Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1917-12-11
WILSON'S SIGNATURE
FOLLOWS PASSAGE OF.
BILL IN BOTH HOUSES.
Senate'S Vote Is Unanimous
While Only One Vote, That
of London, Socialist, Is Cast
Against 1t in House

WASHINGTON, De-. THE United
States tonight is formally at war with
Austria-Hungary.
The declaration President Wilson ask
ed congress for on December was
voted by the senate at lao p. M, and
by the house shortly. after o'clock. At
! three minutes after the president
signed The resolution.
This speed showed the almost unani-
nous swing of the pacifists to the sup
port of the war.
Meyer London, New York Socialist,
voted no. The house vote was Sol to
l. the senate vote was "A TO 0. OF
those who opposed the declaration Of
war on Germany none today voted no.
One of them-La Follette-was alb
sent He explained later that the vote
took him unawares, while he was pre-
pairing an amendment. adoption of
which he said would have won his sup
port however, he would have voted
against the measure without the amend
ment.
There was no long debate in either
house. There was brief discussion, but
practically all in the same strain-that
the war declaration should be made.
London was bitterly assailed by his fell
low members but stuck to his party's
demands on him.
Miss Jeanette Rankin, only congress-
woman, left a sick bed to cast her vote
for the resolution but not until she
had delivered on the floor of the house
an attack all wars.
Intimations were given during the
discussion that as a result of today's
action American troops may soon be
fighting in Italy against Austria
The senate adjourned until Monday,
the house until Tuesday.
Only Secretary Joseph Tumulty and
Assistant Secretary Rudolph Foster
were in the presidents private office
when he signed the resolution.
Tumulty described the historic scene
as one of simplicity. The president
made no statement
The resolution arrived at the white
house at Ass and was law with the
presidents final approval, just five min
utes later.
The president used his ordinary pen.
The one with which he signed the
declaration of war against Germany
was given to Mrs. Wilson at that time,
The action of London, in marring an
otherwise unanimous action in both
branches of congress, brought storm
of criticism down on his head.
A score of members denounced Lon
don violently on the floor of the house.
Miss Rankin. who made a dramatic
appearance after she had been reported
i'll, declared in explanation of her vote:
81 still believe that war is a stupid
and futile way to settle international
difficulties. Inasmuch as the Austrian
declaration. however, is a mere techni-
cality to a more vigorous prosecution.
of the war against Germany, l vote
for the resolution,
There will be no war when the peo-
pie of America as we'll as Germany
have the controlling voice in their af-
fairs.
Special interests and commercial
privileges are controlling the war to-
day" she said in conclusion.
Senator Lodge Speaks.
Senator Lodge, Massachusetts, rank
ing Republican member of the foreign
relations committee, spoke against in
clusion Of Bulgaria and Turkey at this
time, but added:
''The only reason for leaving Turkey
out is the danger to American lives and
property in Turkey.
we do not touch Bulgaria in a mil
itary sense.
But we have a Bulgarian legation N
Washington and if the officials are
friendly to US, they are traitors to their.
own country and its ally, Germany.
ct take no stock in the dream that we
can detach Bulgaria and Turkey from
the central powers
There is not word to be said in de-
Tense of the Turks. They have been a
scourge and a pest. Never have their
massacres been so serious as since the
Turks passed under German domination.
Such a government as Turkeys is a
curse TO modern civilization.
81 hope one result of the war will be
final extinction of the Turkish empire
in Europe and freeing of the Darda-
nelles to all nations"
Beside the reasons that Austria is
Germany's active ally and as such has
committed warlike acts against the
United States, Senator Stone declared
there was the further reason that mas
much as Italy, France and Belgium
comprised one battle front American
troops might at any time be facing Aus
TRANS.
Senator stones Speech
Senator stone made no reference to
Turkish or Bulgarian relations.
"In this great world struggle" said
Senator Stone "all men know of the in
innate and apparent indissOluble re-
lation between the governments of Ger
many and Austria Hungary In the
progress OF events il has become mani
fest that the United States is inevitably
as much at war with Austria Hungary
as with Germany
Tin the prosecution OF war. German
and Austro- Hungarian troops are CO.
ordnated and cooperative. ON the 9TH
er hand the United States is sending
troops and supplies to aid the entente
allies. including vast sums TO finance
the entente allies; the government of
the United States is furnishing men,
supplies and money TO all the entente
governments the supreme war council
has been organized at Paris in which the
government of the United States is au-
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