The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1917-12-08


at last is formally and actually at
war with Austria- Hungary Presi- +
dent Wilson tonight signed the
declaration that, with forrnaiittes
waived and opposition virtually
erased. had been adopted Wy the
rseasscs and tapusc of sT&pxesrnta-
tivrs In less than four hours.
The declaration dates from sos
r. NJ, when the president AFFIXED
his signature, and from that hour
all the resources of the country
stand pledged TO push the war TO
successful conclusion.
Only one voice was raised
asr@sys, the sae-elsra,tan ay1 Ieitleer
branch OF congress, IL being that
Of Meyer London. New York So
ciaitst. He voted no against the
ayes cast by 365 other members
OF the house. In the senate no
voice was raised against the II
affirmative votes. Senator Ia
Toilette did not vote. being out OF
the chamber, preparing an
amendment" ms he afterwnrd cx-
planned.
He and London divided the at
tcntion OF the galleries, Ii being
expected that both would fGht
the declaration. Neither could
as much AS delay progress, how
ever. so earnest were the two leg
isiasive groups and 80 skiffuify did
Chairman Stone In the senate and
Chairman F4ood I'm the house
marshal their forces.
Senate Acts Quickly.
Passage OF the resolution BY this
senate came quickly. in practically ar
hour. Seventy-four OF the ninety-sis
senators voted aye" including Gore
Gronna, Norris, stone and vaydamau
of the alleged "pacifist" group.
"It had seemed to me-" Senator
said. that by declaring
war upon Austria we might possibly
be supporting the extreme demands
made by Italy that Austria give III
her Adriatic portsI at the end of the
war But the president has practi.
cally said that this nation would not
enter war that contem plated tnt
dismem berment of the Austro- Hun
garian nation. After the war. wher
this country sits AT the council table
she will protect the right OF Austria al
well as any other nation.
After all. Germany is the sole OPP
ponent OF this country in the war
She Ii a greater menace now ever
than when we declared war upon her
Figures ~ Lord Beresford show thai
from August. 1914. already 10000, 0of
tons of shipping had been destroyed
He further estimates n loss OF 2,o00,,
900 tons before January /. And he
that 100000 tons will
have been constructed. SO this leaves
a deficit of 100000 tons"
The nrst speaker following Senate,
Stone, who introduced the resolution
was Senator Lodge, of Massachusetts
who dismissed the idea of declaring
this present day In these words:
Possible Cnse Against Turkey.
1T Is not necessary to argue thai
they stand on the same logical grount
az Austria Hungary The present OBJ
lection made In that there is no prac.
tical necessity for a declaration
against them. / think technically &
case could be made against Turkey
for she Ia Using troops on the italian
front, where We may be called upor
the strange position of having our sol
diers or aviators fighting Turkish sol
diers while we are at peace with Tur,
key. -,...,,4~-------
Many senators, I should say tn,
majority. have felt that Bulgaria ant
Turkey might well be included Tn,
president and the state department
feel, hows >,r, that action in regard
TO these countries should not be taker
now. So far as i am concerned,
hope no much amendment will b,
offered. w
If We must declare war on Turke,
and Bplgaria--and ! believe action Il