The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1917-04-05
ALL BUT SIX
SENA ORS
AREf0R WAR
Vote is 80 to 6 to
Sustain Wilson
Policy
PACIFISTS LED
BY LA TOILETTE
Is Replied to by Senator
John Sharpe
Williams

WASHINGTON. April b.-After a
debate lasting 10 hours. and which
Al times took on extreme bitter
ness. the senate last night passed
the administration resolution. de-
claring a state OF war against Ger
many by a vote OF SO TO ak.
LaFollette. Lane. Gronna. Norris.
Stone and vsrdaman. all OF whom
were members OF the little group
OF wilful men" who held up the
armed neutrality bill, were thosc
VINO voted against the presidents
program
Most OF these men. however, while
vcicinx determined opposition 10
war. announced that they would
support the government 10 the limit
once war II declared.
A bitter clash Was precipitated
when Senator Norris asserted thai
the government in entering the war
was putting the dollar sign on the
American Gag"
The senate was In an uproar and
Norris statement was denounced
as reasonable"
Chief interest. however. centered
IN the bitter excoriation OF the ad-
uinistration delivered by Senator
tarolIette and the reply by Sena-
tor John Sharpe Williams.
williams denounced the Wisccn.
naF
man, pro-vsndal and proGoth and
Anti-president. anttcongress and
anti-American
No applause greeted the final vote
which was taken with solemn real
lzation OF the momentous conse.
Quences involved
Senators LaFollette took the floor
at s:45 o'clock His appearance
caused a ripple OF excitement. but
order quickly followed
LAFollette began by reading a let
ter received BY Representative Hell
geseh. OF North Dakota. who is In
Washington hospital after severe
operation. The letter vas from Mrs.
W. A. Lewis. OF Flasher. y. ID.
She urged that the United States
should seize the German ships lying
in American harbors and hold them
as hostages against German de
precautions on American commerce.
The letter painted vivid picture
of the throes OF woman in giving
birth TO a child and asked should
such suffering be necessary merely
10 send that boy 10 a battlefield
AS for this maudlin sympathy for
the women who have persisted on
the ships" she wrote Let the wo-
men and children stay at home
where they belong
Speech Prepared
After he had finished the letter.
Senator LaFollctte began reading
his speech from carefullypre.
pared manuscript
There was time, when ~ vas
considered the duty OF senators and
representatives In congress TO vote
according 10 their convictions" he
said Quite another doctrine has
been promulgated recently. That Is
the doctrine OF standing behind
the president. without inquiring
whether be is right or whether he
Is wrong I have never subscribed
10 that doctrine and | never shall.
shall support the president when
he is right and shall oppose when
! think he is wrong
The importance and gravity OF
what the president proposes is only
additional reason for us 90 consider
carefully what he asks before We
vote. II Is more important than
ever that We speak or vote our con.
Victions when the question present
ed is one OF peace or war. II. un-
happily. IN such a momentous ques-
tion. the most careful and con.
scientious consideration causes Us
TO disagree with the president, I
know OF no reason why we should
not vote our honest convictions"
No Cause For War
Senator LaFollette declared there
has been no change In the situation
between the United States and Ger
many necessitating a change from
armed neutrality no open war.
We have not leg TO stand on to
support this war declaration" he
said.
He said during the debate in the
last congress on the armed neu-
trality bill he carefully investigated
the question and became convinced
armed neutrality would oe wholly
ineffective" and would only be the
means OF Turing American ships TO
certain destruction on the high seas.
yet. I regret 10 observe" he
continued, lin the statements print.
ed IN the press. which have never
been denied by the White House.
that the president saw A. to char.
acterize the actions OF the men who
opposed the armed neutrality Dill
as wilful-that they represented no
body but themselves and not the
people by wh9se suffrage these sen
ators came here.
Urges Referendum
That Is serious charge that
We we're wilful Yet. have receis-
cd many letters and kilograms not
only from my own state, but from