The Washington times., 1917-04-05
SENATE SOLEMN AS
WAR Is DECLARED
Bitterness of Debate Over
shadowed by Realization That
Fight Is to the End.

Amid solemn scenes. after thirteen
came extremely personal and bitter,
In an atmosphere surcharged with
deep feeling and patriotic sentiment,
the Senate of the United States last
night passed the Martin-Flood resolu-
tion declaring war on the imperial
government of Germany.
The vote was 50 to 6. By this over
whelming expression, the Senate reg
istered its belief that the time for
discussion had passed and the time
for action, grave though it be. was at
hand.
While bitterness of feeling was
shown between the advocates of war
and the advocates of pacifism, there
developed in the course of the discus
sion something still more striking.
This was the well-nigh universal SEN
timent OF Senators that IL the war
must come ii must be fought through
to the end, cost what ii may in time
and money and suffering and blood.
Any doubt that the United States is
going into a paper war or theoreti-
cal state of war was swept away by
the speeches which were made in the
course of this weighty session OF the
Senate, which began at 10 in the
morning and lasted continuously for
thirteen hours.
Party Lines Broken.
The six Senators who voted against
the war resolution were Gronna of
North Dakota, La Toilette of wiscon-
sin. Lane of Oregon, Norris of Ne
s. braska, Stone of Missouri, and Varda-
man of Mississippi. They were among
the "wilIful men" arraigned by the
President for opposing the armed
neutrality bill.
On the other hand, Senators Cum-
minis, Kenyon, Kirby, and Penrose.
who did not line up for the armed
neutrality bill, voted for the war
resolution.
Senators Bankhead, Con-, Gore. Hol-
lis, Newlands. Smith OF Maryland.
Thomas, and Tillman were absent, but
all, it was announced, would have
supported the resolution had they
voted
Forty-three Democrats and thirty
nine Republicans voted for the reso-
luton. In the voting, as in the de-
bate, party lines were broken down.
OF the Senators who opposed war,
three are Republicans, Gronna, La
Toilette, and Norris, and three, Stone,
Lane, and Vardaman, Democrats
The resolution was adopted without
change from the form in which II
was reported by the Foreign Rela-
tions Committee. 1t formally declares
the state of war which has been
thrust upon the nation by the German
government
The text of the resolution follows:
Whereas the imperial govern
ment has committed repeated
=, acts OF war against the Govern
ment and the people of the United
States of America; therefore, be
It -
Resolved. by the Senate and
House of Representatives in Con-
gress assembled That the state
OF war between the United States
and the imperial government,
which hAs been thrust upon the
United States, is hereby formally
declared, and the President be,
and he is hereby, authorized and
directed to employ the entire
naval and military forces-of the
United States and the resources
of the Government to carry on
war against the imperial govern
ment, and to bring the conflict to
succeSsIul termination, all the
resources of the country are here
by pledged by the Congress OF the
United States.
Galleries Crowded.
The debate at night and the final
rollcali on the resolution attracted
throngs TO the galleries. Many of
the House members were in the Sem
ate chamber. Secretary of State
Lansing, Counselor Polk, OF the State
Department, and a number OF the
Diplomatic Corps were in the diplo-
matte gallery. DIR. Ritter, Swiss min
lister, in charge of German interests
here, was present a part of the even
ing.
Faint applause broke out occasion
ally, but for the most part the gal
leries sat as if awed by speeches.
Many fashionably gowned women,
prominent in official and social life,
were in the audience. Among the
members of the executive staff pres
ent was Secretary of the Treasury
McAdoo. He occupied a seat by Sen. .
ator Hitchcock part of the night.