Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1917-04-27
Sen. Hale Makes Maiden
Speech for Conservation


/. Washington, April 26-(SpeciaD-
United States Senator Frederick Hale
made. his maiden speech in favor of
Consumption Immediately after the
Senate convened at noon today Sem
.jator Hale was listened to with the
greatest attention and interest as ne
discussed CONSUMPTION In the light OF
broad international policy and gave
his observations upon European SEN
timent as a result of his recent tour OF
France and England. His reference
to the possibility Of Theodore Roose-
Welt going with troops to France was
the first made in the Senate. At the
close of his remarks Senator Hale was
warmly congratulated by many Sena-
tors, including the great leaders OF
that body, upon his excellent speech.
Senator Hale said: Whatever may
be the merits of the two plans pro-
posed for raising an army, whether
by consumption or by volunteering,
there is no doubt, l think, in any
hody's mind that consumption is the
method looked upon by the warning
countries of Europe as far and away
the more effective.
",rhere are two ways Of looking at
the war and our reasons for entering
IT, One is that we have entered the
war because of the insults and in
iuries we have received from Ger
many. for which insults and injuries
we are bound in honor to redress. If
this is our only reason for fighting,
and 7 do not believe that it is, then we
can make war in any way that we
choose and to the extent that we
choose. When we deem that these
insults and injuries have been prop
erly redressed we can Withdraw from
the war at our own discretion and
need not consult the other countries
fighting against the Central Powers
about doing so. If this is our only
reason for fighting. it may he that
volunteer army will fill our wants.
It may be that our honor will not re-
auire us to send troops abroad to
fight at all, that our breaking rela-
tions with the Central Powers, the
protection of our commerce and the
sinking Of few enemy submarines
will be sufficient AS in this sort of
war we should be entirely indepen-
entirely independent of us.
"They could at any time make peace
and leave US to carry on the war by
ourselves.
1.-THE other way of looking at the war
think the right and only way. the
way the President in, his great address
to Congress is that we, like all the rest
of civilization, are fighting not alone
to right the personal wrongs that we
have received. but because civilization
cannot and will not tolerate the inten-
tons Of the Central Powers and the
methods employed by them to carry
out these intentions. Should we thus
join with the rest of civilization we
take our place alongside France and
England and the other allies. Their
war is our war and no peace can be
made that does not include US. Our
obligation then is in every way to CO.
operate with the allies and to aid them
to defeat our common foe.
This war, however it may have been
started and whatever may have been
the reasons that brought This or that
nation into the conflict has now re-
solved itself into a great organized eff
fort on the part of the civilized world
to resist German conquest. 1t is this
great curse for which they are fighting
that brings together countries whose
interests are as different as those OF
England and France and Russia with
a tie that cannot be broken even by
the insidious and advantageous offers
made by the German government to
individual nations of the allies. 1t Is
true that the immediate cause of Eng
lands entering the war was the viola
ton of the Belgian treaty. 1t Is true
that Russia went in because of the
Austrian ultimatum to Serbia, just as
it is true that we have declared war
because of the destruction Of our ships
and the murder of our citizens, but 1t
is equally true that every man, woman
and child in France and England, and
/ have recently visited thesetwo coun-
tries. realizes that the cause for which
they are now fighting is far greater
than the redress of the wrongs Of any
individual nations, is in fact the cause
OF civilization against barbarism. l
venture to say that the same feellnS
obtains in Russia and Italy and the
other allied countries. SO if we are
fighting as they are fighting Tor thls
greater cause, I say it behooves US 10
use every means in our power, every
last resource of men and treasure 10 |
make certain that this case shall pre-
vail.
IT was in England and France
short time before the severance OF
diplomatic relations with Germany ana
I returned to America shortly aIter
the break took place. l found three
questions which puzzled the people
of these two countries; first, why IN
view of the lofty ideals set up by TINS
country we had not joined with the
rest of civilization against the Zoe Oh
civilizations; second, why we could not
see that unless the Allies won the war
we ourselves must inevitably be the
next German objective; third, how 1t
was that a prospecting nation couid
nut I'D with the affronts that we put
up with.
In talking with a prominent men,
her of the British ministry in COM
pany with Mr.. Frank Simmonds just
before I left England he asked me
what in our opinion would constitute
an act of war in the minds OF our
countrymen Would the sending or
an American freighter without the