Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1917-04-05

m both houses, declaring the existence
of state of war, and directing the
president to employ all the resources
of the country TO carry on war against
the imperial German government and
bring the conflict to a successful, con-
clusiOn. Because of the opposition to
the measure by Senator Stone, chair
man of the foreign relations commit
tee, the resolution was introduced in
the senate by Senator Martin of Vir-
ginia, the Democratic floor leader. Rep
resentative Flood, chairman Of the for
eign affairs committee, introduced it in
the house.
The resolution follows:
Joins resolution declaring that a
state of war exists between the i'm
perial German government and the
government and epOple Of the United
States and making provision to prose
cute the same:
whereas, The recent acts Of the
imperial German government are acts
Of war agains. the government and
people of the United States.
Resolved, By the senate and house
of Representatives Of the United States
of America in congress assembled, that
the state of war between the United
States and the imperial German gov
eminent which has thus been thrust
upon the United States is hereby for
| mally declared; and
THAT the president be, and is here
by authorized and directed TO take i'm
mediate steps not only to put the c0un-
| try in a thorough state of defense, but
| also to exert all of its power and
employ all of its resources to carry on
war against the imperial German gov
eminent and to bring the conflict to a
| successful termination"
Washington, April 3.-Champ Clark
| of Missouri was elected speaker OF
| the house of representatives of the
| Sixty-fifth session In a session Of the
house that was marked with SEN
| sations almost from the outset.
| The speaker defeated james r. Mann
of Illinois.
The vote resulted: Speaker Clark,
217; Representative Mann, 2O5; Rep
resentative Lenroot, 2; Representative
Gillette, 2. Two members were re-
| corded present but not voting.
Nominated by Progressive.
The dramatic moment of the house
| organization preliminaries was the
| nomination Of Champ Clark by Repre-
sentative Thomas D. Schall, the Pro-
gressive Republican of Minnesota.
The blind member was led TO the
center of the house by page. His in
troductOry remarks were of patri-
otto nature, not disclosing the real OBJ
ject of his speech. He continued:
"a state divided against itself in
time of peace may stand but today
such a situation might be a serious
menace. We should forego party ad-
vantagaS in a time like this.
Zoo hnr1T OF Today renders partisan
ship dangerous because it might be
| construed as country presenting a
divided front to the world AS an in
dependent Progressive Republican,
|
must vote under the circumstances.
'Were my country not in the face
of an international crisis, with the
president and the senate Democratic,
| would as a matter Of party pride
cast my ballot for the Republican can
didate. He is able, alert, fair-mind-
ed, l should like to vote for him.
May BE Used Against Him.
81 realize that Seton I am about to
take will be used to attempt my pO-
iitical death in Minnesota.
with my sightless eyes would be
of little service to my country on the
field Of battle, but I can use the light
! that God gives me to vote right to-
| day. l believe the president should
have q Democratic senate and house
behind him.
"Under all these circumstances !
shall cast my vote for speaker for that
Progressive Democrat, Champ Clark
of Missouri"
Does the gentleman place Mr.. Clark
| in nomination for speaker?" asked
South TrimbIe, clerk of the house, who
was presiding.
| 81 gladly do So" said Schall.
| Representative William S. Greene of
| Massachusetts then arose to nominate
| James r. Mann as the Republican can
didate, and the Republicans had theiI
| first opportunity to applaud Mr.
| Greene, however, did not make an!
formal speech in naming Mr.. Mann.
| Representative Lenroot of Wiscon
sin, who has been a keen critic of some
of Mr.. Mann's acts, received thun-
| derous applause from the Republican
side when he went into the we'll of the
house to second Mann's nomination
He had previously been brought for
ward by faction of the Republicans
as candidate for the speakership. Ii
| was dramatic moment when Lenroot
| SecOnding the nomination of Mann,
said:
Il cannot let the statements of the
gentleman from Minnesota and the In
ferences they make go unchallenged
He takes the position that patriotism
demands that the organization of this
house be turned over to the Democrats.
Patriotism demands that the Demo
| Gratis ought to submit to p Rendition