The Meridian times. (Meridian, Idaho) 1909-1938, 1917-04-13
German Pledges Broken.

man government has followed an
other"
German Pledges Broken.
Senator Hitchcock was followed by
Senator Swanson Of Virginia, who said
the German government "has repeat
edly and grossly violated It's treaty OBJ
legations to US, and wantonly broken
solemn assurances
"The issue Is not peace or war" Sen
ator Swanson continued. "War has al
ready been declared upon US. The Is
sue Is whether we shall accept war or
abject and cowardly submission"
RecitIng the sinking Of American
ships, German plots, and outrages in
this country, Senator Swanson said the
Zimmerman plot to incite Mexico
against this country reaches the low
est depths Of national turpitude."
I'VE have long suspected a DISPOSE
tion by Germany to dispute the Monroe
doctrine" ne added. Now is the time
to teach this misunderstanding German
government that our territorial sover-
eighty cannot be made a subject Of war
bargaining.
What else can Germany do to wage
war against us? When the war-made
autocracy that now rules Germany has
been chastened or overthrow, ties OF
friendship now severed viii be reunit-
ed"
Many other senators took part In the
debate, Gronna, Stone, Vardaman,
Norris and LaFollette, all opposing the
resolution.
Senator Smoot made the last speech
"a short prayer that God woul,
hasten the day when liberty win b.
enjoyed by ali the peoples Of tn
earth"
The roll call was taken while tn
senators and spectators sat solemn
few cheers greeted the result and the
/, all fled quietly out Of the chamber.
House Vote, s7s to so.
The house, after a debate lastir
about seventeen hours. adopted Il
7 joint resolution by a vote OF 3T3 TO 5
! Nearly g hundred representatives mad
I. speeches.
! In offering the senat resolution &
L a substitute for its own. the house 10
! eign affairs committee submitted
long report reviewing the history c
submarine warfare and Americas II
l tile protests against IL, German In
; trigues and bomb plots in this country
the effort TO ally Japan and Mexie'
against the United States and the mis-
treatment OF American officials anC
citizens in Germany.
1T is with the deepest OF re
sponsibility for the momentous result;
which viii follow the passage Of this
resolution said the report. that your
committee reports II TO the house, with
the recommendation that it be passed
1.-THE conduct of the imperial Ger
man government toward this govern.
ment, its citizens and its interests. has
been so discourteous. unjust. cruel
barbarous, and so lacking in honesty
and practice that II has constituted
violation Of the course OF conduct
which should obtain between friendly
nations.
I'm addition to this the German gov
eminent is actually making war upoE
the people and commerce of this coun
try, and leaves no course open 10 thii
government but to accept its gage o.
battle and declare that 3 state Of wal
exists"
Flood Opens the Debate
Under the unanimous consent rull
by which the resolution was considered
Representative Flood could move tn
previous question at any time after on,
ha,-ar5 - S,s%as1ad hr;rC \ r,aaS
ure TO a vote. He was disposed. how
ever, to give members every opportu
nifty 10 speak throughout the day. Tn,
debate began without any limitation.
war is being made upon our coun
try and its people," Representative
Flood said in opening. "our ships ar
o being sunk. Our noncombatant cid
q zens, including men. women and chi
{ dren. are being murdered, our mel
!, chantmen are denied the freedom o
the seas. There is 40 choice as TO on
5 course. We are compelled by the act
5 of the German government to enter il
i 10 this most colossal war.
$ 'The time for argument has passed
n the time for heroic action is here, an
i our people will rally TO the support o
their government In this high and ps
n triOtie hour and meet wars sacrifice
and wars perils as a brave and patrl
otto people should.
I'VE should take u stand by tn
side of the allied nations who hav
e been fighting humanity's battles fo
two and one-half years. determine
that our power shall be so employee
IS that complete victory shall crown thei
efforts and that Prussian militarisI
= shall be crushed and the world shall b
s delivered from the threat and DANCE
o of the Hohenzollern dynasty"