The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1917-04-05
Read Letter Of Protest.

TSSOiutiOn-
Read Letter of Protest.
Senator LaFolette began his speech
by reading Z letter to Representative
Heigesen of North Dakota. from Il
North Dakota woman, protesting II
behalf OF lcr son against the slaughter
iuf war. The Wisconsin senator was
given close attention from both The
ioor and galleries. =.
IL had supposed until recently" said
1.-THE senator us he concluded the let
ter. that it was the duty Of senators
land representative 10 vote and 2ct
their convictions on questions coming,
before them. Quite another doctrine
has been proposed by the newspapers
OF the country. Il is the doctrine or
standing behind the president without
Inquiry rs to whpthur he IS right or
wrong.
! Il nave never subscribed to that
doctrine and l never shall. l nave
stood behiud him when ] believed him
right, AID shall continue TO oppose
him when | believe him wrong.
If il is important for Us TO speak
on matters of domestic policy though
we may unfortunately be in Disagree
ment. il is infinitely more important 10
sneak and vote our conviclons wnea
the question is one OF peace or war,
involving certainly the lives and Tor
!tunes OF our people. and 1t may be the
: destinics Of all OF them and oven ri
the civilized world as we'll If unhap-
pilv on such q momentous question:
the most patient research and consld'
Grafton We could give leaves MS IN dis
agreement with the president. LOT
one. reGretrnliy, but none the less
firmly, must remain so.
ri, in "a
the presidents speech TO congress
when he severed relations with Ger,
many. and the one asking Tor armed
neutrality. He said conditions he
tween this country and Germany pave
not changed greatly since the ulp!o-
matte break.
Referred to Criticism.
Declaring n" became convinced lhlt
arming OF merchantmen would De
wholly futile and Il lure TO their d"-
srructiop," Senator LaFOllette spoke
!cyncutive for opposing tho armed snip
hin. The presidents daughter. Mrs.
WcAdoo. listened from a gallery.
, REPRESENTATIVES Of the preSld"Ht
saw fit, by methods do not care 10
IcSaractorize. 10 prevent my speaking.
thn senator said. The president Is
sned a statement In which he saw ut
~ characterize as 'wilfuI III" conoNrt
or senators vino in obedience 10 lh"!E
iconsci,r!ces and Oaths OF office op-
nOsrd tho bill. know OF no GraTcr
charge" .,,oor ~
itelegrams reporting StraW Folt'
nostcard and other polls in various
communities opposing war. he decla[,
ed our Of $1,000 or 10000 letters and
itclerrams he had received regarding
his vote on the armed ship bill. from
80 10 90 percent. had approved MS
stand The senator's who opposed the
armed neutrality bill had been al
tackled and "scurriouSly liOellHd N
the newspapers. he declared. contraT!
RI the spirite OF fairness which on
;pev~uded the nation.
! Asserting that minority. frequently
lis able to shape the national policy
Senator La Toilette digrcsseG from
This prepared speech to make 4 pea
THAT the people make themselves
heard.
'nrhe poor who are called 10 ROT "a
the trenches" he declared dramatlcaI
ily, have now no organized month
niece. they have no press, but some
lime they will be heard, | hope in an
iOruGTlS anu lJTItStAul "SlS .i'IH ~ 80
long. when il we take this step price:
iof neceSsarics will multiply and the!
win come to be taxed doubt" agaiT
and again. The people will be heard;
they will have. their day"
Tho WISCONSIN senator referred tc
trhe presidents statement that Ger
MAN. had violated her submarine
pledges and continued her promise st
called was conditional upon England
being brought to obedience of interna
I ttonal law. Was 1t quite fair to lay be
fore the country the statement thai
,Germany made an unconditional prom
Use and had deliberately violated it?
"lt was England not Germany
who refused 20 obey the declaration ot
London, containing the most humane
IDEAS OF naval warfare which could be
framed by the civilized world up tc
that time. Keep that in mind.
"If this is war upon all mankind, Is
IL NOT peculiar that the United States
is tic only nation Of AL neutrals
(which regards II necessary to declare
war upon Germany? AL have refused
many. Some may have Il clearer view
than we. This suspicion Of 4 desire fOl
war profits dies NOT attach 30 them.
Senator La Toilette said the United
States has not til" COatid"nc" OF the
other American republics. because OF
Its war policies. He predicted That en-
trance OF tho United Stat"s would not
shorten tho conflict but will vastly
extend It by drawing other nations
In" It Is Idle Il" declared. TO talk 0t
4 war on the German government and
not on the German people.
Leasued With Enemies.
I'VE arc l@agued," he continued. "or