Middletown transcript., 1917-04-14

avoid 1t. For nearly three years the
president, congress, and the American
people have hoped to avoid it. But
one desperate act by the imperial Ger
man government has followed an
other"
German Pledges Broken.
Senator Hitchcock was followed by
Senator Swanson Of Virginia, who said
the German government "has repeat
edly and grossly violated its treaty OBJ
legations to us, and wantonly broken
solemn assurances"
"The issue Is not peace or war;" Sen
ator Swanson continued. "War has al
ready been declared upon us. The is
sue Is whether we shall accept war or
abject and cowardly submission"
Reciting the sinking of American
ships, German plots, and outrages in
this country, Senator Swanson said the
Zimmerman plot to incite Mexico
against this country reaches the low
est depths Of national turpitude."
eve have long suspected disposi-
tion by Germany to dispute the Monroe
doctrine" he added. "Now Is the time
to teach this misunderstanding German
government that our territorial sover-
eighty cannot be made subject Of war
bargaining.
"What else can Germany do to wage
war against us? When the war-made
autocracy that now rules Germany has
been chastened or overthrown, ties Of
friendship now severed will be reunit-
ed"
Many other senators took part in the
debate, Gronna, Stone, Vardaman.
Norris and LaFollette, all opposing the
resolution.
Senator Smoot made the last speech
"a short prayer that God would
'hasten the day when liberty will be
enjoyed by all the peoples Of the
earth"
The roll call was taken while the
senator's and spectators sat solemn. A
few cheers greeted the result and then
all filed quietly out Of the chamber.
House Vote, s7s to so.
The house, after a debate lasting
about seventeen hours, adopted the
joint resolution by a vote of 373 to so.
Nearly hundred representatives made
speeches.
In offering the senate resolution as
a substitute for its own, the house for
eign affairs committee submitted q
long report reviewing the history Of
submarine warfare and Americas fu-
tile protests against it, German in
trigues and bomb plots In this country.
the effort to ally japan and Mexico
against the United States and the mis-
treatment of American officials and
citizens in Germany.
1T Is with the deepest sense Of re-
sponsibility for the momentous results
which will follow the passage Of this
resolution" said the report, "that your
committee reports it to the house, with
the recommendation that it be passed.
1.-THE conduct Of the imperial Ger
man government toward this govern
ment its citizens and it's interests, has
been so discourteous, unjust, cruel,
barbarous, and so lacking in honesty
and practice that it has constituted
violation of the course of conduct
which should obtain between friendly
nations.
:Tn addition to this the German gov
ernment is actually making war upon
the people and commerce Of this coun-
try, and leaves no course open to this
government but to accept its gage Of
battle and declare that state Of war
exists"
Flood Opens the Debate.
Under the unanimous consent rule
by which the resolution was considered
Representative Flood could move the
previous question at any time after one
hour and, If sustained, bring the meas
ure to a vote. He was disposed, how
ever, to give members every opportu-
nifty to speak throughout the day. The
debate began without any limitation.
"War is being made upon our coun-
try and its people," Representative
Flood said in opening. "Our ships are
being sunk. Our noncombatant citi-
zens, including men, women and chn-
dren, are being murdered, our mer-
chantmen are denied the freedom Of
the seas. There is no choice as to our
course. We are compelled by the acts
of the German government to enter in
to this most colossal war.
"The time for argument has passed;
the time for heroic action is here, and
our people will rally to the support of
their government in this high and pa
triotic hour and meet wars sacrifices
and wars perils as brave and patri-
otic people should.
1--WE should take our stand by the
side Of the allied nations who have
been fighting humanity's battles for
two and one-half years, determined
that our power shall be so employed
that complete victory shall crown their
efforts and that Prussian militarism
shall be crushed and the world shall be-
delivered from the threat and danger
Of the Hohenzollern dynasty"