Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1917-04-05
FLOOD / OPENS
DEBATE FOR
PROPONENTS
Representative Cooper, Of
Wisconsin, Begins. Op-
position Fight,
FINE FOR HEROIC
!. FACTION, SAYS FLOOD
Rather than Force 1tnmedi-
ate Vote, He Gave Oppon-
ents Chance to Talk.

+. washinxton, April 6.-pebate on
che war resolution began In the mouse
with Chairman Flood Of the foreign
AFFAIRS committee making the open
" Expect Big Majority.
&. Passaxe Of the resolution which
win complete tho action OF congress
in declaring that q state OF war ex,
lists between Germany ana the Uniteo
states was expected by q majority as
heavy as that which attended Its pass
age last nigh in the senate:
resentative Cooper. Wisconsin,. rank
inr republican member of the foreign
affairs committee who was expected
to lead the opposition:
Flood Let Opposition Talk.
Less than half the members were
present when the session opened. IN
der the unanimous consent RUE oy
sidered. REPRESENTATIVE Flood could
move the previous question at any
time after one hour. and. II sustained.
briue tho measure to a vote. he was
disposed. however. to give members
every opportunity to speak through
out the day. Tho debate began With
out any limitation.
try and its people," Representative
Flood said, "Our ships are being SUNK
our non-oombatant citizens. including
mon. women End children are oeinB
murdered. Our merchantmen are de-
MED the freedom of tho seas: Ihere
Ia no choice a. to our course. We are
compelled by the act Of the German
eovernment to enter into tnis Htost
colossal war.
The time for argument ha: passed: !:
the tirne for heroic action 10 here and
our people will rally to the suppors
Of their government in this hign ana
patriotic hour and meet wars sacri.
foes and wars perils as q brave ana
patriotic people should.
1--WE should take our stand by the
side Of the allied nations who have
been fighting humanity's battles 1oI
that our power shall be SO employed
that complete victory shall crown
their efforts, and that Prussian mln,
tarism shall be crushed and the world
shall be delivered from the threat and
danger Of the Hohenzollern dynasty"
Interrupt Flood.
First expressions Of opposition to
the war resolution came from Repre-.
sentatives Cooper and STAFFORD. OF
WISCONSIN,, and Representative Brit
ton Of Illinois, while Flood was speak
"Couldn't the English mines in the
North Sea destroy American hves?'
40 date England never has sunk
one Of our ships or destroyed an
American life," Flood said.
Loud applause greeted the reply.
Cooper Defends Himself.
Representative Cooper launched IN
to defense of pacifists generally
and himself particularly.
II have been called a pacihst." hi
said. II voted for all Of these pre-
paredness bills. This campaign Sian
der has no regard for the truth"
Cooper also defended his vote fol
the McLemore resolution.
Keep Women of Ships.
IT WIS right then," he said, "and 81
were the l44 other members whe
voted for 1t. It should have passed
Canada does not permit Its women t.
travel on armed ships and neither
should we. Every paciast in the coun
try knows I am not paci1st In tn.
sense in which that word is used
Does 1t mean because do not wan
to 60 to war with a nation 1000 mile
away, because England and German!
have violated our rights, that l an
not an Americana"
Showered with "specs."
Mr.. Cooper broke his eye glasse
and found trouble reading certsil
documents. A dozen members lat'
spectacles on his table.
Cooper. turning to the chair, said
"Mr. Chairman, I cannot surrende
all of my time to trying on specs"
A roar Of laughter swept the house
Mr.. Cooper declared that the Ger
man government never had promised
unoualifiedly to abandon its subma
rine warfare. Representative Floo'
made loud demands to be heard, bu