The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1917-04-03

Washington, April 3.-President Will
son last night asked congress to de-
clare a state Of war existing between
the United States and Germany.
While the news of the submarine
attack on the steamer Aztec, the first
American armed ship to sail into the
war zone was being told from mouth
to mouth in the capital, the president,
appearing before the house and SEN
ate in Joint session, asked congress
to deal with Germany's warfare on
America.
The president said war with Ger
many would involve practical co-Opera'
ton with the governments now at war
with Germany, including liberal inan-
cial credits.
Action Only Against Germany.
The president made 1t clear that no
action was being taken against the
Austrian government and the other
nations allied with Germany.
President Wilson spoke as follows;
81 have called congress into extra.
ordinary session because there are ser.
ious, very serious. choices of policy
to be made, and made Immediately,
which II was neither right nor cOnsti'
tutionally permissible that | should
assume the responsibility of making.
"On the third of February, last,
| officially laid before you the extra
ordinary announcement of the imperial
German government, that, on and af-
ter the first day of February, IL was its
purpose to put aside all restraints OF
law or Of humanity and use its sub
marines to sink every vessel that
sought to approach either the. .p0rtstts
Great Britain and Ireland or the
western coast OF Europe or any OF the
ports controlled by the enemies OF Ger
many within the Mediterranean. That
had seemed to be the object OF the
German submarine warfare earlier In
the war, but, since April OF last year,
the imperial government had some
what restrained the commanders Of its
undersea craft In conformity with It's
promise then given to us that passen'
ger boats should not be sunk and that
due warning would be given to all
other vessels which its submarines
might seek TO destroy when no resist
ance was offered or escape attempted
and care be taken that their crews
were given at least a fair chance to
save their lives in the open boats
The precautions taken were meager
and haphazard enough, as was proved
in distressing instance after instance
in the progress Of the cruel and un
manly business, but certain degree
of restraint was observed.
Every Restriction Lifted.
"The new policy has swept every
restriction aside. Vessels of every
kind. whatever their flag, their char
acter, their cargo, their destination
their errand, have ruthlessly been sent
to the bottom without warning and
without thought Of help or mercy fol
those on board, the vessels Of friendly
neutrals along with those of belliger
ents. Even hospital ships and ships
carving relief TO the sorely bereayed
and stricken people OF Belgium, al
though the latter We're provided with
safe conduct through the prescribed
areas by the German government II
self and were distinguished by unmis
taxable marks OF identity, have been
sunk with the same reckless lack OF
compassion or principle.
81 was for a little while unable tC
believe that such things would In fact
be done by any government that had
hitherto subscribed TO the human,
practices of civilized nations Inter
national law had It's origin in the at
tempt to set up some law which wouit
be respected and observed upon IN,
seas where no nation had right Of do
minion and where lay the free high
ways of the world. BY painful stage
after stage has that law been built NJ
with meager enough results. indeed
after all was accomplished that cout
be accomplished but always with $
clear view at least Of what the hear
and conscience Of mankind demand.
This minimum Of right the German
government has swept aside under IN,
plea OF retaliation and necessity ant
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