The Harrison times., 1917-04-21
NIGHT Of THRILLS
STIRRING scENES WHEN THE
PRESIDENT MADE HIS AP-
PEAL TO CONGRESS-.
BLAZING LIGHTS AND FLAGS
Regular Troops Escorted Mr.. Wilson
and Guarded the Capitol, While
Great Throng Of Notables Heard
Him Ask for Declaration OF War.
BY EDWARD B. CLARK.


WashingtOn.-It was war night in
Washington. No one who was in the
capitol city of his country on the night
that President Wilson made his appeal
to congress for a declaration of war
on a country that has invaded our
rights ever will forget the scene.
The night was black with clouds,
although rain was absent. No one Of
the thousands on the broad avenues
approaching the capitol knew, how
ever, that the sky was overcast. Wash
ington was ablaze with light and the
glory of flags with their stars shining
in the reflected glow Of the brightness
beneath.
The great dome of the capitol rose
marble white and beautiful above the
city. A score Of electric searchlightS
made shining its surface and brought
clearly into the vision the form Of the
halOed Goddess Of Liberty.
For the first time in the history of
this nation a president Of the United
States when going to congress to at
tend a legislative session was accom-
panied and guarded by an armed body
Of regular troops. There was touch
of war thus given to the scene before
the president had opened his lips to
address the lawmakers and to urge
that authority be given him to arm
the nation to defend the right.
On other occasions in the past pres
idents of the United States have gone
to the capitol with a guard of regular
soldiery, but these occasions have
been those of ceremony only, such as
inauguratOns, or the funerals OF men
great in the nations history. Presi-
dent Wilson is the first president of
the United States to ask congress di-
rectly by word Of mouth for dec
laration of war. In other cases a
transmitted message was depended up
on to move the lawmakers to their
duty.
Mounted Troops Guard Capitol.
The capitol was surrounded by
mounted troops. There had. been ru-
mors all day that trouble might be
expected. A pacifist out Of sympathy
with the ideals of a great democracy
had assaulted q senator Of the United
States who from the first had stood
for Americanism. There were crowds
of pacifists in town, nine-tenths of
whom were perfectly sincere in their
belief that there Is nothing worse than
war and yet it was more than suspect
ed that masquerading under the ap-
pearance of pacifism were men, some
few men, bent on evil. The guard of
regular troops about the capitol was
placed there not without belief in the
sound judgment Of the act.
Never In Washington prior to the
epochal night had anyone seen ambas-
sadors and ministers Of foreign cOun-
tries occupying seats on the floor OF
congress as guests during a Legislative
session. When some American In
high public place dies and Is honored
with a funeral on the floor Of senate
or house, as has happened number
of times in the past, the representa-
tives Of foreign countries are Invited
to attend and to show their respect
and honor for the dead. Never be-
fore, however, when congress was as
sembled in business session have
these foreigners In official life been
hidden to sit side by side with the ma
tons lawmakers.
Throna OF Notables Present.
There were present when Woodrow
Wilson was delivering his stirring ap-
peal to congress- J. ]. Jusserand Of the
French Republic; Sir Cecil Arthur
Spring-Rice, ambassador extraordi-
nary and plenipotentiary from Great
Britain, and other representatives Of
the allied and neutral nations.
All the judges Of the Supreme court
were present in the house on the mem.
orable occasion. With them were the
members Of the cabinet with President
Wilson. Chief Justice Of the Supreme
Court Edward Douglass White, once
q soldier in the Confederate army, was
SO stirred by the occasion that when
the climax was reached he rose from
his seat waving the flag and leading
In the acclaim. With him was Asso-
ciate Justice Oliver Wendell Holmes,
who was soldier in the Union army
and who today carries two bullets in
his body, for this Massachusetts judge
was wounded four times during the
days of the Civil war
Every senator Of the United States
was present and with the exception Of
those who are espousers Of the cause
Of pacihsm, everyone Of them showed
his intense feeling for the cause which
was being pleaded from the speakers
desk. The senators, with few ex-
cepuons, carried flags. These they
waved every time that the president
made telling point In his address or
by his words appealed directly to the
patriotic sentiment Of the individuals
in his great audience.
Where Is Uncle Sam to get Off
GERS capable Of drilling, caring
for and leading into battle the big
army which this country will raiser
This Is the question, as the war deparA