New Iberia enterprise and independent observer. (New Iberia, La.) 1902-1944, 1917-04-07
SENATE PASSES
WAR RESOLUTION
BY LARGE VOTE.

w dohlII = Iou, Ap II 4. u6 Wdl
resolution was passed by the Sen
ate tonight by a vote Of 81 to 6
1t goes to the House, where de
bate will begin tomorrow morning
at 10 o'clock, to continue until ac
ton is taken.
Senators who east the negative
votes were Gronna, of North Da.
kota; La Toilette, of Wisconsin
Norris, of Nebraska; Lane, of
Oregon; Stone, of Missouri and
Vardaman, Of Mississippi.
The resolution, drafted after
consultation with the State De-
partment and already accepted by
the House committee, says the
state of war thrust upon the Uni
ted States by Germany formally
is declared, and directs the Presi-
dent to employ the entire military
and naval forces and the resour-
ces of the government to carry on
war and bring it to a successful
termination.
Action in the Senate came just
after II O'Clock, at the close of a
debate that had lasted contin-
uously since 10 o'clock this morn
ing. The climax was reached late
in the afternoon when Senator
John Sharp Williams denounced
speech by Senator La Toilette
as more worthy of Herr Won
Bethmann-Ilollweg than of an
American senator.
Time For Action.
Almost every senator and many
House members were present
when the Senate debate began.
In brief opening statement, Sen
ator Hitchcock, in charge of the
resolution, said the present was
time for action, not discussion. =
''The time for discussion has
passed." he said. "The Presi-
dent has already stated more
clearly. effectively, more con-
clusivelv the reasons which make
this grave step necessary. The
resolution provides for war
against the imperial German gov
ernment. It is framed on the
lines of other war resolution. 1t
places responsibility for the war
squarely upon the shoulders of
the German government, charged
with repeated acts of war against
the United States. It is also un-
questionably declaration Of war.
] am impressed with the sOlemnity |
of the occasion. Some may be
filed with JOY at the prospect Of
war. To me it is depressing and
dreadful. The enormous cost
which the people must pay, the
great increase in the cost of liv-
ing, the enormous burden Of tax
es the people must bear, and the
still greater heritage of death
stagger my mind. The awful sac
rifice of lives that must follow |
sickens my heart. / am sure
many other senator's feel as / do.
"We want no more territory"
continued Senator Hitchcock. !
'We will demand no indemnity.
We have no historic grudge to
settle nor racial antipathy. In
his respect we differ from the
,ther countries already involved
n this awful struggle. There is
oan-Slavism against Pan-German-
SIN. Italy wants back the Tren-
ina; France her lost provinces;
Treat Britain has German COM
nerce. and German colonies al
most in her grasp; Russia wants
1onstantinople and Germany, be-
ide her place in the sun, wants
o dominate Europe.
Without Thought of Gain.
"We, Of all nations. will spend
ur treasure and our blood and
acrifice our lives without the
bought of possibility Of gain.
We are going to war TO vindicate :
ur honor and independence as al
.reat nation and in defense Of hu- :
1anity. q
Such quarrel as we have with
'ermanv is not of our choosine =
{ was forced upon us and we did d
luch to avoid it. For nearly d
hree years the President. Con-
ress and the American people :
ave hoped to avoid it. But one .
esperate act bv the imperial Ger
ian government has followed
mother. I do not mean to say
Iermanv fas 1esirna We --ith Ms.