Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1917-04-04

| Oiuy several nunuTe0 persons, mos
women. were on hand when the gavel fol
The opening of debate was delayed a 1
minutes by the reading Of patriotic CO
munlcation indors sing the declaration Il
state OF war exists,
The Rev. Mr.. Kiblcr, In the OPEN
prayer, pleaded for IAN early peace, a r.
peace for every nation under the SUM-"
After Senator Jones, of New Mexico h
introduced his woman suffrage resouti
and Senator Morris Sheppard. of Texas,
| Federal prohibition measure. Senator Htc
cock, ranking Democratic member Of
Foreign Relations Committee. moved &C
sideration Of the Flood-Martin war measu
Senator Sheppard said the prohibition rd
| luton was introduced at this time as
war measure" He said II was calculat
TO increase the nations efficiency.
LA TOILETTE is SILENT
The war resolution was taken up
| unanimous consent
| Senator La Toilette was present, but d
| not lift his voice In protest. Senator Hitc
| cock Immediately took the floor TO expla
the measure He said:
The time for action is at hand The
time for discussion is past. The Presi-
dent has stated most clearly and ac-
curately the reasons which make this
great step necessary. The resolution
provides for war upon the Imperial
German Government. 1t Is framed
along the lines Of previous resolutions
of this kind. II is unauestionably a
declaration Of war.
AS the President said in his message
the only other alternative was sub
mission. The armed neutrality reso-
luton would have passed I'm the last
session had 1t not been for "A filibuster.
which made 1t impossible for nine
tenths of the Senate to vote.
l did think 1t possible for armed
neutrality to succeed. I thought IL pos
sible that Germany might have yielded
Unfortunately, however. due to that fill
buster. we were not given chance to
try that. II went out to the world the
official bodies of the United States were
at loggerneads
Since then our neutral rights have
been trampled more and more / think
seven Of our ships have been sunk with
out warning. In at least two instances
American lives have been lost.
] have been opposed to war bitterly
opposed to war What influence I
have had in my own State and in this
body i have exerted against IT,
supported neutrality because I thought
II offered escape from war with honor
Even up to the eleventh hour. 7 sought
out the President and begged to cling
longer, If possible, to armed neutrality
But IL was of no avail The President
was in possession of such information
that made it impossible to longer MAIN
tain neutrality
The decision has been reached II Is
war ] cannot cast my vote against
war without doing a weak and foolish
thing. 1t would only serve to weaken
us. | have obeyed the Instructions OF
the foreign relations committee and I
tNnxy ,.t,aA
wish to support the President to the
utmost in bringing the war to n sue
cessful termination.
SWANSON FOR WAR
When Senator Hitchcock finished. Sen.
ator stone, chairman of the Foreign Rela-
tions Committee. who Is uneuuivocally op-
posed to war. and Senator Swanson "A mem
Der of the same committee both rose The
vice President recognized Senator Swan
son, who said:
The President of the United States
in an address to c yngress has forcibIy
recited the many grievances which we
nave against the Imperial Government of
Germany the many outrages perpe-
trated upon our citizens by that Gov
ernment. and its many affronts to our
flag and sovereignty. He has shown
that the German Government has re-
peatedly and grossly violated its treaty
obligations to us and wantonly broken
most solemn assurances given our Gov
ernment to respect our international
rights. He has proved that. by the law
less destruction Of ships bearing and
claiming the protection of our flag with
out notice and without provocation,
by German submarines acting under
positive directions from the German
Government, that Government has pro-
ceeded to wage war upon this nation
to
use the army and navy to defend our
rights protect our citizens and their
legitimate commerce and to give him
the means efficiently to wage this war
violently precipltated by Germany.
n blow at the pacflsts was struck by
wanson.
They would place upon this nation the
hame of still greater submission" he said
"Sirs, in long national life, the pathway
peace is the pathway of firmness. courage
nd resolution said Swanson. Prudence
nd foresight are wise counselors ever to
: listened to and followed. but cowardice
nd timdity are the worst advisers that
yer purred their whisperings into the ma
onal ears. Srs, honor. wisdom and self
terest demand that. in the language of
ir Secretary of State, we should defend
ir rights upon the seas from whatever
iarter violated, without compromise and
any cost.
STONE ENTERS PROTEST
Senator Stone next took the floor
81 fear" he began, that Congress is
bout to involve the United States in this
ar and when you do, you will commit
e greatest national blunder IN history
Il shall vote against this mistake to
event that for which l would gladly lay
'wn my life. 1 lift my voice in solemn
arning" He continued:
But IL the constituted powers Of my
government shall decide for war, and
we go into the war. then / Shall cast
an doubts and foreboding to the winds,
ana my eyes will be blind to everything
but the flag of my country borne by
American boys through the storm of
war, and my ears will be deaf to every
cail except the call of my country in
Its hour Of peril
III Congress unfurls the battle f,ar. |
however profound my sorrow, / will al |
once stand In obedient salute 10 that
nag, dutifully willing and ready to per- |
form any service or make any sacrifice
necessary to bring the cause we espouse
10 successful issue. To my country-
men say that while we may differ. as
we DO, about the policy of entering
this war, once I'm it, all differences must
end. In war there can be no divided
patriotism. In war the eyes of an
American can behold but one flag. In
time or stress like that all gaps must
be closed and our front become as solid
as wall.
lf We declare for war there must
be no hating, we must make war a.,