The Yale expositor., 1917-04-12
UNITED STATES
FORMALLY At WAR
WITH GERMANY
Congress Declares That a State
of War Exists.
SENATE IS FIRST TO ACT
Six Members OF Upper House Vote
Against Resolution After Heated
Debate-Representat Adopt
Measure by OverwheIm-
ing Majority.

Washington, April Corresponding
quickly TO President Wilson's stirring
message and 10 the evident demand
of the people of the United States,
congress has formally declared that
state of war exists between this coun-
try and Germany. due to the hostile
acts of the imperial government.
The senate was the first to act on
the war resolution and adopted ii by
vote of 50 to 6. The six senator's who
voted against the resolution for war
were:
AISLE J. eRoNNA, Republican,
North Dakota.
HARRY LANE, Democrat, oregon.
r. M. LA TOILETTE, Republican,
Wisconsin.
c. W. NORRIS, Republican, Ne
braska.
WILLIAM J. STONE, Democrat,
Missouri.
J. X. VARDAMAN, Democrat, Mis-
slssipp.
There were eight senators absent or
paired. They were: Bankhead, Goff.
Gore. Hollis, Newlands, Smith Of
Maryland. Thomas. and Tillman. OF
those absent it was announced that all
except Senator Gore of Oklahoma
would have voted for the resolution If
present.
All six Of the senators who voted
against the resolution were members
of the group of twelve which de-
feated the armed neutrality bill at the
last session! There was no attempt
to filibuster this time, however.
Thirteen Hour Debate.
Thirteen hours of heated debate
preceded the vote. Party lines dis
appeared In this discussion and Repub-
licans Joined with Democrats in sound
ing the call to the nation to support
the president unitedly.
The little group opposed to the reso-
luton drew fire from every side SEN
ator La Toilette, defending Germany
and heaping blame upon England, was
informed by Senator Williams that DIR.
Won Bethmann-H ollweg, the German
chancellor. would have made the same
speech in the reichstag had he been
imbued with sufficient efrrontery.
Senator Norris, charging that the
United States Is going to war at the
behest OF the munition barons of Wall
street, drew from Senator Reed the re-
tort that such an accusation Is "al-
most treason"
The assertion that the nation was go.
ing to war on the demand of gold, he
said. was ian indictment Of the presi.
dent of the United States, an indict.
ment Of congress, OF the American peo-
pie, and Of the truth"
"rhe president is not calling Amer.
lea to arms for the sake Of few
paltry dollars" Senator Reed contin
ued, but for the life, honor, and In.
tegrity Of this country"
Introduced by Hitchcock.
In introducing the resolution into
the senate, Senator Hitchcock made O
brief statement In which he said that
the present time was one "for action
not discussion
"Tht time for discussion has
passed." he said. 1.-THE president has
stated clearly, effectively, more con
clusively the reasons which make thi,
grave step necessary. The resolution
provides for war against the imperia
German government. 1t places re
sponsibility for the war squarely upor
the shoulders of the German govern
ment. charged with repeated acts Of
wrr against the United States.
1--WE want no more territory. w,
will demand no indemnity. We hav,
no grudge 10 settle, nor racial anti
pathy. We will spend our treasure
and our blood and sacrifice our Lives
without the thought Of gain.
"Such quarrel as we have with Ger
many is not of our choosing. II wal
forced upon as and we did much L