The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1917-03-21
WAR ON, SAYS
UNION LEAGUE
Exists by Act of Germany"
Declare Resolutions
Pledging Aid.
LEADERS SPEAK BOLDLY
Roosevelt, Hughes, ChOate and
Root All Agree Conflict
Is Already Here.
LEADERS SPEAK BOLDLY

The members Of the Union League
club. an organization that in the civil
war stepped forward to the aid of the
country, expressed emphatically last
night their opinion that the United
states Is now at war with Germany
They did 1t by vote when they offered
their services to the President, and they
did II through their speakers. who were
Charles Z. Hughes, Joseph Fl. Choate,
Elihu Root and Col. Theodore Roose-
veh
The four speakers did not mlnce words
Mr.. Hughes said the present situation
could not be disguised by any legalistic
phrase. Mr.. Choate said the President
may be 'on the brink Of war, but we
have fallen in" Mr.. Root said the
principle which was applied to Boil
g!um is now being applied to us" Col.
Roosevelt called it war, and urged that
the country go to war hard"
Earnest support Pledge,
The meeting was called to hear the
report OF the special committee on i'm
mediate defence and national service of
r.
Bacon read his report. In which he set
forth the unpreparedness OF the country
FOR war and offered the resolutions
which afterward were adopted
These resolutions pledged the sup
port or the club members to the Presi-
dent In building up the army and navy
and In furnishing the supplies and a
multitude OF things OF common use nee
essary for war. I'm ali Of which We are
fatuously deficient" They approved the
action Of the President in arming the
merchant ships. urged the enlargement of
the Presidents power for national de-
fence and asked the American people to
race the fact that war with this country
now exists by the act Of Germany"
state OF War. Says Hushea.
The meeting room OF the club was
damned with members, every one carry
ing small American flag. Mr.. Hughes
presided and before introducing Mr..
Bacon he referred to the distinctive par;
which the club had played In national
crises.
Il believe that none of US will fall"
he said, TO recognise the actual condi-
ton or anairs Let US not delude our
selSes. Germany is now making war on
the United States. making wa. with a
II
or lesalis'ic conception. There is now a
state OF war and the people Of the United
states should recognize that fact. Our
citizens have been murdered, are being
murdered. Our ships nre being sunk
Our commerce is existing on leave OF a
nation or Government whose hostile in
tent is manifest
"Ttme to Rise" Choate's View,
After Mr.. Bacon had made his report
and offered the resolutions the first per-
son called TO speak was Mr.. Choate. Mr..
Choate said that the appeal to sneak
here seems to me to be an appeaI tn
come to the rescue OF our country in the
hour of Ser deadliest peril II the words
that l shall utter TO you tonight shall
be my last shall feel that have
breathed them in the actual service OF
my country
Mr.. Choate referred to the fight made
by the club against the "copperheads'
In the civil war. II am often asked to-
day what can We do. what can We mere
citizens do when our Government In do
Ing nothing or doing so little" Then
he told what the club members did in
the days OF the copperheads
1T is time for the people Of the United
States to rise In arms and assert their
rights" he said. This city Is not half
awake TO the perils that encompass it"
He chided the men and women who to-
day are devotng themselves to enjoy
ment and luxury when they should learn
thar We are In moment OF deadly
peril" Then he said that I'VE can't stay
on the brink OF war forever, We have
tumblcd In"