The Washington herald., 1917-04-06
Sideights on War
Debate in Congress

The House recognized the solemnity OF
Good Friday when Chairman Flood. OF
the Foreign Affairs Committee, moved
that debate be concluded so that vote
could be taken before midnight in order
that war might not be declared on the
sacred day of Holy Week. Minority
Leader Mann reminded him, however.
that since the debate was continuous
the House would still be on the legislative
day of Thursday and Mt was then agreed
to have debate continued under the five
minute rule to allow every member an
opportunity to be heard.
Singularly enough the war resolution
found the Republican leader of the House,
Representative Mann, supporting the
President and the leader of the Presi-
dents own party opposing him. Mann
paid a triblte to the majority leader,
since he declared after today there would
Re no chance for divided opinion on
the duty of all Americans.
Representative Cooper. of Wisconsin
opened the debate for the opponents of
the resolution and was rendered prac-
tically speechless ny the loss of his
glasses. He forgot to bring them from
his home and a messenger was hastily
ulSpulCIIcu lc DcBdH Ills SpoCCh
Meanwhile ne spoke extemporaneously
and at the same time tried on the specs"
OF a number of his colleagues but none
of them were suited to his optics. His
own glasses were finally retrieved in time
for him to finish his remarks in comfort
Congresswoman Jeanette Rankin has
the unique distinction of being the first
of her sex to pass upon the question Of
the country entering war. The suffra-
gettes pointed out. with no desire to
detract from her glory. the fact that the
original American women-the Indian
had voice in whether their tribes should
enter war with a hostile band through
their council of women.
Meyer London. Socialist, from the East
Side Of New York. made one of the most
vigorous speeches of his Congressional
career in opposing the resolution. Rep
resentative George r. Lunn. who was
elected is Socialist mayor of Schenectady,
N. Y. but who is serving now as a
Democrat. did not follow his colleage
in his vote against war.
The debate was much more lively than
that which characterized the Senate the
night before since applause and noise
upon the floor frequently punctuated the
speeches. The iveliest colloquy of the
evening came when Representative Tom
Helm. OF Alabama, attempted to ques-
tlon his colleague Representative Bur-
nett. who was against the resolution. 1t
kept Presiding Officer Fitzgerald pound
ing the gavel for five minutes or more
continuously.
Much OF the force OF Representative
Millers argument for the resolution was
lost with the statement of Secretary of
State Lansing that his reference to the
famous Zimmerman letter was a mis-
taken one. The Minnesota Represent
ative charged that the unpublished por-
tion of the letter was to the effect that
Germany would rush men. arms and
money from the Pacific Coast into Mex
leo and that reservists would be rushed
across the Rio Grande to fight the United
States. His words created a sensation
until the official denial came.
Only a handful OF members on both
sides OF the House were present when the
last war Congress met There was no
Rtvfded opinion on the question Of going
10 war in 1896, and with but these few
exceptions these Congressional veterans
voted last night to vindicate American
honor through armed force and the re-
sources OF the nation.