The daily Gate City and constitution-Democrat., 1917-04-06
ENER|CA AROUSED THIS MORNING
BY SHR|LL NOTES Of BUG[E Of WAR
to be a spirit of cooperation
and coordination that will
profit by the mistakes of other
warning nations toward the
end that the American war ma
chine shall operate smoothly
and capably.
DRAMATIC SCENE.

bhAm% lIS SSCN6s
WASHINGTON, April Ga wom-
an furnished the most dramatic
scene Of the most dramatic session
In the history Of this nations house
Of representatives. The woman IS
Miss jeanette Rankin Of Montana,
the first woman ever to sit In either
body of the country's legislature.
The house passed the historic 1880
luton that says Germany has warred
upon this governm ent amid stirring
scenes at 3:o8 this morning.
The vote, 373 to so, was not un-
expected, after the thrilling declara-
tion Of Representative Claude Kit.
chin, North Carolina, democratic
floor leader in the afternoon, that he
could not bring himself to vote the
country Into war.
kitchIn's speech swung dozen or
more votes to the ranks Of those
opposing the resolution.
When the long but always thrill
ing debate had at last been con-
cluded, a stiffness that seldom marks
house. proceedings settled over the
chamber. Then there was stir In
the galleries. The members, too, be-
gan to shift about q moment.
Tho clerk drawIed out the list Of
names, recording members votes.
soIemnIy they answered. some'
voted husI<IIy. Miss Rankin's name
was reached. The first woman was
to vote on war. Amid an esnbarrass-
ing silence, weeping, she advanced
half way down the aisle from her
seat in the rear. A storm that had
ripped through Washington like a
noisy horde Of cavalry and that
equaIied even the intensity Of the
storm that continued throughout the
presidents address to the joint ses-
sion Monday night was on.
Even In the close packed chamber
and galleries, the intermittent rumb-
ling Of thunder could occasionally be
heard.
THE WoMAN's FIRST VOTE.
al want to stand by my country"
said this woman, choking, "but-I
can't vote for war;
Thunderous, hystericaI applause
from pacifist and pro-war sides of
the house alike greeted this frank
adn,ission-woman's first official voice
in the house.
One had 20 yell and applaud to
jam down the lump in the throat:
But 1.-The lady from Montana" had
slipped out side door, grief strick-
en-, and she heard but little Of the
For seventeen Hours the house had
been in continuous session weighing,
debating, almost fighting over the
momentous uestion before them.
Two hundred and twenty-five men,
bers had addressed the house.
Peace advocate had met war advo-
cate, man for man until midnight.
Then the tension almost reached the
swapping point. Perspiraton
dropped from members foreheads.
Suddenly motion was made to
reach an agreement by ~ or let the
matter 90 over until Saturday or
Monday. It never reached vote:
ON GOOD FRIDAY.
As Good Friday was ushered in,
the house seemed as far from a vote
as at ten o'clock Thursday morning.
Cries of "vote, VOTE" arose from all
sides. Debate had been limited to
five minutes, but names Of those
who wished to speak kept piIing on
the list. At t:3o a. M, Represe nta-
tive Britten, Illinois, introduced an
amendment 20 the bill that would
have prohibit ted use Of American
troops in Europe.
Debate which had been repeated
two and three times during the day,
switched to this.
At 2:05 o'clock, after speeches had
been repeated and repeated, the
break came when Representative Nc
Gee, New York, announced:
"The house is ready for vote.
shall ask that my remarks be eN
tended to the record, instead Of
reading them and thereby save
time"
A dozen followed suit. Majority
Leader kitchin asked that 1t lay
over until Saturday. The motion
was defeated. Chairman Flood Of
the foreiqn affairs committee, asked
! [Continued on page ~