The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1917-04-04
SENATE
DEBATES
ON WAR
LaFollette Not In
Place When Re-
solution Was
Called up
AlIISEGlM REPORTS
ROUSE Com. REPORTS
Measure Will Be Taken Up
in That Body First
Thing Tomorrow.

WASHINGTON, April 4--The war
resolution was debated in the Sen.
ate today with speeches of support
from both sides and prospects that
opposition would be confined to very
few.
1t was the plan to pass it before
adjourning.
The resolution was not reached in
the Honse, however, as had been plan.
ued and is to be taken up at ten tomor.
row incoming under arrangement to
REMAIN in session until passed.
The Senate resolution was accept
ed by the House foreign affairs COM
mittee as a substitute for its own and
was favorably reported for passage
with only two members of committee
voting against 1t. They were Repre-
sentative .Shackelford, Democrat, of
Missouri, and Representative Cooper,
Republican, of Wisconsin.
N the Senate patriotic expressions
OF support for the President and de-
termination to press the war with all
vigor were made by Democrats and
Republicans with pledges of non-par-
tisan consideration for all war ques-
tions.
Senator Hitchcock In charge of the
resolution for the present, in place of
Senator Stone, who would not support
it, declared as much as he wished and
had worked to avoid war he could
not vote against the resolution.
Senator Lodge ranking Republicans
on the Foreign Relations committee,
pledging the support of the Republi-
cans to the President called on gov
eminent to seize all German ships
Ia American waters to replace those
destroyed by submarines and in pass
tomato terms called the government not
to conduct "half war"
Senator Vardaman, Democrat Of
Mississippi. was the first to announce
he would vote against the war reso.
luton. lie was followed by Senator
Stone who announced his opposition
but. like vardaman, pledged support
to thetwar when 1t is begun.
Senator Norris, Republican of Ne
braska, told the Senate he was "bit'
terly opposed to the United States en-.
tering war" but did not fatty state
that he would vote against the war
resolution.
Senator La Toilette who yesterday
forced the resolution owe: to today,
was not in the chamber at 10 o'clock
when Senator Hitchcock asked un.
animous consent to take 1t up. Almost
every other Senator and many House
members were present when the de-
bate began.
In a brief opening statement Sena.
tor Hitchcock in charge of the reso'
luton said, 1.-THE present is time
for action, not discussion. The time
for discussion has passed" he said.
"The President has already stated
most clearly effectively, most conclu'
sively the reason which makes this
grave step necessary.
"The resolution provides for war
against the Imperial German govern.
ment. 1t Is framed on the lines OF
other war resolutions. 1t places respon.
sibility for the war squarely on the
shoulders of the German government
charged with repeated acts of war
against the United States. 1t is also
Is unquestionably declaration of war
l am impressed with the solemnity Of
the occasion. Some may be filled
with Joy at the prospect of war. To me
Il IS depressing and dreadful. The
enormous cost which the people must
nay, the great increase in cost Of liv-
Ing, the enormous burden of taxes the
people must bear and the still greater
heritage of death staggers my mind.
The awful sacrifice of life that must
follow sickens my heart. ! am sure
many other senators feel as do.
-We want no more territory. We
will demand no indemnity. We have