The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-04-02
Has Kept Contents of 1t Strict
Iy to Himself.
PRAYERS FOR PATRIOTISM
ChapIains of Senate and House
Invoke Divine Guidance.
Senate in Session Only Ten
Minutes Upon RecOnvening.

Washington, April president
Wilson will go before congress in joint
session at eight o'clock tonight to de-
liver his war message.
This was officially announced at the
White House after Representative
Kitchen, Democratic floor leader had
recommended the plan, in view of the
delay in the organization of the House.
Thruout the day the president re-
mained in his study waiting for the
house organiza tion to become COM
pleted.
When Kitchens suggestion was Civ
en- him by Secretary Tumulty, the
president Immediately expressed his
Willingness to comply.
Majority Leader Martin announced
to the senate that house leaders had
informed him the organization would
! certainly be complete by $50 o'clock.
Anxious to Speak Today.
| Immediately after the speaker S
! election new members were sworn in
| and balloting was begun on the minor
! offices of the house organization. At
! first it. was thought that organization
/ could be perfected quickly and that
everything might be ready to hear the
! president soon after 3 o'clock. The
! Republicans however. suddenly inter
| posed obstacles to speedy disposition
!
| roll calls on each office and it ap-
peared that perfection of the house
| organization might run late into the
afternoon.
President Wilson, however, was
| eager to deliver his address today and
waiting at the White House received
frequent reports of the progress in the
/ house.
Refers to Friendships.
The president in his address it is
! understood will refer to the tradition
! al friendship between the American
people and the German people and will
ditterentiate between the German gov
| ernment and the people it rules He
also will recount his effort to restore
peace to Europe and to maintain
peace with Germany. Before going
to congress the president did not take
even members of his cabinet into his
confidence on the exact terms of his
address. From information he has
called for. and general discussions at
cabinet meetings they know that he
has concluded that war with Germany
seems inevitable,
President Wilson's address imme-
diately will be sent to all the foreign
embassies and legations here and VIII
be telegraphed to American diplomats
abroad. 1t was acknowledged today
that foreign governments on receipt
of it may interpret it as they think
best even to assume that it so closely
approXimates recognition of a. state of
war, as to necessitate the issuing of
neutrality proclamations.
The house session opened with Clerk
South Trimble presiding until organ
ization was perfected. The chaplain
included in his prayer a plea for pa
triotiSm.
Prayers Go Into Politics.
Diplomacy has failed he prayed.
..R.Tz 1c,
to reason and justice have been swept
aside.
I'VE abhor war and love peace, but
if war has been or shall be forced
upon us, we pray that the heart of
every American citizen may throb
with patriotic feeling and that a unit
ed people may rally around our presi-
dent to hold up his hand in every
measure deemed necessary to protect
the lives of American citizens and
safeguard our inheritance
Nearly the entire senate member
ship was present when Vice President
Marshall called for order. After the
invocation the presidents proclama-
ton calling the extra session was read.
In the senate the cha plain also re-
ferred to the problems confronting
congress.
Amid the confusion and violence of
the world today we cannot know the
things that may shortly come to pass ~
he prayed. Lead us, oh, God. thru
the darkness until the day dawns and
shadows flee away. Grant us courage
to defend the truth. At this critical
time in the history of our country lead
these Thy servants in a plain path
and inspire them with lofty prin-
ciples."
johnson Sworn In.
Senator johnson of California, was
sworn in.
The senate after being in session
about ten minutes recessed to await
organization of the house Senators
Martin and Gallinger. the two party
leaders. were appointed to act with a
house committee in notifying Wilson
that congress is ready to receive a
communication from him. In moving
for recess until 3 p. m, Senator Mar
tin said:
Il understand there is a strong
proba bility that the house will perfect
its organization by o'clock and then