The review. [volume] (High Point, N.C.) 1908-19??, 1917-04-12

the German government has repeat
edly and grossly violated it's treaty OBJ
ngauons to US, and wantonly broken
solemn assurances" y
The issue is not peace or war" Sem
ator Swanson continued. "War has al
ready been declared upon us. The is
sue Is whether we shall accept war or
ab5ect and cowardly submission"
Rec1ting 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."
we have long suspected DISPOSE
ton by Germany to dispute the Monroe
doctrine" he added. Now Is the time
to teach this mischief-making German
government that our territorial sover-
eighty cannot be made subject of war
bargaining
What else can Germany do to wage
war against us? When the war-made
autocracy that now rules Germany has
been chastened or overthrown, ties of
friendship now severed will be reun1t-
ed"
Many other senators took part In the
debate, Gronna, Stone, Vardaman,
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, 373 to so.
The house, after a debate lasting
about seventeen hours, adopted the
joint resolution by a vote of 373 to So,
Nearly hundred representatives made
speeches.
In offering the senate resolution as
a substitute for it's own, the house for
eign affairs committee submitted q
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.
'It is with the deepest sense Of re-
sponsibility for the momentous results
which will follow the passage Of this
resolution" said the report, that your
committee reports 1t to the house, with
the recommendation that it be passed.
'"The conduct Of the imperial Ger
man government toward this govern
ment, it's citizens and it's interests, has
been so dfscourteOuS, unjust, cruel,
barbarOus. and so lacking in honesty
and practice that it has constituted
violation Of the course of conduct
which should obtain between friendly
nations.
''In addition to this the German gov
eminent is actually making war upon
the people and commerce of this cOun-
try, and leaves no course open to this
but to accept its gage Of
battle and declare that a state Of war
exists
Flood Opens the Debate.
Under the unanimous consent rule
by which the resolution was considered |
Representative Flood could move the |
previous question at any time after one j
hour and, if sustained, bring the meas
ure to q vote. He was disposed, how
ever, to give members every OppOrtu-
nifty to speak throughout the day. The
debate began without any limitation.
"War is being made upon our coun-
try and it's people," Representative
Flood said in opening. "Our ships are
being sunk. Our noncombatant citt-
zens, including men, women and chR-
dren. are being murdered, our mer-
are denied the freedom OF
the seas. There is no choice as to oul
course. We are compelled by the acts
Of the German government to enter in
In this most colossal war.
sHThe time for argument has passed;
the time for heroic action is here, and
,ur people will rally to the support OF
their government In this high and pa
-riottc hour and meet wars sacrifices
and wars perils as brave and patrl-
otic people should.
eve should take our stand by the
.;s1e of the allied nations who have
,een fighting humanity's battles for
-wo and one-half years, determined
hat our power shall be so employed
.hat complete victory shall crown their
.fforts and that Prussian n1ilitarism
hall be crushed and the world shall be
from the threat and danger
# the .HohenzolIern dynasty. i