The Kentucky register. (Richmond, Ky.) 190?-1917, 1917-04-13
Wilson Delivers Mo-
mentOuS Address.
ASKS ARMY OF 100000
Also Urges Liberal Financial
Credit For Allies.
OISLOyALIY TO Be SQUELCHEO


Over Submarine Operations Review
ed at Length and Imperial Govern
ment Severely Arraigned-Presl.
dent Makes II Clear That No Action
Is Being Taken Against other Cen
trial Powers.
Washington, April 3.-Appearing
before 4 Joint session Of the house
and senate last night, President VIII
son asked congress to declare that
state OF war exists between Germany
and the United States because OF Ger
manys Illegal submarine warfare,
The president also requested that
immediate steps be taken to put the
country in a more thorough state OF
defense and that IL be permitted to
employ all It's resources to bring the
government of the German empire to
terms and end the war.
Tho president said acquiescence by
congress would involve the utmost
practicable cooperation in counsel
and action" with the governments
now at war with Germany tne raising
Of 100000 men who, in his opinion
should be chosen upon the principle
Of universal liability to service and
the granting of adequate credits to
the government. The full text Of tie
message follows:
THE MESSAGE.
Gentlemen Of the Congress.
81 have called congress into extra
ordinary session because there arr
serious. very serious, choices Of pol
icy to be made and made immediate
". which 1t was neither right OF
constitutionally permissible tnat !
should assume the responsibility Of
making.
ION the 81 OF February last OH
cially laid before you an eXtraordin'
airy announcement Of the imperial
German government that on and after
the LIST day of February 1t was its pu.'
pose to put aside all restraints Of law
or Of humanity and use its subma
rines 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 Mediterranean. That had
seemed to be the object Of Of the Ger
man submarine warfare earlier in tnc
war. but since April of last year the
imperial German government had
somewhat restrained the commanders
OF its undersea craft In conformity
with its promise then given to us thai
passenger boats should not be sunk
and that due warning would be given
10 all other vessels which its suhma-
rines might seek to Destroy, when no
resistance was offered or escape al
tempted. and care taken that their
crews were given at least a fair
chance to save their lives in their
open boats. The precautions were
meager and haphazard enough, as
was proved in distressing instance
after instance in the progress OF the
cruel and unmanly business, but a
certain degree of restraint was OBJ
served.
THE new policy has swept every
restriction aside. Vessels of every
kind. whatever their flag their char
acter, their cargo, their destination,
their errand, have been ruthlessly
sent to the bottom of the sea without
warning and without thought Of aelT
or mercy for those on board the YES
sells of friendly neutrals along with
those OF belligerents.
Warfare Against Mankind.
81 was for a little while unable to
believe that such things would in fact
be done by any government that had
hitherto subscribed TO the humane
practices of civilized nations, Inter
national law had its origin in the at.
tempt to set up some law which would
be respected and observed upon the
seas, where no nation mad right OF
dominion and where Jay the free high
ways OF the world. BY painful effort
stays after stage has that law been
built up, with meager enough results,
indeed. after all was accomplished
that could be accomplished. but al
ways with az clear view at least OF
what the heart or conscience of man
kind demanded, This minimum OF
right the German government has
swept aside under the plea of retalia-
tion and necessity and because it mad
no weapons which it could use at sea
except those which it is impossible, as
It is employing them. without throw
ing to the winds all scruples of hui