New Britain herald., 1917-04-05

Washington, April 5.-war against Germany was the solemn decision of
 the United States senate at ten min-
 utes after eleven o'clock last night by
 the overwhelming vote of S2 to 6.
 Only these senators voted against
 the war resolution:
 Gronna, republican, of North Da- kota; La Toilette, republican, of Wis consin; Lane, democrat, of Oregon;
 Norris republican, of Nebraska; Stone democrat, of Missouri, chairman of
 the foreign relations committee, and Vardaman, democrat, of Mississippi. Every one of the eight absentees, if they had not been kept from the chamber by illness, would have voted for war in accordance with the advice
 of President Wilson. Their colleagues
 made formal announcement to that
 effect on the floor.
 The debate in the senate was stir ring in the extreme. With the single
 exception of Senators La Toilette and
 Norris. no vote was sounded even by
 the little group of opponents of the
 resolution other than one of enthusi-
 astic loyalty to the government.
 The other pacifists, while declaring
 that they could not on principle vote
 for the war. pledged unhesitatingly
 their services and support to wage
 war against the Kaiser's government to the limit. >.e.
 The final vote came. much earlier than was expected. As senator after senator on both sides of the chamber declared his intention to vote for war and aid in it's prosecution to the full
 >A~A | A..H1s
 concilable pacif1sts lost heart. They.
 did not make even a feeble attempt
 to delay the inevitable result
 When the chair put the question a
 great silence spread over the historic
 chamber which had for more than
 twelve hours rung with words of pa
 triotism. There was no applause as
 senator after senator solemnly an- 'swered "aye"-and only a little un-
 easy stirring in the crowded galleries
 when each of the six pacifists an-
 swered mo-
 Not a ripple of applause followed
 the announcement of the result from
 the vice presidents rostrurn. The oc- cupants of the galleries who had been
 admitted only by special passes, had been instructed to maintain absolute silence.
 lne senate a0JOufned 1mmeO1aLe1y after the vote was announced. As the roll call began in the senate silence prevailed. The rustic of whispers in the galleries ceased. With drawn, tense faces spectators and sen- ators alike awaited the answers. Senator Gronna wa the first to vote 'No." His vote caused a stir which for a moment broke the stiffness. Then a dozen ayes followed un- til the names of La Toilette and Lane were heard. As both voted against the resolution wave Of excitement again swept the chamber. The fourth vote of mo" was cast by Senator Norris in a low voice. which at ordinary times scarcely would have been heard.
 Senator Stone, of Missouri. was leaning back in his chair when his name was reached. He strengthened up. and leaned forward as he an- swered mo" with marked emphasis. The negative vote of Senator Yard aman was uttered with sharp, almost vindictive emphasis.
 The debate was spectacular throughout.
 Senator Henry Cabot Lodge de- !! clared in favor of sending United States regular army into the French I trenches to lend encouragement to the. Allies, even If only 10000 men could go now. Speaking for the republi- cans, he said party lines should be wiped out.
 '"Tllis is not, cannot be a party war; 1 it is a war in which all Americans 1 must be united,'' he said eff we l must fight we must fight for all we are
 worth. It must be no wear, hesitat- l ing war;
 Senator Stone, announcing he was l going to vote against the resolution, said:
 "M we declare for war there must l be no halting: we must make war In l earnest. We know what that means. but when war is declared. if it is de- 1 clared, honor and patriotism will de- mand that we shrink not even from | the mouth of hell. If congress un- ! furls the battle flag, however pro- 1 found my sorrow, I will at once stand ! in obedient salute to that flag" 1 Senator Norris charged that Wall Street controlled the government
 and that it was money war. "We are about to place the dollar on the | American flag" he declared. Senator Reed said the statement