Free trader-journal., February 26, 1917, Image 1

About Free trader-journal. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1916-1920

Image provided by: University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Library, Urbana, IL

                
OTTAWA FREE TRADER
Established 1840
OTTAWA JOURNAL
Established 1880.
nnm a Tivrm TvirTm ivr a it
THE WEATHER.
Partly cloudy tonight
and Tuesday. Cold wave
tonight.
VOLUME 1.-JJO, ss.
OTTAWA, ILLINOIS. MONDAY, FEUKUAKY 1917
PRICE, TWO CENTS.
WW
FREE
i
LUUu lilt
IFJGENDIARY FIRE EHDANGER'S LIFE COMMISSIONERS III
OF SIXTEEN IN TENEMENT BUILDING . .111!
PEOPLE FLEE FROM FLATS
GARBED ONLY !N
NIGHT CLOTHES
POLICE LAUNCH QUIZ
BUSINESS BLOCK OF RICHARD
WOLFE IN NORTH OTTAWA IS,
GUTTED BY FLAMES EARLY
THIS MORNING ITALIAN GRO
CERS TAKEN INTO CUSTODY BY
AUTHORITIES.
Sixteen people lied frnm the liurn
I MR business block at the coyier of
Marquette a.id L;i Salle st recta, this
mcrning at 2 o'clock, when a lire,
claimed by tlie police to have been of
incendiary origin, caused a ton thouu
and dollar damage to tho building.
Two arrests have followed in the wake
of tho conflagration.
The people who wire forced to lice
from their apnrineiits above the store
in the building were; Mr. and Mra.
Oscar Struliel and three children. Pes
iff IterkniMii. Mis Neola Hcckman
.
Wlltard ('oaten, u cripple, Rima crime. P'-th Jacob; es are well known
Coates, Mr. and Mrs. Lester J.oeander , in Urn ".mn'ry to the north of Oita
aurt ngort mother, Mrs. Wbilney. aad wa. The; is the fust Clue either has
the-four .IOcander t hihlren. The Je,n in tnmlrK '
canders resided In a suite of rooms
across the hall from the Strubel.t.
Tlie blnzo originated in tho rear end .
of the Sylvester & Augustine grocery;
and spread with great rapidity. The
H. J. Mitchell Produce Co.'it ware
room, where was stored thousands of
dollars worth of Hour, potatoes and
ether foodstuffs, siili'eicd a loss of;
$2,t."t. The damage to the Italian
grocery is estimated ,-it $ !.' ), while
at least $.'.0' '1 damage was done to the;
building.'
Tenants In Danrjer.
At 2 o'clock this morning Mr. Mm
Lot was awakened to find his room
tilled with smoke, lie Immediately :
arouised the meniln rs of his family :
and can led his wile to safely. (in,
his next trip he brought two- .-.mall
children to the street below. The
hoards of the stairway actually bused
his fW't.sJin his heroic, efforts to save
the Biemtiers of bit family. The
Kniok4-Uled hallway made hi. he:k a
(PflhtiiiK', but. he did not falter until
all w'te safely out. of tie1 building.
Pcrbais, however, the rescue of
WTlliUfl -Coates, a cripple, was more
dianiatlc, than the others. Lester
Ifecknnin, a lad of fourteen years, car
ried Coaler o.i his luck down the
fctnirway and fell exhausted when he
iinaltji-" reached the street.
Wlre'il "Slruhel had regained his
senseff'Tie found that the jnenibers or
the Locaiider family were still un
aware of their tertllde danger, I hey
having evidently failed to hear the
warning which 1m Kottntic,-; tit the out- i
break of the fire. Strubel again dashed
into' the burning building and w ith his
weight he succeeded in opening the
door of tlm Loeander home. Members i
of the '(amity left their beds but were'
bewildered in the smoke filled "hall- j
ways.' Their cries by this time were
attracting neighbors, who were soon
on llic scene of the blae. Slruhel
succeeded in leading the entrapped j
people U) the stairway landing, where -they
were able tc grope their way In!
the (lllr'ftiie'sM'nnd smoke to the street
betow;"
'AH'vpfe' forced lo 'flee from tho
tiurfllfir bulbil'!? Iii their nlnlit clothes, t
Johrt'll' I'Tyntii who conducts a salmm
on Nljrtli a Bulb! street, offered shel
ter t tho unfortunate people' and they
renraJnod' with hint during the night.
i!n Department on Scene.-
Wlii'if rhe' tire rleparttnciit ' arrived
on Hhh'rfwmn the building was a mass
of flames. Two sfreaniM of water were
dlicetnd (ill the names by ( lilet Jon -
eph Boissentn and his aids.
The fire originated in the rear por
tion of the Italian grocery,-the flames
then rproRdlng to the Mitchell store
room. For over un hour the firemen
fought the flames before they tin
ally conquered them. Smoke, water
and fire destroyed everything In the
grocery store, while smoke and water
did the most damage to the Mitchell
wareroom. A huge pile- of potatoes, at
the south wall of the Mitchell store
room served as a harried to the flames.
So Intense wan the heat, however,
that the potatoes were actunlly baked.
(Continued on t'sge 3.)
NAB FATHER AND SON
FOR THEFT OF ROBE
AT DAYTON PARTY
Henry Jacobs and hi;; father, Joseph
Jacob!!, both of Dayton township, are
in the county jail charged with the
tlu II of ii new robe belonging to
Charles t'lricli, a young Dayton fann
er, Saturday niuht. The arrests were
made Sunday afternoon alter snspic
i n pointed to the younger Jacobs ami
a ;.earc!i warrant war, secured giving
the deputies the tii:lit to hunt thru
the .hculm h.m
il quest of the inisi'-
iug rujiT.
Tlie tlft was made Saturday night
al a party held at the Fur Pclcrson
heme. ; iiile and a half north of Ot
tawa. I'lrich left tin- robe --a ncent
hiithd.iy sift - in his buggy. When
the parly broke tip in the wee sma'
hours I'lrich went to his ti only to
II ml his k i ft missing.
Suspiricn pohitcd to young Jacobs
and when ihc scan h was made at tlie
parents' house, the missing robe was
found in a gunny sack hidden away
under the foundation. Th elder
Jaei.bs. w hen ;n!ervii:',veil by the sher
iff's aids, admitted his son came to
the hoe: e early Sunday morning,
awak'tied liiin and told biiu lie had
stolen n 111:4, and commanding him to
keep it fer him.
The r.ither was taken in custody
wlii n'lhe rug nn discovered and in
being held as an accessory to the
DEER PARK FARMS ARE
SOLD AT HIGH PRICE
The two farms hi lengini; to the II.!
I". lien net) estate, of Heer Park town-1
ship, were sold a I. pnblib auction Sat- j
unlay afteimou. The home place,
tonskt'uu oi' acre.;, all tilable,
was sold to i!. I'. Mills, of this city,
for ?:!u,- pee acre, puking a total of
"l,i'iai ;md t ho eighty acre faun
which is partially timber, was sold to
William Myers, of Deer Park town-s-liip
for ? .".( per acre, or a total of
ij.:;,unu.
MRS. JANE WILSON DIES
AT RYBIIRN HOSPITAL
J;nc Wilson, aged seventy
i r;-, died Sunday moi ninu at 7
leur ye;
o'dock a! iiyhurn hospital, following
ii , bio i illness ol bi en' bial pm u
Mn)ii. Mrs. Wil.-on formerly resided
in Aurora, but has made her home in
ilii;' city for the past few years. Her
'husband was a Civil war veteran.
The deceased is survived by one
son, Lee. Funeral arrangements have
not been completed. Interment will
he in Wisconsin.
REPORT OTTAWA PAIR
MARRIED AT MORRIS
Morris, 111, r'eh. 2'J- (Special) -,ii,s
Mario Kelly and William Arm
strong, bolh or Ottawa, were married'
here a lew days ago by County Judge
Bedford. The yeu.ig couple are prom
inently known in Ottawa and mpiest
etl lure that Iheir marriage be kept,
a secret.
The above message, was received
leilay 1'ieini the coricHpondenl of the
Free Trader-Journal at. Morris, III.
llolh younf, people denied the.niar
I'lago, '", ,
MRS. GATES STRICKEN
WITH PARALYSIS
'Stileki. n "'with paralysis
hunuay
morning at S;i n o'clock at tier npiift-
incuts , above Sprlnghorn's meat tunr-
Vet' on Main street; M rs.1 1 yuia- vj.
'ifafo ng,.(l sixty 'years, was found
1 KUnda v afternoon at I o clock in a
reml-consctous condition by two
.. 1 .. ..,1... .,ii,i in, mi her Todav
her ... , (..,;! a- fr honor .
able. Sunday morning Mrs, (lutes con- ve as much ot that as anyone and
versed with a sister over the 'phone.I never pulled a race either.
n,l oh.n-ilv afterward, while she was' Palmer -Just grinned and looked at
attempting to call another friend, ahu
who KtrteUeu mid fell to the floor, t he
telephone receiver hanging, down.
Her feeble cries, for help failed to nt -
tract the. attention of the operator.
Not until eight hours afterwards did
.friends discover her plight. Dr. Palm-
er was called to attend her. The par -
aiyslB H confined to (me side of Mrs.
Gates' body and her speech is not el"-
reeled.
ML hw ml
REILLY VIOLATION COMES TO
LIGHT WHEN LICENSE CHANGE
WAS UP FOR ACTION SPADES
WERE SPADES.
Tho transfer of the K. J. Mooney
nuloori license to Richard A. Walsh,, j
hi -, bartender, nreciuiatod the city ,
council into turmoil for a short per-
iod this morniiiK' while members of ,
the commission diverged from all j
known parliamentary rules to call a
spado a spade. Commissioner Pal-i.ic.-
injected the iss.uo into the meet
ing by refusing to consent to the per
mit Iteration upon the grounds that
the transfer was a mere subterfuge
and was not bona lide, for no other
reason than to evade a revocation.
Announcing to the commissioners
tlu:t he himself had caught Reiliy
ruiMiing his place on Sunday, Febru
ary IS, in defiance of the closing regu
lations, the first formal move in a ru- !
:im;-el Infraction, came to light (lur
ing Mr. Palmer's argument against
traanfering Reilly's permit to Richard
A. Walsh, his employe.
Peilly was brought before the may
or and Mr. Palmer for his session on
the carpet, und admitted his guilt.
Hints of Reilly's violations found their
way into the columns of the Free Tra- ,
der-Jourr.al last Monday, hut rumors i
of arrests were denied by the com-;
uiissioner at that time. In fact no ar-re-ua
have-been jruule to thin (lay. . ,
The bomb waa fired from a suppos
edly unloaded gun in the hands of
CommfsHloner Charles Campbell. The
cm unisslon during the process of the
meeting und under the caption of
"new business" presented a resolu
tion recommending the transfer of
the Reiliy license to Mr. Walsh. Sure-
it ton were given by Mr. Walsh, as Ine
I'odorc Crot and .Mm." Catherine Walsh,
j Following the usual forms in such
j eases provided the finance chief mov
I eil that the matter be referred lo Mr.
i Palmer, and all commissioners ae-
iu;essed. Then the lire works started.
Mr. Palmer assumed charge of the
ease the moment. It was placed in his
hands and presented a resolution for
adoption in which he referred to Reil
ly's misdemeanor as the second with ;
in the 'Sunday "bone dry" ruin. IPs i
is) ed that the license be revoked and '
Itlu t Kcilly bi! punished for his disre-J
i ganl for the council's mandates.
I Mayor Itradford was inclined to be j
: lenient with Reiliy, particularly as j
iieilly hid confessed guilt and was ;
willing to get out. of business. He said j
he had promised to permit a bona lide
transfer to some responsible party,
and as far as he knew, Mr. Walsh j
waa a man sizing up well with those j
requirements. Then Commissioner i
Campbell was given the floor and
announced he was anxious to support
Commissioner Palmer in all his under
takings but. he believed Mr. Walsh
should be investigated and If found to
he satisfactory to the city, he should
lie granted a license, if not Reiliy
should make ether provisions for obey
ing the orders from the authorities.
Filler Commissioner llolffrloh onto
tho scene. I
li'dfl'rlch ' I would like further proof j
that Mr. Iteilly has violated the laws, j
I know nothing about, this case and '
have-not been consulted in regards I
to it. i
Pi'hner - Oh, there is no use trying
lo give you any proof. That wouldn't
do any good. v
Helffrich (almost Jumping out of
his chair). Your honor I take ex -
cept.loif) to that statement of the com-
inh:t;loner. I have the floor now and
! t want you all to know that I am just,
; honorable as any .member of this
,.,,,,.,-.11
Pecaiiso I, have been unfor
j tun.lt4 m, r(ias,in llmt I should bo
thuitcv.1. In this manner.-, I, unfortun- j paying his line. He was given his
ately, was born In this country. What freedom tho same evening he was ar
I have got I've hud to earn. What lit- 1 rested,
tie education I have I had to acquire 1
" August when the race truck episode.
i was Injected Into the meeting.
Mayor-1 believe, Mr. Palmer, we
'Rre not overstepping our rules when
1 v,-o permit this transfer. I think it
I fair in view of what Mr. Reiliy told
u ,aM wulll j tol( htrii
1 pnlnier-rYcur honor, you are dodging
j,h(, mXP vv Hre jllHt navlng this
aVa)r ,m inVtfttj0U l0 other saloon
1
EXTRA
ANNOUNCE SHELLING
ENGLISH CITY.
OF
London, .Jeb. 26 The English
City of Margate Broadstalrs was
Shelled by a German destroyer, it
was announced in Commons this
afternoon by Sir Edw. Carson,
First Lord of the Admiralty. One
woman and a child were killed and
two children were wounded.
keepers to laugh at the council. What
am I to do when 1 go 'from this coun
cil room and out upon the streets.
These men will laugh at me and Bay
"he can't do anything" and then they
will "sneak" themselves. Unless this
license Is resvoked and Reillv dealt
wjth a he sh()uU, b .. , am gojn t0
wash my hands of this whole affair.
My men (meaning the police force)
are handicapped and know they are
powerless to do anything. If the
council don't stand behind them there
is no use trying to enforce the law.
With this Commissioner Meagher
came Into the game and asked for par
ticulars, which were given him. Com
missioner Campbell renewed his mo
tion for a postponement of action and
the vote was four to one against Mr.
Palmer's move for 'Immediate action.
Tho council will assemble in the morn
ing as decided tho fato of the E. J.
Rcilly license.
t In his remarks to the commission,
Mr. Palmer told of going to the Reil
ly window on Sunday, February 18,
peering within and then seeing men
lined up before the bar with drinks
before them. What tho outcome of
the case will be depends upon the in-
vstigatlon into Mr. Walsh's past, pres-
pnt . n(1 futlir0i wno itt(ed Bg Rcl,.
)y.s gU(!l.0B8or,
WIFE DESERTED HIM
WEEK AFTER WEDDING
Alleging that his wife deserted him
a week after their marriage, went
heme to her mother, and there wrote
him she never would return to him
again, Peter Schmilt, a resident of
Kernan, this morning instituted di
vorce proceedings in the Circuit court
against Clara Schmilt.
The Schmitts were married in Ot
tawa, May ii, 191 :!, and seven days
Idter Mrs. Sehmitt returned to her
paternal parent's roof,' where the de
jected, or rejected spouse, says she is
now living, and carrying out her prom
ise to li.ve separate and apart from
him for ever more.
Schmilt says he Is entitled to his
freedom. The law fixes two years as
a. proper period lo constitute deser
tion. He waited four.
COATES IN TROUBLE;
GIVEN STAY IN JAIL
Charles ('oal.es, Ottawa's foad boy,
fell Into the clutches of tho law Sat
urday evening at 12 o'clock when ar
rested by Ollieer Iteilloy, upon com
plaint of Henry Cardoza, who alleged
the lad was making a disturbance in
his place.
Coates was locked in the, city has
tile and released when Cardoza refus
ed to testify against him. The young
tor was booked under a disorderly
conduct charge, hut maintained his In-
nocence, slatin glliat ho had a dispute
with Cardoza over wages duo him.
....... "
WEST OTTAWAN HELD
ON SERIOUS CHARGE
Alleged to have made indecent ad-
vanoeei 10 a wesi. uuuwa. gin, a man
', giving his name as Oliver Dornhal, .
( was arrested Saturday evening at the t
j Federal Plate (Mass Company by Cap-
; tain of Police Charles -Montgomery. I
j Dornhal was arraigned in police ;
, courts Saturday evening before Jus-,
hice Koenlg and upon evidence of the j
young girl he was assessed a fine of
$50 and costs.
Dornhal denied the charge after
; SUES 'PHONE COMPAN. FOR
I $10,000 DAMAGE8 IN COURT
Suit for JKJ'i' damages was filed
j h,o circuit, court this afternoon by
I tieorge . titiinin or Marseilles, against
the Maraellles Telenhono Comnanv.
Only the praecipe was filed by the
plaintiff, Ilrowne & Wiley represent
Mr. (ittiiim,
,
"OR QUICK RESULT 3 TRY THE
'WANT'' ADS. IN TUB FKEK
TKADER-J0URNAI
MKY EXTERD NORTH
Hie DISTRICT
IMPROVEMENT BOARD FAVORS
CONTINUING BRICK 8URFACING
TO ROCK ISLAND TRACKS EN
TIRELY NEW JOB WILL WIN.
The repaying of District No. 2, of
tho down town improvement; will be
disposed of as soon as possible, ac
cording to sentiment expressed at this
morning's meeting of the Board of Lo
cal Improvements.. Divided senti
ment that has long kept tho members
of the board In controversy over
what style of paving should be decid
ed upon, is believed now to be Ironed
out with the majority of the board
and council in favor of a concrete
base for the entire district.
Go Beyond Canal.
' Principal among tho discussions
brought up this morning was the pro
posed extension of the district from
its present northern limit at the I.
& M. canal so as to include that ter
ritory lying beyond the waterway and
Routh of the Rock Island right of way.
This would mean two additional blocks
of paving with the two principal
streets .paved fas far as the railways.
Marquette street probably would be
paved, under this plan, as a connect
ing link, while the extension to the
cast would be made only to include
tho corner property. Commissioner
Campbell, Mayor Bradford and Engi
neer Farnsworth favor the extension
while Commissioner Helffrich parried
for time to look into the ' proponed
change.
The commissioner is up Bgainst a
petition signed by ninety-five per cent,
of the property owners calling upon
him to support measures calling only
for tho resurfacing of the Lafayette
street section and consequently Is so
situated as to he unable to say right
now Just what his stand will ho to
ward the entirely new job.
Mpyor Favors Concrete Base.
The mayor announced that as long
as tho conduit system was to include
the north section, he could see no rea
son why the people should bo against
a concrete base. The base, he said,
will be four inches in thickness and
the entire "loop" then will be paved
uniformly.
Estimates and an ordinance cover
ing the work will ho compiled as soon
as possible and the general belief in
administration circles is that the re
paving will be pushed so it can be
continued with District No. 1 when
the pavers are thru with that section.
MRS. HOWE IS CALLED
TO HER FINAL REWARD
Mrs. Sarah K, Howe died Sunday
evening at 12 o'clock at her home on
HH7 Illinois avenue, following a long
illness. Her death is attributed to
inllrmaties of old age.
The deceased was horn in Colerain,
Mass., Oct. l!, 1S2!I. When nine years
j of age she moved wilh her parents to
'a farm two miles north of Seneca.
I Mrs. Howe lived on this farm until
! her marriage to Robert Jones, of Mor-
iris, who died in OKawa live years
afier their marriage.
In 187 she was united in marriage
to Ira H. Howe, of Ottawa, who died
in 1 xi2.
i Mrs. Howe wan n woman of re-
markiible vigor, boih of mind and
body and in spite of her declining
years she kept in touch with local and
national topics of the day. She loved
her household duties and took a great
interest In her cooking and sewing.
Surviving she leaves one daughter,
Adehub- Jones, of Ottawa, anil a step
sister, Mrs. Nullum Fleming, of Mar
seilles. Mrs. Hwlght Cooke, of Mar
seilles, is a niece of the deceased.
The funeral services will he held
Wednesday at 2 o'
lock from the late'1"1"' "m
".aian.w.n Tlm um-vir'nu U'ltt tin tirl. I
v ' ' ' iiiew Lexington driven by Judge A.
. it. Lardin, made their initial bow to
'an admiring populace. Those with
ITALIAN COUPLE MARRIED f)1(ler bram,H ,,,,, nt h.lV0 uny ro.
BY JUDGE HENRY MAYO grots at coming out In their pnrtlcu-
lur vintage. The majority, however,
! Judge Henry Mayo presided at thelw,!ro foot ani1 enjoyed tho day to
i marriage of Ernest Guiliano, aged 2.r, i trU!lr "tm0f"
and Miss Lena Carson, aged 18, a well! Tho government thermometer
jknpw Ottawa Italian young couple. 'caught the warmest portion of the
jxiin ceremony was performed In the! day at 50 above zero considerable of
i tmtun'a chntiihcm. nnrt nftpr n brief ' a contrast to tho weather that has
ivnftiiinir trio the npwlvwedM will make
their homo on the west side,
GOES BEFORE
FOR FOLL AUTHORITY TO
DEAL WITH WAR CRISIS
Washington,- Feb. 26 President Wilson ad
dressed a joint session of congress at I o'clock
this afternoon in accordance with the promise
made at his previous appearance at the time the
U. S. broke diplomatic relations with Germany.
.The President asked
PRESIDENT SEES NO IM
MEDIATE DANGER
IN CRISIS
Declaring his belief that he has
the confidence of the American
people he requested the right not
only to supply arms to American
merchants ships if necessary, but
to employ any "Instrumental
mitles or method that may be ne
cessary and adequate to protect
our ships and our people in their
peaceful pursuits on the seas.
Congress was asked for "sulll
cient credit to enable me to pro
vide adequate means of protection
where they aro lacking including
adequate insurance against the
present war risk."
The president decl.red that,
diplomatic means have failed to
safeguard American Interests, all
that is left is to adopt an
adequato of a new American poli
cy. tie stated that neither the Amer
ican people nor. the administra
tion wishes war and Insisted that
war can come only by willful acts
and aggression of others.
The president said that it would
he foolish to deny that the situa
tion is fraught with the gravest
possibilities and dangers.
"No tactful man can fail to see
that the necessity for definite ac
tion may come at any time," he
continued.
He then referred to the fact
that Congress shortly must ad
journ because of constitution limi
tations and stated that to reor
ganize the next Congress would
take much time.
It was because of this that the
President stated that he desired
to have all possible authority be
hind him, altho ho explained he
already enjoyed all the authority
he asked under existing laws.
LACONIA GOES TO 1
BOTTOM UNWARNED
IS CAPITOL REPORT
London, Feb. 26. -It has been
reported that the Laconia was un
warned before it was torpedoed.
Three Chlcagoans were aboard
the craft, including Floyd P. Gib
bons, of the Chicago Tribune.
One is known to be dead. There
arc 251 survivors, seven of thsm
American passengers. There
were 21 American members of
the crew.
Big Liner' Reported Sunk.
Washington, Feb. 2C. The Cunairl
Liner Laconia has been torpedoed and
Runk, according to a report received
here this afternoon. Tho Laconia was
ja vessel of 18,o!!l tons, and has been
I engaged In the (lovcrnment service
for some time.
SPRINGLIKE SABBATH
BRINGS FOLKS OUT
Ottawa's llrst springlike SaSbbalh
served as a great tonic to hundreds
upon hundreds who yesterday took
advunlago of their llrst opportunity to
spend an afternoon in the open.
Shanks' mules and Lizzies and then
real automobiles were the popular
..H.lM ,.! Ik.. .1..,,
a miv nnu' 111 ii'mnpu 1 i i I i: u
been prevailing during the past two
j months.
CONGRESS
For full authority to
deal with the Ger
man situation" as outlined in his for
mer address.
President Wilson prepared his ad
dress to Congress yesterdav. He
worked all morning on the history
making document, declining to go to
church, and the larger part of the
afternoon. His decision to address
Congress was announced following an
extended conference with Senator
Stone, of Missouri, chairman of the
Senate foreign relations committee. ;
Tho announcement that the Presi
dent would address Congress this
atfernoon was promptly flashed to
Senate and House leaders and within
ten minutes arrangements for Con
gress to meet in joint session at 1
o'clock had been made. ,
There was intense excitement In the
uall of Congress when it, became ,
known that the hour for the Presi
dent taking the national legislators
into his confidence had come. Little
groups talked excitingly. There had
been no advance indication as to what
action the. President would ask, but ,
It was generally supposed he planned
to seeK authority to take any meas
ures necessary to protect "American
lives and property on the hlgh seas.
White House officials, In advance of
the actual announcement by the
president in person, declared to out
line what might be expected. They
refused to permit themselves to be
quoted regarding intentions.
Rut nothing was left to doubt in
.ho situation. They emphasized prl-
vately that the president did not want
war. That he still was determined
that this nation would refuse to ac
cept the suggestion that "Germany
iad gone mad;" but that he would
demand that congress place at his dis
posal every weapon to maintain Am
erican honor on the high seas and to
resume its commerce with the nations
of Europe especially those who still
continue neutral.
The president asked in addition to
ihe authority to act as he believes
best, a sufficient sum of money made
available to purchase anything that
may be necessary for national de
fense. The question of allowing the Amer
ican line to resume its sailings has
greatly troubled the president and the
members of the cabinet.
The navy has had plenty of guns
and experienced gunners, but the sug
gestion has been made that they could
not he utilized without committing an
'evert act" against Germany. Gor
man diplomatic sources thru neutral
vehicles have communicated to the
.resident the belief tht any action
hat could be considered as agressivo
must have a very evil effect with the
fjerinan people.
Ilefore announcement was made
that he would address congress today
'resident Wilson discussed the entire
legislation w ith Senator Stone, of Mis
souri, chairman of the committee on
."oreign relations. Tho president has
been inclined to defer his visit until
later in the week. Hut Senator Stone
'.old him that the feeling among mem
bers of the Senate and House waa that
Jic.v should be taken entirely iito
the confidence of the administration,
fhey wen; tired of groping In til
dark," Is said to bo the way the matter
was expressed and the president de
elded to get busy and clear up mat
ters in doubt. He at once put the fin
ishing touches on his address Mild sent
it to the government printing otflce so
t hat copies would bo available about
Ihe time that he reached th capitol.
Senator Stone, upon his return to
the copltnl, declined to discuss his
conference with the president
"The President will he here al 1 o'
clock ami you'll know all about It
then," said Senator Stone.
News of the president's visit was
received gravely but calmly at the
capitol after the tlrst flash of an
nouncement. It has been expected
and although Senator and Represen
tatives realized Its momentous mean
ing the shock had been absorbed In
(Continued on Page 3.)