The Parma herald. (Parma, Idaho) 1903-1917, 1917-04-12
AMERICA FORMALLY
ENTERS THE WAR
WITH GERMANY
Congress Declares a State OF
War Exists With the Impe-
rial Government.
HEATED DEBATE IN SENATE
La Toilette, eronna, Stone, Norris,
Vardaman and Lane Vote Against
ResoIutlon-Great Majority
for the Measure in the
Lower House.

for the Measure in the
Lower House.
Washington, April 6.-The United
States is now formally at war with
Germany. In response to the presi-
dents message congress has adopted
the resolution declaring that a state
of war exists between the two coun-
tries.
The senate was the first to act on
the war resolution and adopted 1t By
vote of 50 to g. The six senator's who
voted against the resolution for war
were
AISLE J. eRoNNA, Republican,
North Dakota.
HARRY LANE, Democrat, Oregon.
r. M. LA TOILETTE, Republican,
Wisconsin.
G. W. NORRIS, Republican, Me-
braska.
WILLIAM J. STONE, Democrat,
Missouri.
J. K. VARDAMAN, Democrat, his
sissippI.
There were eight senators absent or
paired. They were: Bankhead, Golf,
Gore, Hollis, Newlands, Smith of
Maryland, Thomas, and Tfllman. OF
those absent it was announced that all
except Senator Gore of Oklahoma
would have voted for the resolution if
present
All six of the senators who voted
against the resolution were members
of the group of twelve which de-
feated the armed neutrality bill at the
last session. There was mo attempt
to filibuster this time, however.
Thirteen Hour Debate.
Thirteen hours of heated debate
preceded the vote. Party lines dis
appeared in this discussion and Repub-
licans joined with Democrats in sound
ing the call to the nation to support
the president unitedly.
The little group opposed to the reso-
luton drew fire from every side. SEN
ator La Toilette, defending Germany |
and heaping blame upon England, was |
informed by Senator Williams that DIR. |
Won Bethmann-Hollweg, the German
would have made the same |
speech in the reichstag had he been
imbued with sufficient effrontery.
Senator Norris, charging that the
United States is going to war at the
behest of the munition barons of Wall
street, drew from Senator Reed the re-
tort that such an accusation is cal
most treason"
The assertion that the nation was 20
Ing to war on the demand of gold, he
said, was can Indictment of the presi-
dent of the United States, an indict-
ment of congress, of the American peo-
pie, and of the truth"
"The president is not calling Amer
Ca to arms for the sake of a few
1altry dollars" Senator Reed contfn-
ned, "but for the life, honor, and in
.egrity of this country"
introduced by Hitchcock.
In introducing the resolution into
he senate, Senator Hitchcock made a
,rief statement in which he said that
he present time was one ''for action,
lot discussion"
"The time for discussion has
'assed," he said. 'The president has
tated clearly, effectively, more CON I
lusively the reasons which make this !
rave step necessary. The resolution
rovides for war against the imperial 6
ierman government. 1t places re- +
possibility for the war squarely upon :
he shoulders of the German govern
lent, charged with repeated acts of
Tar against the United States. I
eve want no more territory. We :
ill demand no indemnity. We have :
o grudge to settle, nor racial anti !
athy. We will spend our treasure =
nd our blood and sacrifice our lives -
'ithout the thought of gain. We are :
DING to war to yindicate our honor !,
nd independence as a great nation =
nd in defense of humanity. y
"Such quarrel as we have with Ger =
amy is not of our choosing. II was u
'rced upon us and we did much m d
void it. For nearly three years the .
congress. and the American =,
eople have hoped to avoid it. But 81
he desperate act by the imperial Ger. "
an government has followed an "
her" u
German Pledges Broken. :,
Senator Hitchcock was followed nv q
enator Swanson of Virginia. who said q,