The weekly tribune and the Cape County herald. (Cape Girardeau, Mo.) 1914-1918, 1917-09-29
United States Senator Shows That
His Americanism is Right, And
Asserts That Ely And Other A9i-
tators Were Right Last Novem-
Der.
OPPOSED WAR DECLARATION
and TELLS THE REASONS why

of Those Who Are Behind III
Protest Propaganda"
The letter of United States Senator r. R. Ely of
c protesting proposed meeting to condemn MSsous
in the Senate regarded by
nanswerae defense In of the fact that
metropolitan newspapers have refused print it, has limited its Gil
.on
The letter briefly but oqucny
President Wilson elected by preaching the 81
clicc now advocated by Senator Stone.
The Tribune only newspaper Southeast
Curl the United States Senator's
presenting herewith Senator Stones statement which, we
be, unanswerabe
September TO- 1917.
Hon. r. r. Ely Kennett, Mo.
My receipt your September 1st
notifying you of the Dunkn County Com
meeting of Dunkln County Democrats to
bic kennett the 18th instant to their views
the policies of the President and (2 with
respect Missouri Senators and Congressman
regarding subject the receipt Of letter
through other that have suggested
having those meetings appoint
delegates to attend the Kenne meeting on Saturday
left uncertainty to the character of the
meeting you assembling do know whether be
meeting gathering Of a few selected as delegates
your letter leaves uncertain to who has ngated
THIS movement In your letter to me you nave pee re-
quese petoned of the Democrats of
county, that ain compliance with the request of Democrats have
called meeting gather you did
meeting authority of the County Committee but at
request outside of the committee Perhaps this unm
disposed over-crita about it. only
curiosity had told Just who had
urging propaganda curiosity this behalf of
easily understand However have said all this by
wit turtle being of minor Importance
with much brevy employ to speak of my
personal attitude and service with respect to the war was opposed
the United States declaring and involving
people fghtfu caacysm the time that action
did all could persuade the President and the Congress
take that fatal For and half years had stood for
neutrality wanted to save our country from the horrors OF the
while the time might stand forth
serving Christian civilization and mighty
the world this policy through all this long period the Presi
together upon policy party stood
the this policy the President elected last
As January o. 1917 the President speech
heartily
supported his utterances at that time In less than two weeks after
him. which he
his addresses the President changed his attitude from
peace do not the merits of that
question: merely recounting the
convinced that the time
had come for his country to take up the sword and he carried
with him. Because of long and intimate personal and
official relations with the President of profound
regret that found impossible with him. do
the merely the fact argued then with
the President and with the Congress- appealing to them to keep out OF
failed my persuade them Over protest the
Congress declared for confess that sad day for
contitutionay legally determined
while could change my
the unwisdom of the decision bowed the will
that hencefoh would the Govern
ment could the prosecution of the felt them
long my Government l will
stand by and support it. That have done adlasy and With
shadow Without here this refer
speech August 30 1917, in reply
newspaper and especially the
parts pages and of that speehin which will
find condensed of record Every
shown by the
From this follows that cicise for attitude with
respect the because opposed going into the
But Mr. Ely how did and Democratic neighbors
stand that election day last Novembeaye
late December and january You have changed
opinion the changed his did could
change deep convictions and attitude day
week do rticise those who took different
blaming them; but from of view it impossible
plunge country this world horror That
the front and of possible oense that the most rabd
could lay at
have been changed by malignant metropolitan
with patriotism country