The Parma herald. (Parma, Idaho) 1903-1917, 1917-04-12

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eddy and grossly violated its treaty OBJ
legations to us, and wantonly broken
solemn assurances"
"The issue is not peace or war;" Sen
ator Swanson continued "War has al
ready been declared upon US. The Is
sue is whether we shall accept war or
abject and cowardly submission"
Reclting the sinking of American
ships, German plots, and outrages in
this country, Senator Swanson said the
Zimmerman plot to incite Mexico
against this country reaches the low
est depths of national turpitude."
Many other senators took part in the
debate, Gronna, Stone, Yardaman,
Norris and LaFollette, all opposing the
resolution.
Senator Smoot made the last speech
"a short prayer that God would
Hasten the day when liberty will be
enjoyed by all the peoples of the
EARTH"
The roll call was taken while the
senators and spectators sat solemn. A
few cheers greeted the result and then
all filed quietly out of the chamber.
House Vote, s7s to so.
The house, after a debate lasting
about seventeen hours, adopted the
joint resolution by vote of 373 to 80.
Nearly a hundred representatives made
speeches.
In Offering the senate resolution as
substitute for its own, the house for
eign affairs committee submitted a
long report reviewing the history of
submarine warfare and Americas fu-
tile protests against it, German in
trigues and bomb plots in this country,
the effort to ally Japan and Mexico
against the United States and the mis-
treatment of American officials and
citizens in Germany.
at is with the deepest sense of re-
sponsibility for the momentous results
which will follow the passage of this
said the report, that your
committee reports it to the house, with
the recommendation that it be passed.
1.-THE conduct of the imperial Ger
man government toward this govern
nent, it's citizens and its interests, has
been so discourteous, unjust, cruel,
,arbarous, and so lacking in honesty
md practice that it has constituted a
of the course of conduct
which should obtain between friendly
nations.
"In addition to this the German gov
is actually making war upon
he people and commerce of this coun-
~, and leaves no course open to this
government but to accept its gage of
attIe and declare that a state of war
Xists."
Flood Opens the Debate.
Under the unanimous consent rule
Y which the resolution was considered
Flood could move the
revious question at any time after one
our and, if sustained, bring the meas
re to a vote. He was disposed. how
yer, to give members every opportu-
lty to speak throughout the day. The
ebate began without any limitation.
"War is being made upon our coun-
Y and its people," Representative
lood said in opening. "Our ships are
cling sunk. Our noncombatant citi-
ms, including men, women and chill
rem, are being murdered, our mer-
lantmen are denied the freedom of
e seas.
1.-THE time for argument has passed;
e time for heroic action is here, and
II people will rally to the support of
cir government in this high and pa
lotto hour and meet wars sacrifices
Id wars perils as brave and patri-
ic people should.
1--WE should take our stand by the
lie of the allied nations who have
EN- fighting humanity's battles for
70 and one-half years, determined
at our power shall be so employed
at complete victory shall crown their
,orts and that Prussian militarism
all be crushed and the world shall be
livered from the threat and danger
the Hohenzollern dynasty"
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