New Britain herald., 1917-04-05
IA TOILETTE RAPS
 ALL FAVORlNG WAR
Defends U-Boat Campaign and
 Protests Against Entente's Acts


 Toilette began by reading a letter to Representative Helgesen, of North Dakota, from 9 North Dakota woman, protesting in behalf of her son against the slaughter of war. The Wisconsin senator was given close attention from
 both the floor and galleries. @ T had supposed until, recently"
 said the senator as he concluded the
 letter, that it was the duty of sepa- tors and representatives to vote and act their convictions on questions coming before them. Quite another
 doctrine has been proposed by the newspapers of the country. It is the doctrine of standing behind the presi- dent without inquiry as to whether he is right or wrong
 'I have never subscribed to that doctrine and I never shall have stood behind him when I believed him right, and shall continue to oppose him when I believe him wrong." La Toilette spoke of how he had been criticised by the executive for opposing the armed ship bill. Representatives of the president saw fit, to prevent my speaking" the senator said. '"The president issued a statement in which he saw fit to characterize as 'wilfuH the conduct of
 senators Who in obedience to their consciences and oaths of office op- posed the bill. I know of no graver charge.'' "Straw Votes' Against War. Senator La Toilette read sheaf of 1 telegrams reporting 'straw vote,'' post
 card and other polls in various com- l munities opposing war. He declared | 1,ot nf 1S 000 1o%< o~.5 telegrams he had received regarding
 his vote on the armed ship bill from 80 to 90 per cent. had approved his stand. The senators who opposed the armed neutrality bill had been at7 tackled and "scurrilously libelled" in the newspapers. he declared, contrary to the spirit of fairness which once pervaded the nation.
 Asserting that minority frequently 1 is able to shape the national policy,
 Senator La Toilette digressed from his prepared speech to make plea that the people make themselves heard
 'The poor who are called to rot in the trenches" he declared dramati cally, "have now no organized mouth piece. They have no press, but some time they will be heard, hope, in an orderly and peaceful way and before long, when, if we take this step. prices of necessaries will multiply and they will come to be taxed double again and again. The people will be ! heard, they will have their day" Defends U-Boat Warfare. The Wisconsin Senator referred to the presidents statement that Ger I many had violated her submarine pledges, and continued:
 Her promise, so called, was condi- tional upon England being brought to obedience of international law. Was
 it quite fair to lay before the country the statement that Germany made an unconditional promise and had delib- l erately violated it?
 "It was England-not Germany l who refused to obey the declaration of London containing the most hu- | mane ideas of naval warfare which could be framed by the civilized world up to that time. Keep that in mind. 'If this is war upon all mankind, l is it not peculiar that the United States is the only nation of all neutrals which regards it necessary to declare war upon Germany? All have re- fused to join in a combination against Germany. Some may have a clearer view than we. This suspicion of desire for war profits does not attach to them.''
 Senator La Follete said the United States has not the confidence of the other American republics because of its war policies. He predicted that entrance of the United States would not shorten the conflict, but will vast ly extend the conflict, ''but will vast in.' It is idle, he declared, to talk of a war on the German government and not on the German people.
 Protests Alliance With Entente.
 I've are leagued." he continued.
 Tor about to be. according to the presidents speech, with the hereditary enemies of the German people. Words are not strong enough to protest against combination with the En- tente Allies which would have us in- dorse the violations of international law by Great Britain and her purpose to wreak vengeance on the German people. We do not know what is in the minds of those who made the compacts in which we are to share.' Reverting to the presidents asser- tion that the German people were thrown into war without an oppor- tunity to say anything about it, the senator asked: twill the supporters of this war bill have vote on it before it goes into effect? Unless they do that, it ill becomes us to speak of Germany. Submit this question to the
 people. By a vote of 10 to 1 they would register their declaration against war"
 The German people, he declared.
 have been more solidly behind their
 government than the people of the United States will be behind the pres- ident in waging war on Germany.
 "The espionage bill and the mili-
 tary bill that have been drawn by the