New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-04-01
Simmons for
Declaration Of
War at Once
Time for Congress to Act,
Says North Carolina
Senator
People Of Whole
Country Are Eager
We Ought To Go Into This
AS Hard as We Can,
He Says
From The Tribune Bureau.I

washington, Marcn ol.-' NorLn Odio-
lima is fighting mad with Germany. The
people down there | have met since
Congress adjourned are humiliated over
the insults and affronts this country
has received from Germany, and they
not Only want declaration OF war from
Congress, but they want every ounce Of
strength thrown into the fight that the
United States can bring to bear"
This was the statement to-day Of
Senator Simmons, chairman OF the
Finance Committee and Democratic
leader of his state. Mr.. Simmons is q
conservative and has never been called
a fire eater He is regarded as being
very close to President Wilson, al
though he has not seen him since Con-
gress adjourned.
az have no patience with this talk
about a declaration that a state OF war
exists" continued Senator Simmons,
"unless it be pointed out in clear Ian
guage that the state of war exists by
reason of the acts Of Germany against
us. 1t ought to be a declaration OF war
against Germany because Of those ac-
tions. But this is no time for quioollng
over phrases. This is a time for &C
ton, and believe the people Of the
whole country are eager for it. ! can
speak for the South, but, of course, the
South has not the foreign complications
Of other sections of the country. Only
fraction Of / per cent Of the IN
habitants of my state are foreign born.
Go in Hard, Says Senator
But we ought to go into this thing
lust as hard as we can. We ought to
find ont in just what way we can best
aid the Entente powers IN their war
against Germany, and then we ought 10
aid in that particular way just as nara
as we can. II they want US to send an
army to France, we ought to raise one
and train it just as fast as we can, so
that IL can get to the trenches as speed
ilv as possible. II they want money, we
should loan them that. II they want us
to speed up the production Of NUM-
tions In this country we should turn
our attention to that. II the principal
work they desire is turning out sub
marine chasers, then that is what we
ought to do. II
~ was astonjshed at the many ex-
amples / saw while down In North
Carolina of the way our people are
taking this situation to heart. Promi-
nent young doctors and lawyers who
are building up lucrative practices are
getting ready to 60 to the front. The
President will be surprised at the re-
sponse if he calls for volunteers. One
Young professional man who has sue
ceeded remarkably well came to see
me about getting him into the aviation
service. He feels that it is his duty
to do what he can to stamp out Prus-
sanism."
"Do you think Congress will declare
war within a week." he was asked.
"If members of the House and Sem
ate encountered anything like the SEN
timent back home that | did, there is
no question about it," he replied. Il
have not seen a Senator since | got
in this morning. so do not know what
the majority think. | am just talking
for myself and for North Carolina
Way to Meet War Expenses
Senator Simmons was then asked if
there would be any additional tax
levies, his committee being the Ways
and Means Committee Of the upper
house.
az think that the great part Of the
war expenditures. if we get into this
war. as we most probably shall; should
be paid by the sale Of bonds" he re-
piled. The civil expenses of the gov
ernment, however they may be in
creased by the fact that we are at war.
should be borne by additional taxation.
In addition to this. think that emer-
gency taxation should be continued long
after the war. to provide for interest
On the bonds and for their gradual
liquidation through sinking fund"
Senator Simmons will confer in a
day or two with Secretary of the Treas
ury McAdoo on this question. Mr.. Nc
Adoo is understood to hold the same
views as Mr.. Simmons with regard TO
increased taxation.