Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1917-11-08


1 have called the congress into extra
ordinary session because there are Sc
r1ous. very serious. choices of policy to
be made. and made Immediately which
1T is neither right nor constitutionally
permissible that should assume the re-
sponsibility of making.
On the Sd of February last I officially
laid before you the extraordinary an
nouncement of the Imperial German
government that on and after the 1st
day of February it was its purpose to
put aside all restraints of law or of hui
manity and use it's submarines to sink
every vessel that sought to approach
either the ports of Great Britain and
Ireland or the western coasts of Europe
or any of the ports controlled by the
enemies of Germany within the Medi-
terranean- That had seemed to be the
fare earlier in the war. but since April
of last year the Imperial government
had somewhat restrained the comman-
ders of its undersea craft. in conform
ity with its promise. then given to us,
that passenger boats should not he
sunk, and that due warning would be
given to all other vessels which Its
submarines might seek to destroy,
cape attempted. and care taken that
their crews were given Mt least fair
chance to snve their lives i'm their open
boats. The precautions taken were
meager and haphaxard enough, was
proved I'm distressing instance after
instance i'm the progress of the cruel
gree of restraint was observed.
The new policy has swept every re-
striction aside Vessels of every kind.
whatever their nag, their character
their cargo, their destination. their
GRAND. have been ruthlessly sent to
the bottom without warning and with
out thought of help or mercy for those
on board. the vessels of friendly neu-
trails along with those of belligerents.
Even hospital ships and ships carrying
relief to the soreIy bereaved and strick-
IL NJ 81 furr a r
ter were provided with safe conduct
through the prescribed areas by the
German government itself and were
distinguished by unmfstakable marks
of identity, have been sunk with the
same reckless lack of compassion or
OF principle
believe that such things would I'm fact
be done by any government that had
hitherto subscribed the humane
practices of civilized nations. Inter-
national law had it's origin In the Mt
tempt to set up some Inv which would
be respected and observed upon the
seas, where mo nation had right of
dominion and where lay the free high
why's of the world. BY painful sta ge
after stage has that law been built up
with meager enough results. indeed.
be accomplished. but always with n
clear view, at least, of what the heart
and conscience of mankind demanded.
This minimum of right the German
government has swept aside under the
plea of retaliation and necessity and
because it had no weapons which 1t
could use at sea except these. which
1T is impossible to employ as 1t is en-
ploying them. without throwing to the
wind all scruples of humanity or of
respect for the understandings that
were supposed to- underlie the inter-
course of the world
am not now thinking of the loss of
property involved immense and serious
as that is. but only of the wanton and
WI n 1e destinations of
non-combatants- men, women. and chill
dren engaged I'm pursuits which have
modern history, been deemed Innocent
and legitimate. Property be paid
for: the HIVES of peaceful and Innocent
people cannot be- The present German
subma rine warfare against commerce
is a warfare against mankind.
1t is war against all nations Amer
lean ships have been srs K. American
lives taken, I'm wav. >ssich II has
stirred u. very d~-pI, to learn of. but
the ships mad p<erfc of other neutral
and friendly nations have been sunk
.nme way. rhere has been mo dis
elimination
The challenge in to all mankind.
Each nation must decide for itself how
1t will meet it The choice we make
for ourselves must be made with a
moderation of counsel and a temper
ateness of judgment betting our
character and our motives as a nation
we must put excited feelings away.
Dur motive will not be revenge or the
victorious assertion of the physical
might of the nation but only the vim
l. dication of right of human right OF
which we are only a single champion
When / addressed the congress on
the 2eth of February last 1 thought IL
would suffice to assert our neutral rights
with arms. our right to use the seas
against unlawful Interference. our right
to keep our people safe against unf1w-
full vf~s-n-e. But armed neutrality. IL
now appears. is fmpracticabie Becaas<