Free trader-journal. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1916-1920, 1917-04-04
WAR RESOLUTION
REACHES DEBATE


Hitchcock. What influence have had
in my own state and in this body !
have exerted against ii. ! supported
neutrality because ! thought it offer
ed escape from war with honor. Ey-
en- up to the eleventh hour. ! sought
out the president and beased aim to
cling longer, if possible, to armed neu-
trality. But il was of no avail. The
president was in possession of sucb
information that made II impossible
to longer maintain neutrality.
THE decision has been reached. 1t
is war. | cannot cast my vote against
war without doins weak and foolish
thing. II would only be TO veal ken
us. obeyed the instructions Of the
foreign relations committee and ! now
take my place beside those who wish
to support the president to the ut
most in bringing the war to a success
fu. termination
When Senator Hitchcock finished,
eign relations committees, who is une-
luivocally opposed to war, and Sena-
tor Swanson, a member of the same
| committee, both rose. The vice pres
| ident recognized Senator Swanson.
THE president of the United States
in address to congress has forcibly
rccited the many grievances which We
have against the Imperial German
government, the many outragcs per-
pctrated upon our citizens by that
government, and its many allronts to
4 flag and sovereignty said Swanson.
He has shown that the German
/ government has repeatedly and gross
/ ly violated its treaty Obligations to
us. and wantonly broken most solemn
assurances given cur government 10
respect our international rights. He
has proven, that by the lawless des-
truction of ships bearing and claim
ing the protection of our flag without
notice and without proyocatlon, by
German submarines acting under pos
tive directions from the German gov
eminent, that government has pro
4 coded to wage war on this nation
He asks authority from congress to
use the army and navy to defend our
right, protect our citizens and their
legitimate commerce, and TO give him
the means efficiently to wage this war
violently precipitated by Germany.
'The question presented to us for
determination, continued Swanson,
is whether we shall promptly and
generously respond to the brave and
patriotic appeal o. the president to
defend our rights and redress our
wrongs, or whether we SHALL cowardly
submit TO these and further OutraEes
and thru craven fear rclinquish i'm
portant rights which are vital to Us
as u great and inspiring nation.
Washington, April Acceptance o
war with Germany as a fact vii
come at the hands of congress within
"a hours. When the senate met al j
| O'Clock this morning its leaders wcr
| prepared to keep IL in session unit
/. after the Flood Martin resolution dc
claring state Of war and plegdin
the resources of the country to cal
ry it to successful conclusion
passed The house foreign affair
committee at The same moment wen
, into session to consider the same resi-
lutcn. 1t will report II to the hous
promptly and it will be made the in
mediate order of business II wa
corccded that the opposition will b.
very slight in either house although
considerable oratory is expected, CT
pccialy in the senate
Until the resolution Is adopted III
administration will take no furthe
!, public step. The bill creating a ncV
army. which will provide for l,Sol 90
, men to be raised immediate to III
to war strength the sregular army
the national guard and provide tn
100000 men that the President sal
were necessary will go to the militar
, affairs committee very shortly b
/, fore it is considered it is cxpe"te
that the army bill. which failed
, the last session. will have been ru8l
! cd through the house under = sp
eial rule and sent to the senate
Speedy action mas Deen ASKED b
the President on three measures
, They are the army bill, the eSpionaG
bill and the bill which will strenethe
the shipping bill and permit cor
Wandering of all vessels now und'
construction in the United States it
foreigners. Tho latter measure wi
o make Immediately available for go
:. eminent use hundreds OF thousant
u Of tons of shipping. In this come
|. ton officials Of the shipping boar
+" today explained there was no into
tion Of Selling a lot of ships now
,. commission and thus disarrangil
commerce Only such vessels as mu
2 Immediately be used will be taken o
q or and Withdrawals viii be gradu
especially in the cast of coastwiso yc
a sells.