaer. was taken up by tJie senate today under unanimous consent. Senator Martin, majority leader, tn j asking unanimous consent, said he had, no desire <o shut ofiT full debate. Sena-; tor Ixxlge. ranking Republican of the I foreign relations comngittee. said he* hoped there would be iso objection. "I hoped this rule might be a little i more "drastic.” w.d Senator romereue , "It is my belief a majority of the! senate should be aisle to limit debate. I am satisfied . Ison ever. with the change" Senator Sherman, one of the two Re- ! publicans who voted against the rule • >n caucus, read a portion of President Wilson’s statement on the failure of the armed neutrality bill, saying that ill would be useless to call a special sea-j s.on now to pass that bill, as unless the • senate rules were changed a filibuster; could be successfully maintained against [ it. OPPOSES AMENDING RULE. ’The president.” said Senator Sher man. “intentionally seeks to convey to the country the impression that only by a Change in the senate rules can the neutrality bill be passed at a special ses sion of congress. That is not practical ly true, however theoretically it may be sought to make it appear true.” Senator Sherinan added that a "por tion of the truth w*.s deliberately omit ted” from the president’s statement. “I intend to support the armed neu trality bill.” hfc added, “but 1 do object to making a few senators the object of the president’s wrath in a statement sent out tojthe genera! public.” The congestion of legislative busi ness was not referred to in the pres.-: dent's statement. •.Senator Sherman said, j and there was no question in his mind; •he bill could be passe thirty days if the president should call an extra session. •‘The rules o' the senate are sought to be made the scapegoat in this emer gency." h/ declared, and added that he thought it unnecessary o amend the rules to puss this bill. “NO REASON FOR HURRY." Senator Sherman said he failed to see any reason to be “preciptate” and point ; •d to the sinking of-the Lusitania nearly rwo years ago and the s liking of other ships since to show li.at the president | bad not been in a hurry to demand ac- i tion. "I wish to remind the president.” said he senator, "when be seeks to blame, rhe senate and the senate rules and a . ew senators, that during a large i»art of •his lime he ha.* ridiculed preparedness. | He has ridiculed it in the army and in j ihe navy.” Mr. •-he ’ doubt in bis mind that the armed neu- ! •rality bill would give .he president: ’he right to.arm Munition ships and! furnish warships to convoy. “When we do that.” he said, “we are: in de facto waE without the* formality; •hat precedes the clash o' arms. Bear; in mind (hat 1 will vote for this bill \nd I am prepared to vote- for war when •he president exercises the power given in this bill * , He &ald he hoped war could be avoid-, •d and declared himself in favor of, “conscripting every New York editoi who is advocating war in his editorial. •olumns.” Senator Sherman read extracts from; President Wilson’s writings decla-ing •hat*the unlimited debate in the senate was of great importance to its useful ness as a legislative body. Senator Hollis. Democrat, of New Hampshire, declared the senate took ■’■self too seriously. He moved to amend ihe proposed cloture rule by providing •hat a majority instead of a two-thirds vote should end debate, but later with drew the amendment at the suggestion n' Senator Smith, of Georgia, who helped 'name the proposed rule The chances are that the new rule •vil! be adopted by the senate without » prolonged struggle. This is indicated by the fact that the rule was endorsed unanimously by a caucus of forty Dem ocratic senator.? and by :;0 to 2 in a •*OU« of Republican senators The two voting against endorsement were Shenators Sherman and France. .Senators la.Fo!lettr and Gronna failed o* attend the Republican caucus and many Democrats believe they will seize) •he opportunity to make speeches on the I armed neutrality bill. Wilson Kept in Bed As Result of Cold 1 WASHINGTON. March B.—President Wilson. who i« suffering from a cold . aken a week ago and made worse dur rig his inauguration Monday, remained in bed today by o>-der of his physician. Dr. Cary T. Grayson. No engagements were made bv the president for today •uki he will rest as much as possible curing the next few days. “One Woman’s Story” - —By Carolyn Beecher - BRITISH TROOPS NOW ARE WITHIN 12 MILES OF BIGDIO. IS REPORT [Cavalry Is Still in Hot Pursuit of Turkish Forces Retreating Along the Tigris River Front (By Asaociated Press.) LONDON. March S.—British cavalry I is now within twelve miles of Bagdad. | This statement was made today to the i Associated Press by Major General F 1 B. Maurice, chief director of military , operations at the war office. <By Associated Presa. 1 PE ROG RAD. March 8. —(Via Lon don). —The Russians in Persia have I made further important progress in their i pursuit of the Turks from Haniadan. the war office announced today. After their capture of the Asadabad summit ’ they continued their progress southward and on Monday occupied the town of I Kangaver. Berlin Reports Weather Is Hampering Operations . (By Associated Press. > BERLIN. March B.—(Via Sayville.) Conditions on the Franco-Belgian front were generally quiet yesterday owing i to the prevalence of bad weather, army I headquarters announced today. The of ; fici&l statement reads: • “Western front; Only in the Cham | pagne was the artillery tire violent. On the other fronts during the hazy weath er and snow storms conditions were gen erally quiet. “During reconnoitering, advances be tween the Somme and the Oise seven teen British and French were captured and several machine guns brought in. “Eastern front: No military action ■ of importance occurred. Betfveen Vilei ka and Molodechno bombs which were , dropped caused a Russian railroad train [ to jump the tracks. "Macedonian front: North of Lake Doi ran there were--outpost skirmishes." French Report Artillery Very Active in the West PARIS. March B.—Spirited artillery actions continued during the night be j tween the Oise and the Aisne, says to day’s official report. The French, took prisoners in raids in Lorraine and in an unsuccessful German attack on French positions at Seppois-le-Haut. The an nouncements follows: "petween the Oise and the Aisne there ; were rather lively artillery engagements. 1 Patrol encounters occurred in the region of Moulin Sous-Tout’ent. , “In Lorraine northeast of Embermenil French detachments penetrated German trenches and brought back fifteen pris oners after doing considerable damage to the enemy’s works. In Alsace a Ger man attack on our position near Seppols 'e-Haut was repulsed completely. We I took prisoners. Near Hilsenfirst French reconnoitering parties inflicted losses on the enemy. "The night cassed in quiet on the re mainder of the front.” Artillery Fire Violent On the Trentino Front ROME. March B.—(Via London.)—“On ■ the Trentino front, in spite of yester day’s bad’weather,” says today’s war of-I fice report, "there were violent artillery! actions, especially in the Adige valley i zone. “Several small encounters with the en emy. occurred. He was everywhere re pulsed. “On the Julian front there were no | events of importance.” Vardaman is Condemned I In His Own Home Town for Part in Filibuster By 4»°cisted Prsss. WIGGINS, Miss., March B.—A peti-| tion is being circulated here condemning Senator Vardaman's act in not support ing the armed neutrality bill. The peti tion has been signed by practically all the citizens of the town, and reads as follows: “We, the undersigned citizens of Stone county, Mississippi, realizing the crisis that our country is now under going, and placing implicit confidence in the ability of our president and relying upon his judgment in dealing with the! warring nations, and approving of his' policy to arm inercnant ships for the protection of our commerce, do hereby condemn the act of Senator James K.' Vardaman in attempting to block and ?otinc against the proposed bill.” I Field Artillery Will Reach Atlanta Friday | Three batteries of the Georgia field! I hartillery. consisting of Batteries A and |C from Savannah and aHttery B. of At lanta, are scheduled to arrive in Atlanta Friday afternon over the N. Ar Si. L.. from Memphis. The train which will bring the troops to Atlanta will be in two sections and; will consist of eighteen cars. Immediately upon arrival in Atlanta | batteries A and C will be transferred to I the Central of corgi :< and will l-’rlday night for Savannah. BERLIN HIGH OFFICIAL ACCUSED OF PART IN PLOT TO IMOE INDIA • 1 Plans of German and Hindu Had Approval of Dr. Zim mermann, According to Doc umentary Evidence <By Associated Press.) NEW YORK. March B.—Documentary | evidence purporting to show that the I plans of Dr. Uhandre Chakraberty. a i Hindu, and Ernest Sekunna, a German 1 chemist, arrested here in connection with lan alleged plot to foment revolution in i India, had the -approval of Dr. Alfred Zimmermann with recommendation that ■financial aid be given certain intriguers • in this country, Arill be laid before the , federal grand jury, it was learned from government officials, when the jury re sumed today its investigation into Ger man plots. The bail bonds furnished Dr. Chakra berty and Sekunna by the National Sure ty company were withdrawn by the com pany today with the explanation that it had concluded not to furnish bail for persons regarded as un-American or hostile to the United States. Among the papers seized by the police in the home of Dr. Chakraberty it is al leged. is a document bearing the ad dress 7fi Wilhelmstrasse. Berlin, the for eign office. This evidence is considered highly important by the federal author ities. They declare they have no evi dence to indicate the German-Hindu plot was aimed ai the United States. The jury investigating the plot recent ly indicted (Albert A. Sander and Kar.' Wunncbarg, officials or the central pow ers' film exchange in this city, for con spiracy to obtain British war secrets for I the German government. The jury had before it all the papers , which were confiscated by the govern ' nient when Wolf von Igel was indicted for an alleged attempt to blow up the Welland canal. Von Igel was permitted to sail with Count von Bernstorf! on the Frederik VIII. The federal authorities say that the names of Sekunna and Chakraderty appear frequently in these papers and that the latter a year ago made a trip to Germany and brought back a letter from Dr. Alfred Zimmer mann. the German foreign mirtister, ad dressed to von Igel. The federal district attorney and his assistants have been somewhat mysti fied by many references hi' the von Igel papers to ”omin,” a nerve medicine which Dr. Chakraderty says he com pounded and sold in the Orient. They are trying to find out also the reasons behind the purchase by Sekun na of a 200-aere tract in the hills back of Fishkill up the Hudson river. The land occupies an isolated situation about 1,300 feet high. Sekunna, it has been learned, bought it only a few days ago. MERIT SYSTEM FOR ALL POSTMASTERS IS OPPOSED 'Many Congressmen Angered by Action of the Administration (Bv Ai.soctated Press.) WASHINGTON, March B.—Many Democratic members of congress were angry today over -the announced inten ; tion of the administration to extend the , merit system to ail postmasters of the l first, second and third class, alter April 1 by executive order of the president. They declared the effect would be to j place in office many Republicans, and some said the purpose was to draw Re -1 publican support for administration , measures in the next house, whose po litical complexion is so uncertain. Fost- I master General Burleson explained the I move was prompted by reasons <*!' econ omy and efficiency, however. Postmasters now in office will serve out the four-year term for which they are appointed, but after April 1 the president will fill each vacancy by ap pointment of the man making the high est grade in examinations which are yet to be arranged. Whether the civil service commission [ under which fourth class postmasters j are now named, will conduct the ex aminations has not been determined. The president’s forthcoming order j will provide for a form of modified i civil service classification under which all vacancies, whether caused by resig nation, removal or death, will be filled by competitive examination. Those al ready in the service will continue with out examination until the expiration of four-year term, beginning with their last appointment and will then, it is under stood, have to undergo the competitive j test. A hornet's next was stirred up by the announcement at the capitol. where scores of members were In their offices I preparing to leave for home. The or der was roundly denounced by some of i the Democratic leaders and several | members construed it as a move to get combined Democratic and Republican ; sup[>ort in a politically uncertain house. Representative Rainey of Illinois; Car- I ter, Oklahoma. Harrison, Mississippi; (Continued on Page Two, Col. 6.) ATLANTA, GA., FRIDAY, MARCH 9, 1917 •‘A LITTLE GROUP OF WILFUL MEN,” SAID THE PRESIDENT. This Is the "little group of wilful men.” according to the statement issued by President Wilson after the defeat of the hjll directing him to arm merchant ships in the last hours of the session of the United States senate. Each of the men has an explana tion of his own to the effect that he opposed the bill on cqnstitutional or public grounds. l iIW ’ IMI 4- * A ‘Ji A a t 7 ’ wSK ■• I JI I‘ ,w ■ ■ ■„ , , WILLIAM J. STONE, MO. JAMES A O’GORMAN, N.Y. MARRY fe. <S> G.y. WILLIAM F KIRBY, ARK. JAMES K.VARDAMAN, MISS?, ROOT. MLA FOLLETTE. \V|®. DOH N D WORKS, CAL. L® aurnta. 9 Gv avci. 6EftW.NOftftl9,NEß. MOSES E. ABLE ~<J . GRONNA.N,G>.’ SPEEDY BE-OTLK Os COMESS EXPECTED Senate Rules Changed Along Lines Discussed at Senator Smith’s Home BY RALPH SMITH. WASHINGTON, March S.—Reforma tion ui the senate rules along lines dis cussed originally at the res*uence of senator Hoke Smith, in the presence of Atlanta’s Loyal Legion,, probably will be toUowed by a'speeUy assembling vi congress in extraordinary session. Il ,s understood that the president feels that with modified cloture, such as has ueen agreed upon, the senate will be cnabica to do business expeditiously, and has determined therefore, to call the new congress to meet at an earlier uate than al lir.st contemplated. The rule agreed upon by a joint com mittee. representing both the Democrats and Republicans, provides that on a mo tion signed by sixteen or more senators to bring to a close a debate on any penning measure, the motion shall at once be stated to the senate and on the following day submitted for a vote without debate. If two-thirds of th senators voting indicate that debate shall be closed on the pending measure, the senate shall proceed to its consid eration. to the exclusion of all other matters. Thereafter no senators shall be entitled to speak more than one hour on the pending measurd. proposed amendments and motions ' affecting either. It is provided also that no dila tory motions shall be entertained. While the president, in conference with the senators yesterday, indicated a preference for cloture by a majority vote of the senate, he yielded his views when the committee made it plain that it would be impossible to pass such a rule through the senate. It is believed that the two-thirds rule will do the work and operate to prevent prolonged filibuster on any measure. Tile agitation for reformation of the senate rules was first publicly launched it the residence of Senator Smith last Supday night by a number of senators and cabinet officers, who had been in vited by the Georgian to meet the Loyal Legion. The fact, however, that the ilibuster on the armed neutrality leg 'slation means the acceptance of modi fied cloture in the senate, does not mean that Senator William .1. Stone, of Mis souri. is to b« deposed as chairman of the foreign relations committee. There has been widespread demand for Stone’s scalp for his alleged opposition to the president’s program in the crisis, but there is no indication .that members of the senate seriously entertain the suggestions. The Democratic steering committee was in session this morning and it is known that the removal of Stone from the foreign relations committee was not even suggested. Tt is understood that most of the members of the committee do nnt share the hostility against Stone and feel that he acted strictly within his rights in proposing to amend the —New and interesting serial story begins Tuesday, March 1 3 th, in The Atlanta Semi-Weekly Jour nal Start Tuesday with the first chapter of this great story and you will not let any of the following installments escape you! TWO MORE U. S. SHIPS PASS SUB ZONE IN SAFETY American Freighter Manchuria to Clear for London Thurs day If Crew Can Be Secured; Ask Big War Bonus (By Associated Press.) .\EAV YORK. March B.—The American , steamship Mongolia of the Atlantic Transport line which left here February 20 with cargo and 1,200 sacks of United States mail, the first American vessel to leave with mail since the German war zone declaration, arrived safely at Lon don on March 5. according to cable ad vices received here today. The mail was transferred from the American line steamship St. Louis which was to have left here February 3. The British steamship Cretic of the White Star line which sailed February 6 also arrived safely at Naples on March 5. The Crctic carried ninety seven passengers of whom six were Americans. Word of the safe arrival at Cherbourg 'of the American freighter City of I ?uebla was also received today, making the sixth American vessel to elude Ger man submarines since February 1. The City of Puebla, commanded by Captain John E. Willett, with fourteen Americans among her crew, left here February 18 carrying general merchan dise. If she can get crew the 14,000-ton freighter Manchuria, of the Atlantic Transport line, will sail for London to day’, unharmed. X The Manchuria is the first vessel under the American flag to load mails for a prohibited port since the American line cancelled sailings on February 2. The crew struck yesterday for a 75 per cent war bonus. The company has already granted 50 per cent and declined to give any more on ttye ground that a further increase* would be unfair to the men who sailed two weeks ago on the Mon golia satisfied with a 50 per cent bonus. Officers of the company said they expected the men would come to terms or they could get a new crew in time to send the vessel out before sunset. The French liner Rochambeau reach ed here this morning from Bordeaux and the White. Star liner Baltic from Liver pool. with passengers and mails, got in last night. The Baltic left Liverpool February 22. but remained anchored in the River Mersey for three and a half days while destroyers and patrol boats searched the Irish sea for submarines and mines. The Adriatic front is ex pected to arrive late Saturday or on Sun day morning. A wireless message re ceived by the White Star line said that all was well with the liner. president's bill and discussing his amendment. They do not believe that Stone sought to help along the filibuster or purposely to embarrass the country in dealing with the acute international situation. COVERNOR ISSUES FORMAL GALL FOR EXTRA SESSION General Assembly Meets March 20 to Consider Dry Bill and Pension Fund — l - 1 * Governor Harris Thursday afternoon issued his formal proclamation convok ing the general assembly in extraordi nary session on Tuesday. March 2(1. to pass a bone-dry prohibition law and make an appropriation to cover the SBO,OOO deficit in the pension fund. The proclamation follows: “Whereas, through the failure of the general assemblj’ to appropriate the full amount asked .for on the estimate of the pension commissioner, there exists a deficiency in the appropriations for 1917 for the pensions cf Confederate veterans and the widows of Confederate veterans, due to be paid before May 1, which deficiency if allowed to continue until action can be had at the next reg ular session, will cause inestimable an guish and suffering to a large number of these worthy men and women who ha'e depended upon the prompt pay ment of the money provided by the statute laws of our commonwealth, and would probably cause many to lose their pensions entirely, as death may result before they can be paid, and, '“Whereas, Information is at hand" from many reliable sources that the statutes of our state, intended to regu late and restrict the purchase from be yond the state,' or the carrying, receiv ing and having in possession, of alco holic, vinous, malt and intoxicating liquors and beverages, are being exaded, avoided and violated to such an extent as to be a serious menace to the safety and happiness of many of our people and to the .prosperity and productive ness of our business occupations and en terprises: and “Whereas, The legitimate shipments under these statutes have become so large and continuous as to change the very character of the state’s rating as a prohibition state, it being alleged that there are stored in cities just beyond the borders large quantities of such liquors in control of business concerns that are preparing to transport the same into our borders under our laws, or against our laws, by, or before July 1, 1917. for delivery to our people: and . COMPLETE PROHIBITION. "Whereas. Prohibition has become the settled policy of our state and a vast number of our citizens desire it to be made complete, and to that end a very great majority of the present member ship of the house and senate have in dicated a wish to be allowed to finish the work begun by them, and under the recent interpretation of the federal stat utes applicable, to make the state bone dry. in order that a fair test may 'be had of the effects of such a law upon our people: and "Whereas: The next general assem bly does not meet in regular session un til the fourth Wednesday in June. 1917. "Now therefore: By virtue of the au thority vested in me by article V, sec- NUMBER 45. PRESIDENT WILL HCT DURINGPRESENTWEEK IS BELIEFJN CAPITAL Some Officials Believe Amer ican Ships Will Be Armed Without Waiting for Author ity From Congress WASHINGTON, March 8 —lndications accumulated today that President Wil son is likely to act at any time in the situation caused by Germany’s announce ment of ruthless submarine warfare. Al though the president was kept in bed by a. cold, it was said he was still consid ering the subject. In some administration quarters it was believed the president is certain to act this week, but other officials took the position ’ that he would wait until the senate has had an opportunity to revise its rules. Mr. Wilson has been advised that he has sufficient power to arm American merchantmen without waiting for ac tion by congress, and some officials be lieve he will act on this advice forth with. On the other hand ,a strong senti ment undoubtedly exists in the admin; istration for the president to take ae tion along the line calling an extra se? sion of congress to meet in the very near future. Reports given to the president agree that the senate rule will be revised quickly so that if an extra session is called it would be possible to get prompt action on an armed neutrality resolu tion. Inasmuch as there is a general agree ment that an extra session is necessary some time before July I,’ because of the failure of important appropriation bills during the last session, a disposition was apparent today among officials to advise Mr. Wilson to call an extra ses sion at once. LEWIS' RESOLUTION. Senator Lewis, Democratic whip, introduce a resolution today declaring it to be the sense of'the senate that the president “by virtue of the power of his office,’’ has the right to protect commerce to foreign nations equally with commerce between me states. The resolution is not considered to have effect except as an expression of the sentiment of the senate if it s adopted. The resolution further declares the president’s authority 19 not related to • the power to declare war but is derived from his right as head civil officer of the federal government to execute J.he laws fostering commerce. The text fol lows: K ■ .• "Be it resolved by the United States senate that it is tjie sense of the senates, that the president of the United States ' has, by virtue of power of his office under the constitution and laws of the United States, the right to protect com- I merce destined from the United Stales to foreign nations, to the same extent that he has to prptect interstate com merce between.the states and in the navi gable waters of the United States "Be x it resolved that it is the sense of the senate that this power is not de rived nor necessarily related to any of the provisions of the constitution or laws that have to do with declaring war. but is derived from the power vested in the president as head civil officer of the United States government to execute those provisions of the constitutipn and laws which relate to the fostering of commerce between the United States and foreign nations. "Be it resolved that to secure proper protection of commerce between nations the president of the United States has the power to protect commerce destined to foreign countries by all the means lie has the right to employ for the protec tion of commerce between the states.” tion 1, paragraph 13, of the Constitution, I, Nat E. Harris, governor of Georgia, do hereby convoke the general assembly of the state in extraordinary session, to meet in their respective halls at the capi tol in Atlanta on the twentieth day .« March, A. D., 1917, at 10 o’clock, a. m., for the following objects, each of whicn is by the executive of suffi cient importance to make the extraordin ary occasion required to authorize and justify such a session: “To consider and take action upon t”} subject of a deficiency appropriation necessary to complete the amounts re quired to be appropriated to pay the pen sions of Confederate veterans and wi dows of Confederate veterans, for 1917. as set out anrf directed by the constitu tion and laws of the state. To consider the subject o' bone-dry prohibition, and especially of the ship ping, importing or bringing of alcoholic liquors into the state of Georgia, with a view of making such revisions, amend ments. changes in or a(ki’tions to the existing laws on the subject, as will in the opinion of the general assembly re lieve the state from the present evils and secure complete protection to the people against the sale or importation or manufacture or keeping on hand of al coholic, vinous, malt or intoxicating li quors. “Given under my hand and the great, seal of the state, at the city of Atlanta, this the eighth day of March, in the year of our One Thousand, Nine Hundred and Seventeen. “N. E. HARRIS, “Governor.”
