The Weston leader. [volume] (Weston, Umatilla County, Or.) 189?-1946, 1917-04-06
WILSON DELIVERS
HIS WAR MESSAGE
President Declares Germany
Has Forced United States
Into Conflict.

, Washington.--Reciting the aggrss
, sions Of Germany which have virtu
ally thrust the United States into ths
, world conflict President Wilson Mon
day night asked congress TO decIsrs
that q state OF war exists.
To carry on an effective warfare
against the German government.
which he characterized as a natural
foe to liberty" the president recon
mended
Utmost practical cooperation In
counsel and action with the govern
mcnts already at war with Germany.
Extension OF liberal financial cred.
its to those governments so that the
resources Of America may be added,
so far as possible, 10 theirs.
Organization and mobilization Of all
the material resources of the country.
Full equipment Of the navy. partic.
ularly for means Of dealing with sub
marine warfare.
An army OF at least 100000, based
on the principle Of universal liability
TO service and the authorization OF
additional increments Of 100000 each
as they are needed or can be handled
In training.
Raising necessary money for the
United States government so far as
possible without borrowing and on the
basis OF equitable taxation.
All preparation. the president urged.
should be made in such way a. not
to check the flow OF war supplies TO
the nations already in the field against
Germany.
Denounees German Government.
In dispassionate but unmeasured
denunciation of the course OF the i'm
perial German government, which he
characterized as challenge to all
mankind and q warfare against all
nations. the president declared that
neutrality no longer was feasible or
desirable where the peace OF the
world was involved; that armed neu-
trality had become Intellectual enough
at best and was likely to produce
what il was meant to prevent. and
urged that congress accept the gage
of battle with all the resources OF the
nation.
Il advise that the congress declare
the recent course of the imperial Ger
man government 10 be In fact nothing
less than war against the government
and people of the United States" said
the president, that It formally accept
The status of belligerent which has
thus been thrust upon 1t, and 1t take
steps not only to put the country in
| more thorough state OF defense, but
,lso to exert all its power and employ
III its resources to bring the govern
nent of the German empire to terms
Ind end the war"
submarine Warfare Without Com.
passion or Principle.
Referring to the German submarine
'olicy the president said: THE new
'olicy has swept every restriction
side, Vessels of every kind, what
yer their flag. their character, their
argo. their destination, their errand.
ave been ruthlessly sent to the bot.
ON without warning and without
hought of help or mercy for those
n board, the vessels of friendly neu-
rails along with belligerents. Even
ospitsl ships and ships carrying re-
eff to the sorely bereaved and strick-
n people of Belgium. though the lat
sr were provided with safe conduct
trough the prescribed areas by the
erman government itself, and were
istinguished by unmistakable marks
identity, have been sunk with the
sme reckless lack of compassion and
rinciple."
The objects Of the United States in
ltering the war, the president said,
e to vindicate the principles OF
,ace and justice against selfish and
ltocratic power" Without selfish
Ids, for conquest, or dominion. seek
& no indemnities or material COM
'nsationS for the sacrifices it shall
AXE, the United States must enter
e war. he said, to make the world
fe for democracy, as only one Of
g champions of the rights of man
nd, and would be satisfied when
ose rights were as secure as the
it'll and freedom OF nations could
IKE them.
NO Time for Pleasure.