Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1917-04-06
HOUSE DEBATES
WAR RESOLUTION
LATE into NIGHT
So Many congressman Want
to Be Heard on Measure That
Vote Is Delayed Both
for and Against.
SLOAN SPEAKS AGAINST IT
Nebraskan Says Sober Second
Thought Being Felt by
American People.
COOPER LEADS OPPOSITION

Washington, April 5.--With scores
Of representatives. still awaiting theii
turn to speak upon the war resolution
passed last night by the senate, indi-
cations were that vote would not be
reached by the house on the measure
until late tonight
Toward o'clock Chairman Flood,
in charge OF the resolution, sought an
agreement to have the committee OF
the whole to report the resolution in
the house with view to early action.
There was immediate opposition.
Speaker Clark said everybody ought
to have right to speak and the
house should stay in session until the
early hours of the morning or all
night II necessary. Mr.. Flood then
withdrew his request and speeches
were resumed,
Sloan Opposes Measure.
Representative Hcfin of Alabama,
democrat, bitterly criticized Repre-
sentative Kitchin, who opposed the
resolution. declaring it was humiliat-
ing to the democrats and that if he
himself had made such speech he
would have followed it up by resign
ing from congress. Some Kisses camd
from the democratic side, and Mr..
Hefin said they were from those who
were for the kaiser.
Representative Sloan of Nebraska,
republican. declared the sober second
thought of the American people, in
cluding congress. is being felt and
that ten days delay Of the vote would
defeat the resolution in its present
shape.
Representative Lenroot of Wiscon-
sin, republican, said he would support
the resolution, since not to do so
would mean that I'VE would submit
| to Germany warring on US without
using force to prevent it,
+ He denied that England, in planting
nlinss Ii the North Sea and creating
a military zone there had Violated in
ternational law.
Seventy Would Speak.
Seventy members of the house still
desired opportunity to speak at
o'clock, Representative Fitzgerald.
presiding, announced.
Democratic Leader Kitchin Kitchin
announced late today that he would
speak and vote against the war reso-
luton.
Il hate to do it, but =" said
Kitchin,
Kitchin's detection from the ad-
ministration ranks is not expected to
embarrass passage OF the resolution.
Although floor leader OF the presi-
dents party in the house, he has op-
posed practically all the preparedness
measures. He supported the armed
neutrality bill.
Word that Democratic Leader
Kitchin would speak and vote against
the resolution quickly filled the cham
Der. He began his unexpected on
slaught on the war resolution soon
after 8 o'clock.
After saying that he would not crit
icise those who would vote for it, he
declared he thought he should vote
his convictions regardless of conse-
quences.
II know my vote will be criticised
from one end of the country to the
other" said Kitchin.
Il cannot leav. to my children land
and riches, nor fame, but l can leayc
to them a name that, regardless of
consequences, l never hesitated to
vote my convictions"
Kitchin spoke slowly and with
great emphasis. His voice showed
the effects of the strain under which
he labored.
"Prayerfully impressed with the
gravties of the situation and appre-
ciating the penalties that war will
impose" said he, my conscience and
judgment have shown the path of
my duty and ! must tread it, If ]
tread it barefooted and alone. l have
prayed for guidance. | have reached
the conclusion that I must vote
against this resolution"
Pacihsts Cheer Up.
The pacihst group, who two days
ago were ready to vote for the reso-
luton, cheered up noticeably over
Kitchin's attitude. Representative
Henslcy OF Missouri announced that
he now would vote against the reso-
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