Norwich bulletin., 1917-04-05

ernment has committed repeated acts | of war against the government and the people of the United States of Ameri- ca; therefore, be it
 1 Resolved, by the senate and house of representatives of the United States of America, in congress assembled. that the state of war between the United States and the imperial German gov eInment which has thus been thrust 1 upon the United States is hereby for mally declared; and that the president be, and he is. hereby. authorized and l directed to employ the entire naval and military forces of the United l States and the resources of the gov | ernment to carry on war against the imperial German government: and to bring the conflict to successful ter imitation, all of the resources of the l country are hereby pledged by the congress of the United States"
 During the debate Senator La Fol- lette said: T had supposed until recently l that it was the duty of senators and representatives to vote and act 1 their convictions on questions coming has been propossd by inc newspapsTs ssrs of the country It is A1e doctrine of standing behind the president without inquiry as to whether he is right or wrong. ssssrss.Ass as,sss f ; Fl.
 T have never st1bscribed to that doctrine and never shall. If unhap- pily on such momentous question, | scientious consideration we could give leaves us in disagreement with the , president, I, for. one. regTetfully, but none the less firmly, must remain. so. The Wisconsin senator referred to the presidents speech to congress and when he severed relations. with Ger many and the one asking for armed l neutrality. He said conditions be-, not changed greatly since the dfplo- matic break.
 Opposed to Arninq of Merchantmen.
 Declaring he became convinced that arming of merchantmen would be wholly futile and "a lure to their de- structfon," Senator La Toilette spoke of how he had been criticized by the executive for opposing the armed ship bill. The presidents daughter, Mrs McAdoo, listened from gallery. Doesn't Like to be Called aWiIfuI.~ Representatives of the president saw fit, by methods do not care to characterize. to prevent my speaking sued in a statement in which he saw fit to characterize as .wilfuP the con- duct of senators who in obedience to the conscience and oaths of ofifce, op-
 "straw Voter Postcards.
 Senator La Toilette read sheaf of telegrams reporting sstra wvote" post card and other polls in various com that of 15.00o to 10000 letters and tel- egrams he had received regarding his vote on the armed ship bill. from 80 to g, go per cent. had approved his stand; neutrality had been attacked and | "scurrilously libeled in the newspa- pers, he declared. contrary to the spir- it of fairness which once pervaded the nation.
 Plea for People to be Heard.
 Asserting that minority frequently is able to shape the national policy, Senator La Toilette digressed from his prepared speech to make a plea that the people make themselves heard.
 '"rhe poor who are called to rot in the trenches" he declared dramatical- ly, have now no organized mouth piece. they have no press. but some time they will be heard hope in an orderly and peaceful way before long. when if we take this step prices of necessaries will multiply and they will come to be taxed double again and again. The people will be heard; they will have their day.
 The Wisconsin senator referred to the presidents statement that Ger many had violated her submarine pledges, and continued:
 Her promise. so called. was condi- tional upon England being brought to obedience of international law. Was 1t quite fair to lay before the country
 
 unconditional promise and had delib- erately violated it?
 England, Not Germany, to Blame.
 "It was EngIand-not Germany-l who refused to obey the declaration of London, containing tn emost humane ideas of naval warfare which could be framed by the civilized world up to that time. Keep that in mind"
 "If this is war upon all mankind is it not peculiar that the United States is the only nation of all neutrals which regards 1t necessary to declare war upon Germany? All have refused to join in a combination against Ger many Some may have clearer view than we. This suspicion of desire for war profits does not attach to them"
 Will Net Shorten War.
 Senator La Toilette said the United States has not the confidence of the other American republics because of it's war policies. He predfcted that entrance of the United States would not shorten the conflict. 'but will vast (continued on Page Seven. Fifth csI.)