The daily commonwealth. (Greenwood, Leflore Co., Miss.) 1916-1919, 1917-04-02
CONGRESS ASKED
TO DECLARE WAR:
Local Lodge Elks Adopt Resolution
Unanimously to that Effect
Wired to Senator Williams.

The United States government was
urged to take aggressive action in
retaliation for the insults offered this
Country by Germany, the action al
ready taken by this government was
heartily indorsed and immediate pas
sage Of universal military training
Legislation was urged in resolution
adopted yesterday afternoon at spec
ial meeting Of Greenwood Lodge No.
S54, B. P. O. Elks.
The resolution in full was wired to
Senator John Sharp Williams at
Washington, who will introduce the
war resolution in the Senate, follow
ing the address to be delivered by
President Wilson.
A brief outline of the resolution was
sent to the Memphis Commercial Ap-
peal and the New Orleans TimesrPica-
yune. ....s,.e ID. N !, e !. .s.-
Following is the resolution IN full:
Whereas, Germany has repeatedly
since the outbreak of the present
European conflict, committed acts Of
war against the United States by
ruthless destruction of the property
and lives Of American citizens on the
high seas, in violation of international
law and the principles Of humanity;
and
Whereas, Germany has recently, in
insolent defiance of the United States,
notified them that these illegal out
RACES will. be continued deliberately
and Systematically, unless American
citizens and merchant ships are alto
gether kept off certain large designat-
ed areas Of the high seas, and has
since such notice, without any provo
cation attacked and destroyed at least
five such ships, thereby causing the
death of number of American cit
izens, showing that she fully purposes
to follow up the word with the deed;
and
Whereas, Germany has in various ways
committed acts Of hostility against
the United States, notably by the Zim-
merman note, which sought to involve |
the United States in war with the
friendly powers of Mexico and Japan
with a view to the actual territorial
of the United States;
and
Whereas, these acts of Germany
are derogatory to the dignity and hon.
or of the United States, destructive /,
Of dearest rights Of American citizens,
and are in high degree insulting to
The American people and fraught with
peril to their vital interests and safe-1
"; 20,
Therefore, be it resolved unanim-
ously by Lodge No. 854 B. P. O. Elks,
that it is the sense Of the lodge that
The United States should at once meet
this illegal and insulting aggressive
varlike course Of Germany with ap-
oropriate aggressive action by dec
aration of war against Germany and
;he speedy and vigorous prosecution
f the war with every resource at their
command; and that to this end COM
plete and comprehensive scheme Of
shall be accomplished as
quickly as practicable, one feature Of
which shall be the adoption of sys-
;em of universal compulsory military
raining along the lines recommended
~ the General Staff of the Army Of
he United States; and that the Un-
ted States shall cooperate with
France and her allies in the manner
most practicable to the end that the
complete military defeat Of Germany
may be brought about, the vital in
terest and safety Of the American ma
lion 50 requiring. In this the Lodge
pledges to the President and Congress
It's sympathy, loyalty and active
FIRMAN SMITH, Chairman.
JOHN A. TYSON,
W. R. HUMPHREY,
Committee on Resolutions.