Sioux County pioneer. (Fort Yates, Sioux County, N.D.) 1914-1929, 1917-04-12
CONGRESS DECLARES STATE Of
WAR Between ]. S AND GERMANY
Adopts Joint Resolution That Places This Country in the Ranks
Of the BeIgerents- Senators Vote Against Measure
After Hot Debate-Great Majority in the House
Favors the Action

the shoulders of the German govern.
ment. charged with repeated acts of
war against the United States.
We want no more territory. We
VIII demand no indemnity. We have
no grudge to settle, nor racial anti
pathy. We will spend our treasure
and our blood and sacrifice our lives
without the thought of gain. We are
going to war to vindicate our honor
and independence rs great nation
and in defense of humanity.
"Such quarrel as we have with Ger.
many Is not Of our choosing. 1t was
forced upon us and we did much to
avoid 1t. For nearly three years the
president, congress, and the American
people have hoped to avoid it. But
one desperate act by the imperial Ger
man government has followed an.
other"
German Pledges Broken.
Senator Hitchcock was followed by
Senator Swanson of Virginia, who said
the German government "has repeat
edly and grossly violated its treaty OBJ.
legations to us. and wantonly broken
solemn assurances"
1.-The issue is not peace or war;" Sem
ator Swanson continued "War has al
ready been declared upon us. The is
sue is whether we shall accept war or
abiect and cowardly submission"
Reciting the sinking of American
ships, German plots. and outrages in
this country. Senator Swanson said the
Zimmerman plot to incite Mexico
against this country "reaches the low
est depths of national turpitule."
Many other senator's took part in the
debate, Gronna. Stone, Vardaman,
Norris and LaFollette. all opposing the
resolution.
Senator Sm0ot made the last speech
ii short prayer that God would
"hasten the day when liberty will be
enjoyed by all the peoples OF the
EARTH"
The roll call was taken while the
senators and spectators sat solemn. A
few cheers greeted the result and then
all filed quietly. out of the chamber.
House Vote, 373 to so.
The house. after Il debate lasting
about seventeen hours, adopted the
joint resolution by IL vote Of 373 to 80.
Nearly Il hundred representatives made
speeches.
In offering the senate resolution as
Il substitute for Its own, the house for
efgn affairs committee submitted a
long report reviewing the history of
submarine warfare and Americas flu
tile protests against 1T. German in
trigues and bomb plots in this country.
the effort to ally Japan and Mexico
against the United States and the mis-
treatment Of American officials and
citizens in Germany.
ut is with the deepest sense Of re.
sponsibility for the momentous results
which will follow the passage of this
resolution" said the report. "that your
committee reports 1t to the house. with
the recommendation that it be passed.
"The conduct of the imperial Ger
man government toward this govern
ment, its citizens and its interests, has
been so discourteous unjust. cruel.
barbarous. and 50 lucking in honesty
and practice that it has constituted a
violation Of the course Of conduct
which should obtain between friendly
nations.
"In addition to this the German gov.
eminent is actually making war upon
the people and commerce of this cOun.
try, and leaves no course open to this
government but to accept its gnge Of
battle and declare that state of wal
| exists"
Flood Opens the Debate.
Under the unanimous consent rule
by which the resolution was considered
Representative Flood could move the
previous question ut any time after one
hour and. If sustained. bring the meas
ure to a vote. He was disposed. how
cver to give members every opportu
nifty to speak throughout the day. The
debate began without any limitation.
"War is being made upon our coun
try and its people" Representative
Flood said in opening. sour ships are
being sunk. Our nOncOmbatant citi
zens. including men. women and chill
dren, are being murdered. our mer
chantmen are denied the freedom Of
the seas. There is no choice MS to Oul
course. We are compelled by the act.
Of the German government to enter In
to this most colossal war.
1--WE should take our stand by til,
side of the allied nations who hav,
been fighting humanity's battles TO
two and one-half years. determined
that our power shall be so employed
that complete victory shall crown thei
efforts and that Prussian lnilitarlsn
shall be crushed and the world shall b.
delivered from the threat and DANCE
Of the HOhenzOllern dynasty"
i