Shoshone journal. [volume] (Shoshone, Idaho) 1884-1931, 1917-04-13

| Ohe desperate act Dy the imperial Ger
man government has followed an
| other"
German Pledges Broken.
Senator Hitchcock was followed by
Senator Swanson Of Virginia, who said
the German government has repeat
eddy and grossly violated its treaty OBJ
legations TO US, and wantonly broken
solemn assurances"
The issue is not peace or war" Sen
ator Swanson continued. "War has al
ready been declared upon u.s. The is
sue is whether we shall accept war or
/ abject and cowardly submission"
Reciting the sinking of American
| ships, German plots, and outrages in
this country, Senator Swanson said the
Zimmerman plot to incite Mexico
against this country REACHES the low
est depths of national turpitude."
I'VE have long suspected DISPOSE
ton by Germany to dispute the Monroe
doctrine" he added. Now is the time
to teach this Notwithstanding German
government that our territorial sover-
eighty cannot be made a subject of war
bargaining.
What else can Germany do to wage
war against us? When the war-made
autocracy that now rules Germany has
been chastened or overthrown, ties of
friendship now severed will be reunit-
ed"
Many other senators took part in the
debate, Gronna. Stone, Vardaman.
Norris and LaFollette, all opposing the
resolution.
Senator Smoot made the last speech
"a short prayer that God would
'hasten the day when liberty viii he
enjoyed by all the peoples of the
EARTH"
The roll call was taken while the
senator's and spectators sat solemn. A
few cheers greeted the result and then
all filed quietly out of the chamber.
House Vote, 373 to so.
The house, after debate lasting
about seventeen hours, adopted the
joint resolution by vote of 1913 to so.
Nearly hundred representatives made
speeches.
In offering the senate resolution as
a substitute for its own, the house for
eign affairs committee submitted
long report reviewing the history Of
submarine warfare and Americas fu-
tile protests against 1t, German in
trigues and bomb plots in this country,
the effort to ally Japan and Mexico
against the United States and the mis-
treatment of American officials and
citizens in Germany.
ut is with the deepest sense of re-
sponsibility for the momentous results |
which viii follow the passage of this |
resolution" said the report, that your
committee reports it to the house. with |
the recommendation that it be passed. |
1.-THE conduct of the imperial Ger
man government toward this govern
ment, its citizens and its interests, has
been so discourteous, unjust, cruel,
barbarous, and so lacking in honesty
and practice that II has constituted
violation of the course of conduct
which should obtain between friendly
nations.
"In addition to this the German gov
eminent is actually making war upon
the people and commerce of this coun-
try, and leaves no course open to this
government but to accept its gage of
battle and declare that a state of war
exists"
Flood Opens the Debate.
Under the unanimous consent rule
by which the resolution was considered
Flood could move the
previous question at any time after one
hour and. if sustained. bring the meas
ure to vote. He was disposed. how.
ever, TO give members every opportu-
lity to speak throughout the day. The
debate began without any limitation.
"War is being made upon our coun-
Try and its people," Representative
flood said in opening. "Our ships are
,eing sunk. Our noncombatant citi.
.ens, including men, women and CHI
lren, are being murdered. our mer-
.hantmen are denied the freedom of
he seas. There is no choice as to our
curse. We are compelled by the acts
# the German government to enter in
o this most colossal war.
1.-THE time for argument has passed
he time for heroic action is here, and
ur people win rally TO the support Of
heir government in this high and pa
riotic hou- and meet wars sacrifices
nd wars perils as brave and patri-
tic people should.
1--WE should take our stand by the
ide of the allied nations who have
cen fighting humanity's battles for
vo and one-half years, determined
nat our power shall be so employed
iaf complete victory shall crown their
forts and that PrussiaA militarism
nall be crushed and the world shall be
elivered from the threat and danger
the Hohenzollern Cvnasfv-