Shoshone journal. [volume] (Shoshone, Idaho) 1884-1931, 1917-04-13
UNITED STATES
FORMALLY At WAR
WITH GERMANY
CONGRESS Declares That a State
of War Exists.
SENATE is FIRST TO ACT
Six Members Of Upper House Vote
Against Resolution After Heated
neutrality-suspicious. Adopt
Measure by overwhelm-
ing Majority.

Washington, April Corresponding
quickly to President Wilson's stirring
message and to the evident demand
of the people of the United States,
congress has formally declared that a
state of war exists between this coun-
try and Germany, due to the hostile
acts of the imperial government.
The senate was the first to act on
the war resolution and adopted it by
vote of 80 to 6. The six senators who
voted against the resolution for war
we're:
AISLE J. eRoNNA, Republican,
North Dakota.
HARRY LANE, Democrat, Oregon.
r. M. LA TOILETTE, Republican,
Wisconsin.
c. w. NORRIS, Republican, Me-
braska.
WILLIAM J. STONE, Democrat,
Missouri.
J. K. VARDAMAN, Democrat, Mis-
sissippi.
There were eight senators absent or
paired. They were: Bankhead. Golf.
Gore, Hollis, Newlands, Smith of
Maryland. Thomas. and Tillman. 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
Af h. 81 r-1lx fAA do
feated the armed neutrality bill at the
last session. There was no attempt
to flibuster this time, however.
Thirteen Hour Debate.
Thirteen hours of heated debate
preceded the vote. Party lines dis
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 DR..
Won Bethmann-Hollweg, the German
would have made the same
speech in the reichstag had he been
mbued with sufficient effrontery.
Senator Norris, charging that the
United States is going to war at the
1ehest of the munition barons of Wall
street, drew from Senator Reed the re-
-ort that such an accusation is cal
most treason"
The assertion that the nation was 60
ng to war on the demand of gold. he |
said. was can indictment of the presi- |
lent Of the United States, an indict- |
nent of congress. of the American PEG
Die, and of the truth"
''The president is not calling Amer
ca to arms for the sake of a few |
,altry dollars" Senator Reed contin-
led, 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"
''Tht time for discussion has
assed." he said. 1.-The president has
tated clearly. effectively, more con-
lusively the reasons which make this
rave step necessary. The resolution
rovides for war against the imperial
ierman government. 1t places re-
for the war squarely upon
be shoulders of the German govern
lent, charged with repeated acts of
Trr against the United States.
1--WE 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.
.'Such quarrel as we have with Ger
ANY is not of our choosing. II was
,rced upon US and we did much to