Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1917-04-05
FIERY SPEECHES
FEATURE SESSION
OF LOWER HOUSE
War Resolution Called Up at
1915 Starts Flood Of
Patriotic Talk
FLOOD STIRRED ALL BY
BITTER ARRANGEMENT
Cooper and Stafford Of Wis
cOnSin and Britten, Illinois,
Oppose Measure
By Carl d. GrOat.

\ I'll
Washington, April 5.-The house TO-
day sounded the battle cry and prepar-
ed to make war against Germany a real
ity within "a hours OF less.
The house went into 'fcommittee of
the whole ON the state of the union -
soon after eonvening, bringing up the
state of war resolution for debate.
Chairman Flood Of the foreign commit
tee opened the discussion.
House speeches, fiery with patriotism,
called upon members to hasten passage
of the state of war resolution
Some pacifieism developed, but there
was no question as to the ultimate out
come-a hearty support Of President
Wilson and passage of the resolution.
Chairman Flood of the house foreign
committee called up the war resolution
at l0:l5 and the membership proceeded
to consider it.
We are great nation, said Repre-
sentative Harrison, democratic leader
on the committee "We glory in its
history and priceless heritage. I refuse
to believe that we have degenerated in
our national ideas, that we have forgot
ten the teachings OF our fathers and
are not now willing the fight for those
principles they so courageously defend
ed and upheld in the early history of
the country.
To Fight for Humanity.
We are going to war in defense of
our fundamental rights and for preser-
vation of the rights of humanity.
THE charge that we are going to
wage war for profit in the interest of
munition makers is as despicable Rs it is
un-American and it is unworthy OF any
American who loves his country better
than he does the land of an insidious
foe.
'If there be in this body or else
where citizens who object to the course
we are embarking upon, suggest they
address themselves to Kaiser Wilhelm,
Bethmann- Holilweg, the reichstag and
the author of that remarkable sample of
diplomatic kultur, the Zimmerman note.
Let those citizens tell them how we
love the history and principles of our
government; how we have protested,
pleaded and supplicated to a degree al
most humiliatlng; how they have made
promises only to break them; tell them
that if their professions are to be con
sidered anything more than scraps of
paper they must atone for past acts and
| renew and live up 10 their solemn
pledges"
Militarism Must End.
If they do this, we shall call off
the dogs of war. IF they do not, we viii
wage war to the limit of our resources
and the end win not come until Ger
man militarism the greatest menace to
the peace and happiness of mankind, is
no longer a blot ON civilization. y
Flood stirred the house when he said:
War is being made upon our country
and its people. Our ships ave being
sunk. Our non-combatant citizens, in
cluding men, women and children, being
foully murdered; our merchantmen are
denied freedom Of the seas.
Under such circumstances, there is
but one course for the government to
pursue and that is to 20 to defense of
its people and honor the nation There
is no choice as to our course. We are
compelled by the acts of the German
imperial government to enter into this
most colossal war.
"That imperial governments has
thrust war upon us, Time for argument
has passed Time for heroic action is
here; our people will rally to the sup
\ port of their government in this high
and patriotic hour and meet wars sac
rifiees and wars perils as brave and
patriotic people should.n
A Patriotic German.
Representative Siegel said: