The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-04-06
and Weeping, She
Refused to Vote for War.
TIMID VOICE AMID STORM
Lady From Montana SObs mo-
and Then FleeS.
In IL Hours Debate, go Men,
bers Addressed House.

nisbed the most dramatic scene of the
most dramatic session in the history of
this nations house of representatives,
The woman is Miss jeanette Rankin of
Montana. the first woman ever to sit
in either body of the country's leS1s-
lature.
The house passed the historic reso-
luton that says Germany has warred
upon this government, amid stirring
scenes at sos this morning.
The vote-373 to 50-was not unex-
pected. after the thrilling declaration
of Representative Claude Kitchin,
North Carolina. Democratic floor
leader in the afternoon, that he could
not bring himself to vote the country
into war.
Kitchin's Speech Swung Dozen.
Ritchin's speech swung dozen or
more votes to the ranks OF those
opposing the resolution.
When the long but always thrilling
debate had at last been concluded,
stiffness that seldom marks house pro-
ceedirgs. settled over the chamber
Then there was a stir in the galleries
The members, too, began to shift about
a moment.
The clerk drawled out the list of
names, recording members votes. Sol
EMMY they answered. Some voted
reached. The first woman was to vote
on war.
Amid an embarrassing silence,
weeping, she advanced half way down
the aisle from her seat in the rear
, A storm that had ripped thru Wash
ington like a noisy herd of cavalry
and that ruled even the intensity of
storm that continued thruout the
presidents address to the joint session
Monday night, was on.
Arn
Even in the close packed chamber
and galleries, the intermittent rum
bling of thunder could occasionally be
heard.
Il want to stand by my country
said this woman, choking, but-I
can't vote for war"
Thunderous hysterical applause,
from pacifist and pro-war sides of the
house alike, greeted this frank admis-
sion-woman's first official voice in
the house.
One had to yell and applaud to jam
down the lump in the throat. But the
lady from Montana" had slipped out
a side door. grief stricken, and she
heard but little of the ovation.
For seventeen hours the house had
been in continuous sessio weighing,
debating, almost fighting over the
momentous question before them
Two hundred and twenty-five mem
bers had addressed the house.
II doSCSs
Peace advocate had met war advo-
cate, man for man, until midnight.
Then the tension almost reached the
swapping point. Perspiration dripped
' from members foreheads. Suddenly
a motion was made to reach an agree
ment by IL, or let the matter go
over until Saturday or Monday. 1t
H never reached a vote.
AS Good Friday was ushered in the
house seemed as far from vote as
at 10 O'Clock Thursday morning. Cries
of 'vote, vote" arose from all sides.
Debate had been limited to five min
utes. but names of those who wished
to speak kept piling on the list.
At 1880 a. m. Representative Brit
| ton. Illinois, introduced an amendment
to the bill that would have prohibited
use of American troops in Europe. De-
bate, which had been repeated two
and three times during the day,
switched to this
At 2:05 o'clock, after speeches had
been repeated and r~oeated. the
break came when Representative Nc
Gee, New York, announced:
Il shall ask that my remarks be
reading them. and thereby save time
! Britton Tries Filibustering.
A dozen followed suit. Majority
Leader Kitcnin asked that it lie over
until Saturday. The motion was de-
:, feated Chairman Flood of the for
| elgn a1talrS committee, dSheu lHaI tne
| committee of the whole go into a
| house session and take up the ques-
| ton.
The house then Immediately pro-
ceeded to take up Britton's amend
| ment.
Britton demanded the ''ayes" and
noes" He grinned as groans arose
from all over the chamber. 1t takes
/ forty-five minutes to an hour to call
the house roll
Speaker Clark put the question as
to ''ayes'' and noes to a vote and II
| was overwhelmingly defeated, viva
i voce. A moment later the Britton
amendment was defeated likewise.
ii Not satisfied, Britton moved that
the resolution be referred back to thu
| foreign affairs committee and reported
cut with an amendment identical II
the one that Just failed. once more
he led in an attempt to get the ayes
| and noes"
Il Another motion for reference back
to committee was killed also.
Voted at 3:OS This Morning.
II The pacifists. realizing themselves
defeated. died hard, and at 2:37 Rep
| resentative Sloan, Nebraska, Offered
! another similar amendment, which
failed in the same manner.
II Promptly at 2:45 o'clock the house
| started to vote on the resolution. Al
3:OS the roll had been called in re-
cord time and the presidents state
of war resolution had passed both
| branches of congress.
III Turnout the day and night the gal
| leries maintained their long vigil. W
until the last minute the corridors
| were packed with scores ready to
II spring into the first seat vacated. But
| few persons left
ish the galleries to keep silence OIL
III they would be cleared ont But rim