Evening star. [volume], April 02, 1917, Image 21

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EXTRA! ffje ftimmg ffaf. EXTRA!
9:00 P.M. ^ J I** 9:00 P.M.
WASHINGTON, D. C., MONDAY, APRIL 2, 1917. 0XE CENT.
PRE!
4
)
ARMED AM
SUNK BY A
By tb? A *sor! a tod Prr?j?.
NEW YORK. April 2.?The
by the Oriental Navigation Con
from an American port, was sunk
according to advices received her
United States consul at Brest, Fr
The cable message gave no in:
There were thirty-nine men aboar
icans.
The Aztec sailed from New \
commanded by Capt. Walter O'E
The Aztec carried a full cargc
valued at more than $500,000.
PARIS, April 2.?The Americ
a submarine near an island off Brt
and are being brought into Brest,
and little hope is held that they ca
pedoed at night while a heavy se;
Hisr
imnoTMnr/irMTfiiic
iviuoi ifiummiuuo
SESSIDNIN YEARS
Congress assembled at noon
today for a session generally
agreed to be the most momentous
for fifty years.
A resolution declaring that
a state of war exists between the
United States and Germany today
was prepared for offering to the
House by Representative Flood,
chairman of the foreign affairs
committee.
The resolution would authorize
the President to carry on war
against Germany.
Text of Resolution.
The resolution follow!*:
"Whereas the recent course of the
Imperial German government is, in
fact, nothing less than war against the
government and people of the United
States.
"Resolved, by the Senate and House
of Representatives of the United States
of America, in Congress assembled. That
the state of belligerency between the
United States and the imperial German
government, which has thus been
thrust upon the United States, is hereby
formally declared, and
War With All Resources.
"That the President be. and he is hereby.
authorized to take immediate steps,
not only to put the country in thorough
state of defense, but also to exert all
of its power and employ all of its resources
to carry on war against the
imperial German government and to
bring the conflict to a successful
termination."
Mr. Flood announced late today that
he would make some changes in the
form of his resolution before offering
it.- He declined to say what the changes
would be. but it was understood that
the declaration of existence of a state
of war would stand.
The President, in his address, it is
understood, will refer to the traditional
friendship between the American
people and the German people and
differentiate between the German government
and the people it rules.
He also will recount his efforts to
restore peace to Kurope and to maintain
peace with Germany.
Before going to Congress, the President
did not take even members of
his oabinet into his confidence on the
exact terms of his address. From information
he has called for and general
dis?*us:- ions at cabinet meetings they
know he has concluded that war with
Germany seems. inevitable.
President Wilson's address immediately
will be sent to ail the foreign embassies
and 1 gat ions here and will be telegraphed
to American diplomats abroad.
It was acknowledged today that foreign
governments. ..n rc*.*ipt of it. may interpret
it as they think best. ?ven to assume
that it s<. closely approximates
recognition o? a state of war as to necosM'ate
is- u;ng of neutrality proclamations
Whether such a step will/be taken
b\ any neutral prior to formal action by
Congress is unknown here.
Asked to Rush Organization.
Democratic House leaders got word
from the White House to hurry the organization
as much as possible.
ni:Krc8B ?iM?-i:iiiica vith a majority
openly in favor of a declaration of a
state of war* if not actually, a declaration
of war.
Beset on one side with large delegations
of pacifists praying that the
country be kept out < f war. and besieged
on the other by large numbers
of "patriotic pilgrims." who demand
the country's entrance into the war.
Congress waited to hear th.- President
outline the long history of German ag T?
ssior:s :t"_ . ns* A merman iivs and
lights ami the predatory violence of
Iot submarines.
Administrat ion ofacials have made no
s< cret that thf-y consider Germany has
been making war on the United States
l'or some time A large majority in
Congress takes the same view'. The
minority is divided between those who
think a state of amp d neutrality is
sufficient for the President and the
v-ry few v. ho openly favor peace at
any price.
War Spirit at Capitol.
The Capitol was arrayed in a war spirit
;;gr* ss assembl; d The pacifist dele\rir.
r white on their sleeves,
< p ., r'-aiuers across their breasts,
( .1 the sidewalks in numbers,
> .? . :s and Senate galleries,
.' < ; s o* c.eir congressmen.
. . ' . . :i .ilii'iit without demonstra,
.. i CHi Sc end Page.)
SIDE
TO
RICAN SHIP
l SUBMARINE
American steamship Aztec, ownec
lpany, the first armed ship to sai
yesterday by a German submarine
e tonight by the company from the
ance.
formation as to the fate of the crew
d the vessel, sixteen of them Amerrork
March 18 for Havre. She was
irien.
> of foodstuffs, and general supplies
an steamer Aztec has been sunk by
:st. Some of the crew were rescued
A number of the men are missing
n be saved, as the steamer was tora
was running.
BKIin
By THE DEMOCRATS
CLARK IS RE-ELECTED
.
j Speaker Clark was' re-elected today
bv a veto of 217 to 205 over his re
republican opponent. Represent^ ive
Mann, as the first step in the organization
of the House of Representatives?
the necessary preliminary to the delivery
of President Wilson's "war" address.
It seemed so certain that the President
would ask Congress to declare
that a state of war exists between t?e
United States and Germany that Chairman
Flood of the House foreign affairs
committee, the administration spokesman
there, prepared a resolution to declare
a state of war and authorize the
President to act.
All of the democrats present and four
of the so-called independents?Martin,
progressive-protectionist of Louisiana;
Schall. progressive of Minnesota; London.
socialist of New York, and Randall.
prohibitionist, California?voted
for Clark.
Two republicans?Gardner and Fuller
of Massachusetts?voted for Representative
Lenroot of Wisconsin; Representatives
Dallinger of Massachusetts
and Gray of New Jersey voted for Representative
Fillett of Massachusetts,
and Representatives James of Michigan
and Haskell of New York, republicans,
voted present.
The Speaker was escorted to the
chair by a committee of which Representative
Mann was the chairman He
was greeted with loud applause from
both sides of the chamber as he spoke,
in part, as follows;
"I fully appreciate the fact that it
. ill v... .lie
charge the duties of the speakership
in this House. It will be almost impossible
to do so without the hearty
co-operation of the members without
i regard to party atfiliation. I will use
my utmost endeaver to be absolutely
fair and I invoke the aid of all the
members in doing so.
Speaker Talks Patriotism.
"It is absolutely unnecessary and
superfluous to lecture the membership
on patriotism. We are all patriots, as
are the people who elected u.s. We are
all Americans, whether natives or foreign
born, as our constitutents. On
many questions we are 'distinct as the
billows, jet we are one as the sea*
when *^he honor and safety of the republic
are involved. Politics finds no
place in this House when the general
welfare and tfre common defense of
the nation are at stake. Let ali the
ends we aim at be our country's, and
in the accomplishment of these ends
j may the Cod of our fathers be with
t us and guide us in the way which- will
redound to the honor and perpetuity
of the greatest republic that ever existed
in all the flood of time."
The Speaker took the oath at 1:50
o'clock and members then were sworn
into t>ffiee in groups by statesr
Immediately after the Speaker's election
new members were sworn In, arid
balloting was begun on the minor officers
of the 'House organization.
While the President and his advisers
are confident that, a great majority in
Congress, as well as the country, stand
behind him. a state-of-war resolution
J is not expected to be passed tonight,
i Its passage rnaj5 be "a matter of one
oc two or even more days, but the temper
of Congress gives evidences that
it will be passed by a large majority.
Meanwhile preparations are being
carried forward in the military
branches of the government to carry
out the instructions of Congress after
the President has spoken.
Clerk South Trimble and Sergeantj
at-arms Robert B. Gordon were reelected.
Joseph Sinnott of Virginia, democrat,
was elected doorkeeper over Rert Kennedy
of Michigan by a vote of 216
to 211.
William M. Dunbar of Georgia, demj
ocrat, was re-elected postmaster over
} Lawrence Lyons of Indiana, republican,
by a vote of 217 to 205.
As is customary, the Rev. Henry N.
Couden of Michigan, the blind chaplain
of th?* House, was re-elected without
opposition.
The House session opened with Clerk
South Trimble presiding until organization
was perfected.
The chaplain included in his prayer
a plea for patriotism.
"Diplomacy has failed." he prayed.
"Moral suasion has failed. Appeals to
reason and justice have been swept
aside
"We abhor war and love peace, but
if war has been or shall he forced upon
us, we pray that the heart of every
American citizen may throb with patriotic.
feeling and that a united people
may rally around our President to
hold up his hand in every measure
deemed i/ecessary to protect the lives
of American citizens and safeguard our
inheritance."
Nearly the entire Senate membership
was present when Vice President Marshall
called for order and, after the
invocation, the President's proclamation
(Continued on .Second Page!)
r
NT AS
DECLA
TELLS JOINT SE!
; ACTS CONSTIT
THE
\
.-! # ; 7
President Wilson this evenii
> of war exists between the Uni
He cited the many and cc
traveling on the high seas as
' The President said:
"With a profound sense of tiie solemn and ev
involves, but in unhesitating obedience to what I
the Imperial German government to be in fact iu
it formally accept the status of belligerent which
'country in a more thorough state of defense but ah
German Empire to terms and end the war."
The President urged the raising of 500,000 mei
The {situation was further aggra\
Brest, France, of the sinking of the A?
the first armed ship sunk, carried a c
The President lost no time in aski
the German empire. He asked to he 1
The President was in constant tou
House at a minute's notice. Late in t
ably would not he ready to receive hir
it was arranged for him to appear at 8
Immediately following the complet
requests, and there will he no delay in
Chairman Flood of the House fore
state of war exists between the Uniti
This resolution would authorize th
a state of belligerency between the LT
upon the United States."
The President is authorized to use
The President's address, in full, foil
Gentlemen of the Congress: submarine warfare
I have called the Congress into ex- '8 a- warfare, again:
traordinary session because there are War Ao- "
serious, very serious, choices of the r gainst
policy to be made, and made immedi- ** *s war against
atelv, which it was neither right nor can ships have be
constitutionally permissible that 1 ,ives taken, in way
should assume the responsibility of us very deeply
making. ? ships and people ol
On the third of February last L ottt- !^,iendLy nations hi
.. , , overwhelmed in the
cially laid before you the extraordinary way. There has b
j announcement of the imperial German tion. The challeng.
government that on and after the first | nation must d
0 ,, . .. . ,l will meet it. T1
day of February it was its purpose to | for ourselves must
put aside all restraints of law or of I moderation of couns
humanity and use its submarines to | n*8s of judgment
sink every vessel that sought to ap- act?r and our motiv
proach either the ports of Great Bri- mU8t put excited f
tain and Ireland or the western coasts ?Vve will not. be
of Europe or any. of the ports con- ?rj?us aS8e**tion of
trolled by the enemies of Germany the nation, but c
within the Mediterranean. That had ? ri^ht? of human
seemed to he the object of thg Ger- i- a .s*nS"le
man submarine warfare earlier in the i J addressed
war, but since April of last year the . .fuary la:
imperial government had somewhat suffice to j
restrained the commanders of its un- with arms,
dersea craft in conformity with its ~?e seas against un
promise then given to us that passen- , ,r. keej
ger boats should not be sunk and that ^.,l]n.KK un^awful vi
due warning would, he given to all \riL-"*>' it now
other vessels which its submarines f . "ecause su
' ti. /ip?frov. when no resist- aws when 1
ance was offered or escape attempted. '.'""''.V*4 , tl,x Tc
and care taken that their crews were ' *r<nan? -shippii.Lg,
given at least a fair chance to save /, , , V. ;sh|P-s apain
their lives in their open boats. me..j ? nations
The precautions taken were meager a ' c' It" n.en w?uld
and haphazard enough, as was proved .!?. J/1S. Pr*vateer.s
in distressing instance after instance in ^ art K,vmg chase
the progress of the cruel and unmanly con^nion prude
business, but a certain degree of re- ' ances? grim neces
straint was observed. The new policy J f avor, *? destroy
has swept every restriction aside. Ves- lave shown their 01
sels of every kind, whatever their flag, dealt with
their charcter, their cargo, their des- ^ ? at a"* .The C
tination, their errand, have been ruth-J. nies the right c
lessly sent to the bottom without warn- j arms at all within
ing and without thought of help or hlea ^'hieh it has pre
mercy for tliose on board, the vessels of' "clense of rights
friendly neutrls along with those of! Publicist has ever
belligerents. Even hospital ships and I their right to defei
ships carrying relief to the sorely be- 's conveyed that
reaved arid stricken people of Belgium, which we have pi
though the latter were provided with chant ships will be
,safe conduct through the proscribed 1,ie pale of law and
areas by the Merman government itself with as pirates wou
and were distinguished by unmistaka- Armed neutrality i
ble marks of identity, have been sunk at best; in such circ
with the same reckless lack of compas- of such pretensi
sion or of principle. ineffectual; it is lils
I was for a little while unable to be- what it. was meant
lieve that/such things would in fact be | Practically certain t
done by arty government that had I war without either t
to the human nrac- I fectiveness of belligc
tices of civilized nations. International "5?ice,*'aV?"?l "'/?
law had its origin in the attempt to set ? making-. We will
up some law whoh would he respected lbm'sslon SL
and observed upon the seas, where no f ?ur, T.'T
nation had right of dominion and where iw.'uf,, violated,
lay the free highways of the world. By
painful stapre after stage has that law ro0l o" hurnal life
been built up. with meager enough re- nutnan lite,
suits, indeed, after all was accomplished t
that could be accomplished, but ^always coining l^es.
I with a cler view, at least, of what tiie With a rrofnund <
heart and conscience of mankind de- , profound i
manded. and even tragical ci
This minimum of right the German 1 ant taking and of tl
government has swept aside under the ties which it involves
plea of retaliation and necessity and .. .. i . T
l because it had no weapons which it what I
I could use at sea except these which it tional duty. I advis:
is impossible to employ as it is em- de('lara the recent co
r ploying them w ithout throwing to the pcrm?n Government
i winds all ccruples of humanity or of ^ s than war ag;
i respect fot1 the understandings that ? Pf0Ple ?f the b t
were supposed to underlie the inter- i?- ar<~ept tlie
! course of the world. I am not now ?T , ,l\aS, th"'H be5?
; thinking of the loss of property In- put the country a
VOlrd,- ^ro?8theaw' *,erio,,s ^ ,hat defendbu{7a&>t,
is. but <yf\ ly Of the \\ an ton and whole- and employ all its re
sale destruction of the lives of non- oGvemment of the
combatants, men, women and children, terms and end the w;
engaged in pursuits which have al- What this will ir
ways, even In the darkest periods of will Involve the utn
modern history, been deemed Innocent operation In counse
and legitimate 1'roperty can he paid the governments no^
for: the lives of peaceful and Innocent many, and, as ! n<
p.vople cannot be. The present German extension to those j
/
*
ks a
re st
\
5SI0N GERMAN!
UTE HOSTILITIES
UNITED STATES
ict aslfpH Cnnorpss tn rprnor
ited States and Germany,
intinued attacks on Americ
\ evidence of the belligerent
en tragical character of the step I am taking ;
deem my constitutional duty, 1 advise that th
ithing less than war against the government
has thus been thrust upon it;"and that it^tdl
so to exert all its power and employ all its re;
i by universal military service.
ated by the receipt of a dispatch
:tec of the Oriental Navigation Con
rew of thirty-nine, sixteen of whon
ng Congress to take action on the <
heard without delay, even of one c
ch with developments at the Capitc
he afternoon, however, the House 1
n until nearly (t n rlnrk He was a
o'clock, and later to 8:30 o'clock toni
/ ion
of the President's address Conj
the act'on by both houses,
ign affairs committee had preparec
ed States and Germany in readinei
e President to carry on war agains
nited States an^j the imperial Germa
all the power and resources of the r
Sows:
against commerce I most liberal financial credits, in
st mankind. Ithat our resources may so far a
1... !? ?H11 \
All Nations. jthe organization and mobilization
. . the material resources of the o
all nations. Ameri- to supply the materials of wa
en sunk, /American j serve the incidental nee>ds of tl
s which if has stir- tion in the most abundant and >
f _ lo.ir? ~ most economical and ellieienF wa
to learn of, but thejsible. It wilI involve the imn
T other neutral and j full equipment of the navy in ;
ive been sunk and I cpects, but particularly in supply
waters in the same I w'lh the *>cst means of dealing
fen no discrimina- |The enemy's submarines. It w
a is to all mankind. voIve immediate addition 1
ecide for itself how armed forces of the United Stal
he choice we make reatJy provided for by law in c
be made with a war at least five hundred tnousan
iel and a temperate- who should, in my opinion, be <
befitting our char- uP?n the principle of universal li
es as a nation. We to service, and also the authorizai
eeling away. Our' subsequent additional incremer
revenge or the vie- eQua-l force so soon as they m
the physical might "ceded and can be handled in tn
inly the' vindication involve also, of cours
right, of which we granting- of adequate credits to th
tiampion. rnment, sustained, I hope, so
the Congress on the lhe>' can equitably be sustained 1
st I thought that it Present generation by well con
assert our neutral taxation.
lawfuMnterferenc^ Financial Protection Neede
> our people safe I say sustained so far as may be i
appears. isUimp^.c- b,e by taxatlon be<^se it seems
bmarines are in ef- that would be most unwise t(
used as the German the credits which will now be
biT"s "mposslbfe'Hfo Bary entirely money borrow,
st their attacks as ol,r 1 most respecfully
has assumed that to Protect our people so far as w
' * ? - ne-n.inst the verv serious hardshil
i ueiena memseives | . ; , ?... . -
or cruisers, visible evi*s which would be likely to
upon the open sea I out of tlle inflation which wot
nee in such cireurn- Produced by vast loans,
tsity indeed, to en- ,n carrying out the measur
them before they which these things are to be a
?vn intention. They Pushed we should keep constan
upon sight, if dealt ?-ind the wisdom of interfering ;
lerman government tie as possible in our own prepa
f neutrals to use :>-nd in the equipment of our own
the areas of the tary forces with the duty?for i
scribed, even in the he a very practical duty?of sup]
which no modern the nations already at war with
before questioned rnany with the materials which
id. The intimation can obtain only from us or by o
the armed guards sistance. They areki the field a
aced on our mer- should help theirr-fri every way
treated as beyond effective there.
subject to be dealt I shall take the liberty of su
Id he. ing. through the several executi1
s ineffectual enough partments of the Government, f<
umstances and in the consideration of your comm
ons it is worsc than measures for the accomplishment
:ely only to produce several objects 1 have mention
to prevent": it is hope that it will be your pleasi
o draw us into the deal with them as having been f
-he rights or the ef- after very careful thought b
'rents. There is one branch of the Government upon
ke. we are incapable the responsibility of conductini
notchoose the path war and safeguarding the natioi
iffer Die most sacred m0st directly fall
ami our people to be vvhi|(1 we dQ th(Jse thin3* fhpse
The wrongs agamst ly mom,ntous things, let us be
iev ?cute to^the' v?ry clear- and "take very clear to a
world what our motives and our o
are. My own thought has not
. rp-i^ Wot- driven from its habitual and n
5 ' course by the unhappy events c
sense of the solemn *ast two months, and I do not b
ot.trv tIiat the thought of the nation has
! . l-_. _ altered or clouded by them. I ha
it. grave respuiioiuui- acuy uie same tilings in iiiuiu no\
i, but in unhesitating I had in mind when I addresse
deem my constltu- !,'?"at? ?" 'he twenty-second of
.. . _ uary last; the same that I had in
3 that the Congress when I addressed the Congress c
U,^K?Vhr third of February and on the tu
?1 sixth of February. Our object n<
lited States - that it then' is to vind'cate the princip
status of belligerent "eacc and Justice in the life o
thrust upon itf anr1 J '"1'1 as against selfish and auto
te steps not only to lower and to set up amongst the
more thorough state tree and self-governed peoples c
o exert all its power world such a concert of purpose a
sources to bring the action as will henceforth insure tl
German Empire to servance of those principles,
ar. Neutrality is no longer feasible c
lvolve is clear. It sirable where the peace of the wo
lost practicable co- involved and the freedom of its p
-1 and action with a"d the menace to that peace and
jv at war with Ger- dom lies in the existence of auto
;ident to that, the governments backed by organized
governnienis uf the which is controlled wholly theii
. /
DNGR
ATE
f'S UNLAWFUL
i AGAINST
lize formally that a state
an ships and. Americans
:y of Germany.
lnd of the grave responsibilities which it
e Congress declare the recent course of
and people of the United States; that
te immediate steps not only to put the
sources to bring the government of the
>
from the American consul at
ipany. The Aztec, which was
n were Americans,
crisis between this country and
lay.
>1 and ready to leave the White
leaders notified him they probsked
to fix a definite hour, and
ght.
rress set about carrvinsr out his
1 a resolution declaring that a
>s to be acted upon,
t Germany on the ground that
m government "has been thrust
lation to carry on war.
order not by the will of their people. We have
.s pos- seen the last of neutrality in such cirnvolve
cumstances. We are at the beginning of
i of all an age in which it will be insisted that
ountry the same standards of conduct and of
.1* and responsibility for wrong done shall be oble
na- served among nations and their govern
CI itiu aiivaivo UKti ate V?CTBCI ?CU tllC Hl~
y pos- dividual citizens of civilized states,
lediate
ill re- No Quarrel With People.
^"vith * have no quarrel with the German
ill in- people. We have no feeling towards
Les al& them but one of s>'mPath>' an<* friendship,
a^e rt was not upon their impulse that jtheir
d men, government acted in entering thi$ war.
chosen jt was not with their previous knowledge
tion of or aPProval. It was a war determined
its of upon as wars used to be determined upon
-ay he jn old, unhappy days when peoples
e^the were nowhere consulted by their rulers
e* gov- and wars were provoked and waged in
far as the interest of dynasties or of little
by the groups of ambitious men who were acceived
customed to use their fellow men as
pawns and tools. Self-governed nations
j do not fill their neighbour states with
' * spies or set the course of intrigue to
iquita- hring about some critical posture of affairs
wrhich will give them an opporto
me tunity to strike and make conquest.
> base Sych designs can be successfully worked
neces- out only under cover and where no one
. has the right to ask questions. Cunningly
contrived plans of deception or
urge, aggression, carried, it may be, from gene
may eration to generation, can be worked out
)s and and kept from the light only within the
arise privacy of courts or behind the carefulild
be ]y guarded confidences of a narrow and
privileged class. They are happily imes
by possible where public opinion commands
cconi- and insists upon full informntinn
tly in cerning all the nation's affairs,
as lit- A steadfast concert for peace can
ration never be maintained except by a partmili
nership of democratic nations. No aut
will tocratic government could be trusted
plying to keep faith within it or observe its
t Ger- ' covenants. It must be a league of honthey
our, a partnership of opinion. Intrigue
ur as- would eat its vitals away: the plottings
nd we of inner circles who could plan what
to be they would and render account to no
one would be a corruption seated at its
ggest- very heart. Only free peoples can hold
t*e de- their purpose and their honour steady
3r the to a common -end and prefer the interittees,
ests of mankind to any narrow interof
the est. of their own.
ed. I Does not every American feel that
ure to assurance has been added to our hope
rained for the future peace of the world by
y the the wonderful and heartening things
which that have been happening within the
g the last few weeks in Russia? Russia was
n will known by those who knew its best to
have *been always in fact democratic
deep- at heart, in all the vital habits of h#r
very thought, in all the intimate relation11
the ahips of her people that spoke their
bjects natural instinct, their habitual attitude
been [ toward life. The autocrnrw th:it
ornial crowned the summit of her political
>f the structure, long- as it had stood and j
elieve terrible as was the reality of its power,
been was xlot in fact Russian in origin, charge
ex- acter or purpose; and now it has been
v V* shaken off and the great, generous
d the Kussian people have been added in all
Jan* their anive majesty and might to the
mJ"d forces that are fighting for freedom in >
'n the tj10 for justice, and for peace,
renty- Here is a fit partner for a League of '
>w, as Honour. i
les of * ]
era tic Spies and Intrigues. 1
really Qne Qf t}ie things that has served I
ind*of to conv^nce us that the Prussian autoc- *
ie ob- racy was not and could never be our j
friend is that from the very outset of \
>Fi the present war it has filled our unsus- x
rid is 7 . . t
soples, pecting communities and ever, our of- r
free- flees of government with spies and set r
cratic criminal intrigues everywhere afoot t
force, against our national unity of counsel, v
* will, our peace within and without, our in- t
j
i
v
LESS
OF \
dustries and our commerce. Indeed, It
is now evident that its spies were here
even before the war began, and It is
unhappily not a matter of conjecture
but a fact proved in our courts of justice
that the intrigues which have more
than -once come periously near to disturbing
the peace and dislocating the
industries of the country have been
carried on at the instigation, with the
support, and even under the personal
direction of official agents of the imperial
government accredited to the
government of the JTnited States. Even
in checking these tilings and trying to
extirpate them we have sought to put
the most generous interpretation possible
upon them because we knew that
their source lay, not in any hostile
feeling or purpose of the German people
towards us (who were, no doubt, as
ignorant of them as we ourselves
were), but only In the selfish designs
of a government that did what it
pleased and told its people nothing. I
Rnt they have played their part in j
serving- to convince us at last that that
government entertains no real friendship
for us and means to act against
our peace and security at its convenience.
That it means to stir up enemies
against us at our very doors the Intercepted
note to the German minister
at Mexico City is eloquent evidence.
We are accepting this challenge of !
hostile purpose because we know that !
in such a government, following such
methods, we can never have a friend;
and that in the presence of its organized
power, always lying in wait to
accomplish we know not what purpose,
there can be no assured security for the i
democratic governments of the world.
We are now about to acdept gauge of
battle with this natural foe to liberty
and shall, if necessary, spend the whole
force of the nation to check and nullify
its pretensions and its power. We are
glad, now that we see the facts with
no veil of l'aise pretense about them,
to fight thus for the ultimate peace of
the world and for the liberation of its
peoples, the German peoples included;
for the rights of nations great and
small and the privilege of men, everywhere
to choose their way of life and of
obedience. The world must be made
safe for democracy. Its peace must be
planted upon the tested foundations of
political liberty. We have no selfish
ends to serve.
We desire no conquest, no dominion.
We seek no indemnities for ourselves,
no material compensation for the sacrifices
we shall freely make. We are
but one of the champions of the rights
of mankind. We shall be satisfied
when those rights have been made as
secure as the faith and the freedom
of nations can make them.
To Observe Principles of Right.
Just because we fight without rancour
and without selfish object, seeking
nothing for ourselves bht what we '
shall wish to share with all free peoples,
we shall. I feel confident, conduct
our operations as belligerents without
passion and ourselves observe with
proud punctilio the principles of right
and of fair play we profess to be
fighting for.
T have said,nothing of the governments
allied with the Imperial Government of
Germany because they have not made war
upon us or challenged us to defend our
right and our honor. The Austro-Hungarian
Government has, indeed, avowed i
its unqualified endorsement and accept- !
ance of the reckless and lawless sub- I
marine warfare adopted now without dis
guise oy tne imperial German Government,
and it has therefore not been possible
for this Government to receive
Count Tarnowski, the Ambassador recently
accredited to this Government by the
Imperial and Royal Government of Austria-Hungary:
but that Government has
not actually engaged in warfare against
citizens of the 1'nited States on the seas,
and I take the liberty, for the present at
least, of postponing a discussion of our
relations with the authorities at Vienna.
We enter this war only where we are
clearly forced into it because there are
no other means of defending our rights.
Act Without Animus.
It will he all the easier for us to Cw..duct
ourselves as belligerents in a
high spirit of right and fairness because
we act without animus, not in
enmity towards a people or with the
desire to bring any injury or disadvantage
upon them, but only in armed
opposition to an irresponsible government
wfttch has thrown aside all consideration
of humanity and of right
and is running amuck. We are, let me
say agaflt> the sincere friends of the
German people, and shall desire nothing
so much as the early re-establishnient
of intimate relations of mutual
advantage between us?however hard
it may be for them, for the time being.
to believe that this is spoken from our
hearts. We have borne with their
present government througrh all these
bitter months because of that friendship?exercising
a patience and forbearance
v hieh would otherwise have
been impossible.
We shall, happily, still have an opportunity
to prove that friendship in outdaily
attitude and actions towards the
millions of men and women of German
birth and' native sympathy who live
amongst us and share our life, and w*4
shall be proud to prove it towards all
wiio are in fact loyal to their neighbours
and to the Government in the hour of
test. They are, most of them, as true
and loyal Americans as if they had never
known any other fealty or allegiance.
They will be prompt to stand with us
in rebuking and restraining the few who
may be of a different mind and purpose.
If there should be disloyalty, it will be
dealt with with a-'firm hand of stem repression:
but. if it lifts its head nt all.
it will lift it only here and there and
without countenance except from a lawless
and malignant few.
Months of Trial Ahead.
It is a distressing and oppressive
duty, gentlemen of the Congress, whic h j
I have performed in thus addressing I
you. There are, it may be, many j
months of fiery trial and sacrifice j
ahead of us. It is a fearful thing to j
lead this great peaceful people inton
war, into the most terrible and disas- j
trous of all wars, civilization itself j'
seeming to be in the balance. But the j<
right is more precious than peace, and i ?
we shall light for the things which we
have hlways carried nearest our hearts, !
?for democracy, for the right of those <
vho submit to,authority to have a voice
in their own governments, for the
rights and liberties of small nations,
for a universal dominion of right by
such a concert of free, peoples as shall t
:>ring peace and safety to all nations x
end make the world itself at last free.
To such a task we can dedicate our
ives and our fortunes, everything that. 1
ve are and everything that we have,
vith the pride of those who know that c
hat day 'lis come when America is c
jrivileged to spend her blood and her
night for thp principles that gave her t
>irth and happiness and the peace 1
vhich she hasytreasured. God helping
ler, she can do rWbther. c
VAR
PACtFISTS ATTACK I
SENATOR LODGE IN
CAPITOLCORRIDOR
Blood Spilled in Genera! Fight
That Follows, Byt Lawmaker
r-~ i_:
csuapes injury.
SOLON SENDS SMASHING
BLOW TO ASSAILANT'S FACE
Alexander Bannwart, Who Leads At*
taek, Badly Beaten?Later Arrested
for Assault.
H
nuH
SEXATOR LODGE.
Senator Henry Cabot Lod^fe of
Massachusetts was attacked by a
small group of pacifists from Dorchester,
Mass., in the corridor
outside his office at the Capitol
today. Blows were struck and
blood was spilled, but it was the
blood of the pacifists.
The chief assailant of Senator
Lodge was Alexander Bannwart,
a young man, and husky. He
later was arrested on a warrant
charging him with assault.
Senator Lands Smashing Blow.
Senator "Lodge received a blow which
bruised his face slightly, and he himself
^ent a smashing blow into Bnnnwart's
face, which knocked him back,
Bannwart struck at the senator again,
and Senator Lodge was forced back
against the wall, the other pacifists
joining in the fight, which then became
general.
'Senator Lodge's clerks rushed out of
his office to his defense, and David B.
Herman of 431* 20th street, an employe
of the Western Union, waded into
Bannwart. There was a free for all
light for a few seconds, during which
Bannwart was pretty badly beaten up.
Ward Davies. secretary of the chamber
of commerce at Casa Grande. Ariz., also
mixed in the fray and planted a fist In
Bannwart's eye before he himself was
knocked down in the general rush. Davies
Kind that he was passing: along: the corridor
when he saw Hannwart strike Senator
Lodge.
"It's a lucky thingr I didn't have my grin
with me." sa 1 Da vies, "or it would have
been a case for the undertaker."
Bannwart's followers who took part 1n
the tight disappeared before the police
arrived and took Hannwart.,to the guardroom
of the Capitol.
Called at Senator's Office.
The pacifists gathered outside of
Senator Hodge's office about 11 o'clock
this morning. Three cards were sent In,
including that of Hannwart, and those
of Rev. Paul Harris Drake, pastor of
Christ Church, Dorchester. Mass.. and
Mrs. Anna May Peabody of 13 Hilllard
street, Boston. Alexander Bannwart's
card bore the address 33S Washington
street, Boston.
It is Senator Lodge's custom, when a
large party calls on him. to go into the
corridor to see them, owing to the fact
that his office is small, and he followed
this custom today. The pacifists asked
the attitude of Senator Hodge on the
international situation.
J-Ie replied that if the President
should ask for a declaration of war, he
would vote for one.
Hannwart did most of the talking for
the pacifists. He remonstrated with
Senator Hodge and said that his constituents
were opposed to war. Senator
Lodge said he differed with the pacifists
in that connection. The pacifists
declared that war was cowardly.
"National degeneracy and cowardice
a.re worse than war," Senator Lodge anawered.
"1 regret that'I cannot agree
with your position, but I must do my
iuty as I see it."
Senator Lodge, determining to close
tho interview, was backing- toward
:he door of his office.
Short and Ugly Term Used.
Bannwart. after the fight, declared
hat at this moment Senator .Lodge
emarked:
"Any one who is a pacifist at a time
ike this is a coward/
To this Bannwart retorted: "Any
me thai wants to go to war is a
toward." - _
Senator Lodge denies this conversation
and says that Bannwart called
lirn a coward.
"You are a liar," the senator tan
kUntly responded. ate? pin* U# (ft J
.
*
V .