Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1917-04-06
Not a Hermit Nation.

out warning and American lives proba-
bly, lost
Not a Hermit Nation.
Representative Borland Of Missouri
| said he had heard only two logical ar
guments against the resolution. one of
them Mr.. Kitchins
Both of them sift down to one prop
osition.' he said, that unless Ger
many's offenses affect ones own fire.
side they should not be resented. With
| that position 1 cannot agree"
| He said to believe the doctrine of
sumo that the United States is hermit
| nation. and has no relation with world
affairs.
IF I believe anything" Mr.. Borland
continued. II believe that the American
government must protect its rights on
land and seas. ] believe the opinion
has been to literally spread abroad
that America makes its citizenship too
cheap a thing"
Representative King of Illinois read
a speech opposing the resolution, quot
ing freely from various poems.
Uncle Joe" Cannon again brought
stragglers back into the House. Up to
the point where he announced, in con-
clusion. that he would vote for the
resolution his speech was rather nom
committal.
IF l were making a partisan speech"
he said, Il should say that three years
ago we should have been getting ready
for this situation"
Representative Cannon said that
some Presidents had created conditions
which forced the legislative body to
declare war. He said that If we had
had a large standing army when We
made war on Spain we would have
saved an immense loss of life. He as
serted that I'VE can prepare for war
as quickly as any nation il we go to it"
He made reference to the Presidents
peace without-victory" phrase, and
said he had a large German con-
stituency whose loyalty is unques-
toned.
Admits Just Cause for War.
Representative Dill of Washington
said he had pleaded for votes for Will
son because Wilson had kept the coun-
try out of war and it was believed he
would continue to do SO. He said he
had voted for measures designed to
keep the United States out of war He
said he was "Saddened and disappoint-
ed" by the Presidents course and that
he does not believe the people of the
country want war.
Il admit there is just cause for war"
he added, But this nation should not
rob the world of it's only peaceful pow
er of magnitude to enter the holocaust.
When you get down to the real reason
for the war 1t is because we wish to
trade with the allies
Miss Rankin sat in the rear of the
House and took no part in the applause
that greeted either pacificist or war
speeches.
Kitchin's Speech Effective.
The speech of Majority Leader
Kitchin. in which he threw in his lot
with the pacifists. was responsible for
much of the webbing of members. 1t
was said. Men who were opposed to
the war said that after all the heart
of the House had not been in this
resolution from the start. Predictions
the resolution was debated for two or
three days. it would be defeated in
the House. But this report was
secuted by the leaders.
Shortly before o'clock Postmaster
General Burleson appeared in the
House. 1t was generally conceded that
he had been rushed to the front to line
up the members again for the war reso-
luton. When votes have been needed
in the past. Mr. Burleson has always
But 1t was insisted that there was no
possible danger Of the resolution being
defeated. Leading members Of the
House who favored the resolution said,
however. that they were anxious that
as few members as possible should be
counted against the resolution, SO as
to prevent bad effect abroad
No Choice Left Congress.
1.-THE President has told US that the
acts Of the imperial German govern
ment against this country have been
nothing less than war" said Represen-
tative Saunders of Virginia. What
choice is left to Congress but to pass
| this resolution? What can we do but
accept his statement and take the steps
which the honor of the nation dictates =?
Once the die is cast, we should make
use of the most effective means at our
disposal to push this war to a sue
cessful conclusion"
Representative Hull oe Iowa, repub-
lican member of the military affairs
committee, in accents that trembled
with emotion, told the House that he
had determined to vote against the
resolution.
II shall be criticised" he said. "and
the interests which are forcing this
country into war will cry 'disloyalty,'
count it greater loyalty to vote my
convictions. I believe the majority of
the American people are against going
into this war. We are told to stand by
the President. But believe in stand
ing by the government, which is the
great American people.
His People Against War.
'sThe people in my district are strong
ly opposed to going into the war. as
hundreds of letters and kilograms have
informed me. They are against sacH-
fcing the flower of American manhood
on European batueaelds. I think that
I can best serve the interests of my
country by voting against this resolu-
ton
Mr.. Hull was applauded by the anti
war contingent when he concluded.
AS the day wore on reports Of increas-
ling forces against the war resolution
became rife From the first estimate
| of only a bakers dozen against the
resolution the estimate of opposing
votes rose to twenty-five. nifty. and by
| s O'Clock it was rumored that at least
| a hundred votes would be cast
aRaingt 1t,