Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1917-04-06

predicted 1t would be at least an hour
before a vote could be reached.
Just before 9 O'Clock Miss jeanette
Rankin. representative from Mon
tana, who had waited in her Office
through most of the evening, entered
the chamber and took a seat.
Little Emotion.
For the most part the discussion
proceeded with an air of Unconditional
acquiescence. scores Of members maxi
ing brief speeches to put themselves
On record as reluctantly accepting
war as the only course Of honor.
During the day the debate revealed
an unexpected strength in the min
Ority opposing the resolution. Con-
dozen votes against it gave place to-
night to reports that the opposition
might muster upwards of a hundred
on the final roll call, and supporters
of the resolution conceded that thu
number to vote in the negative prob
ably would be more than fifty.
Follow Kitchin.
This surprising accession to the
minority ranks was attributed to the
efforts Of Democratic Leader kitchin,
who took the floor and in a dramatic
speech announced that he could 40:
with a clear conscience vote for war.
Supporters of the presidents course
were not concerned owe the detection
however. Sure of a great majority,
they permitted the roll call to be de
layed only so that every one might be
heard.
Good Friday Debate.
Shortly before midnight, after the
debate had continued for more than
10 hours, those in charge Of the reso-
luton predicted a vote would be taxi
en- soOn after l o'clock. There was
no certainty that 1t might not be
hours later, however. Late tonight a
suggestion by Chairman Flood of the
foreign affairs committee hat debate
be closed before midnight met with
loud shouts of disapproval and even
the opposition of a considerable num-
Der Of members opposed to voting on
Good Friday was insufficient to get
an agreement to vote by - o'clock.
Mr.. Kitchin's opposition drew an
immediate following from among the
group who have opposed prepared
ness and armed neutrality and to-
night many of them who had sat sill
ent and glum in the rear Of the cham
Der throughout the day moved down
in front and spoke against the reso-
luton. One Of the most earnest
speeches in behalf of the presidents
course. came from Republican Lead
er Mann. who declared Germany had
deliberately affronted this country
and that only war could ave the ma
tional honor.
Administration leaders until today
that Representative Kitchin would
oppose the resolution. Rather look
ing to him as the man who would
have to lead the fight for revenue.
they talked with him freely on the fin
ancial phase Of the situation. Aroused
by reports of his attitude, Democrat
ic leaders. fastened to his office today
to nnd that he had prepared in part
a speech opposing the resolution.
senators pleaded with him to aban-
don his plan. Possible loss of the
house leadership and his forced exit
from public life as we'll as the de-
mands of patriotism were pointed gu
to him.
Pacifsts Busy.
Pacifists. learning Of the activity OF
jumped into the fight. Their lines
thinned by threatened assertions. OF
some OF their strongest members
they saw in the winning Of Kitchir
a possibility Of rallying tho waverinp
representatives back into camp. Rep.
r~esentative Shackleford Of Missouri
and Representative Sherwood Of Ohio
urged Mr.. Kitchin to make his
speech.
Finally, shortly before 8 O'Clock
after almost continuous conference.
for six hours. Representative Kitchir
announced publicly hat he would
speak against the resolution. His en-
trance into the chamber shortly
afterward caused a quickening OF
tagging interest in the debate.
Change Sides.
Representative Hensely Of Missouri
who on Tuesday said he would vote
for the resolution. hastily announced
that he had decided it was his dut,
to oppose it. Others who had de.
serted the pacifst camp said the,
were thinking seriously and probably
would vote in the negative.
Kitchin's Speech.
Obviously wearied by the day.
events. Mr.. Kitchin spoke without hi.
usual fire.
I'm view Of the many assumption.
Of loyalty and patriotism he said
"On the part Of some of those wht
tons by them of cowardice and dis
posed 1t, oftshoots doubtless Of tn,
mind the house that 1t takes neithel
moral nor physical courage to declar,
a war for others to fight. It is evi
dence Of neither loyalty nor patrio
I>tism for n to urge others TO get int,
war when he knows that he himsel
is going to keep out.