Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1898-04-27
A CALL TO ARMS.
The States will Respond with
Legions to Defend the
Nations Honor.

Washington, D. c., April 23.-Presi-
dent Mckinley has issued proclamation
calling out 125, 5000 men to serve two
years, unless discharged sooner.
The President, while not absolutely de-
cided in the matter, believes declara-
tion of war should be made He is likely
to so recommend to Congress today or ear
" next week The Presidents reasons
for urging Congress to declare war imme-
dia ely are first, that he may avail him.
self freely of services of retired officers;
second that Spain by its acts has prac-
tically declared, and, third, that naval Of
ficers may be entitled unQuestiOnably to
prize money for captures.
Senator Davis. chairman of the COM
mittee on foreign relations, some days
ago said it was the view of the committee
that a declaration of war should be made
in pacific tones by Congress. but since
then has expressed the belief that it Is
not now necessary.
Members of the cabinet, however, with
only one or two exceptions. still believe Il
war declaration is absolutely necessary,
in order to fix proper status of this
government, as such a declaration I'M
questionably would enlarge the scope of
the rights of the government IN case or q
general conflict, and it is not unlikely
that Congress will be asked to take this
step on Monday or soon thereafter.
The Proclamation is as follows:
Whereas, by 4 joint resolution of Con-
gress, approved on the Goth of April.
1898, entitled Joint Resolution for the
Recognition of the Independence of the
People of Cuba" demanding that the gov
eminent Of Spain relinQuish its authority
and government in the island of Cuba, to
withdraw its land and naval forces from
Cuba and Cuban waters, and directing the
Of +hn 70
land and naval forces of the United States
to carry these resolutions into effect, and
Whereas. by an act Of Congress, emit
tied An Act to Provide for the lncreaS
ing of the military establishment of the
United States in time Of war and for
other purposes approved April -, 1898,
the President was authorized III order to
raise a volunteer army. to issue his proc
lamation calling volunteers to serve IN
the army of the United States.
Now, therefore, |, William Mckinley,
President of the United States, by virtue
of power vested in me by the constitution
and laws: and deeming sufficient occasion
to exist, have thought fit to call for and
hereby do call for volunteers to the ag-
gregate number of 12o,000 in order to
carry into effect the purpose Of the said
resolutions, the same to be appOrtiOned as
far as practicable among the several
states and territories and the District of
SoluIIDla dccOTuluS 10 pOpuIdIIOI, anu "
serve for two years unless sooner dis
charged The details for this object will
be Immediately communicated to the
proper authorities through the war de-
partment.
In witness whereof I have hereunto set
my hand and caused the seal Of the Unit
ed States to be affixed.
Done at Washington this twenty-third
day of April, 1898 and of the Independ-
ence of the United States the one hun
dred and tWenty-secOnd.
(SeaD WILLIAM MCKINLEY.
BY the President, John Sherman, Secre-
tary of State