The border vidette., 1917-04-07
PRESIDENT ASKS FOR WAR.
United States Accepts Challenge of
 German Government.

Washington, April 2.-Presi l dent Wilson tonight urged con.
 gress assem bled in joint session
 to declare a state of war exist ling between the United States
 and Germany.
 In a spassionate, but un-
 measured denunciation of the
 course of the imperial German | government, which he charac
 terized as challenge to all
 mankind and warfare against
 nations, the president said that
 neutrality no longer was feasi-
 ble or desirable where the peace of the world was involved, that armed neutrality had become | inefficient and was likely to produce what it was meant to prevent, and urged that con- gress accept the guage of battle with all the resources of the na- tion.
 1T adv1se that the congress declare the recent course of the imperial German government to Ge in fact nothing less than war against the government and people of the United States, said the president; that it for mally accept the status of bel ligerent which has thus been thrust upon iu and that it take steps not only to put the country in more thorough state of de- fense, but also to exert all it's power and employ all it's re- sources to bring the government of the German empire to terms and end the war"
 When the president had finish ed speaking, resolutions to de clare a state of war exists, were introduced in both houses, re- ferred to appropriatec committees, and will be debated tomorrow There is DO doubt of their pas sage.
 The objects of the United States in entering the war, the president said, are to vindicate. the principles of peace and justice against selfish and auto cratic power.
 Without selfish ends, for con- quest or dominion, seeking no indemnities, or material con- pensationS for the sacrifices it shall make, the United States must enter the war, he said to make the world safe for demo- cracy, as only one of the cham pious of the rights of mankind, and would be satisfied when these rights were as secure as the faith and freedom of nations could make them.
 The presidents address was sent in full to Germany by a German official news agency for publication in that country. The text also went to England, and a summary of it's contents was sent to other nations.
 To carry on effective warfare against the German government, which he characterized as a na tural foe, the president recon mended.
 Utmost practicable co-opera- tion in counsel and action with the governments already at war with Germany.
 Extension of liberal financial credits to those governments so that the resources of America may be added to theirs.
 Organization and mobilization of all the material resources of the country.
 Full equipment of the navy, particularly for means of dealing with submarine warfare.
 An army of at least 500, ,OOO based on the principle of univ ersal liability of service and ad- ditional increments of 5OO,OOO each as they are needed or can be handled in training.
 Raising necessary money for the United States governments so far as possible without borrow ing and on the basis of equitable taxation.
 All preparations, the president urged, should be made in such a way as not to check the flow of war supplies to the nations al ready in the field against Ger many.
 Measures to accomplish all these ends, the president told congress, would be presented with the best thought of the ex-