The Logan Republican. [volume] (Logan, Utah) 1902-1924, 1917-04-26
NIGHT OF THRILLS
STIRRING SCENES WHEN THE
PRESIDENT MADE HIS APP.
PEAL TO CONGRESS.
BLAZING LIGHTS AND FLAGS
Regular Troops Escorted Mr.. Wilson
and Guarded the Capitol, While
Great Throng Of Notables Heard
Him Ask for Declaration Of War.
BY EDWARD 3. CLARK.

BY EDWARD 8. CLARK.
Washington.--It was war night I'm
Washington. No one who was in the
capitol city of his country on the night
that President Wilson made his appeal
to congress for declaration of war
on n country that has invaded our
rights ever will forget the scene.
The night was black with clouds,
although rain was absent. No One Of
the thousands on the broad avenues
approaching the capitol knew, how
ever, that the sky was overcast. Wash
ington was ablazc with light and the
glory of flags with their stars shining
In the reflected glow of the brightness
beneath.
The great dome of the capitol rose
marble white and beautiful above the
city. A score of electric searchlights
made shining its surface and brought
clearly into the vision the form of the
haloed Goddess Of Liberty.
For the first time In the history of
this nation president of the United
States when going to congress to at
tend legislative session was accom-
panied and guarded by an armed body
of regular troops. There was touch
of war thus given to the scene before
the president had opened his lips to
address the lawmakers and to urge
that authority be given him to arm
the nation to defend the right.
On other occasions in the past pres
idents of the United States have gone
to the capitol with a guard Of regular
sOldiery, but these occasions have
been those of ceremony only, such as
inaugurations, or the funerals of men
great In the nations history. Presi-
dent Wilson is the first president Of
the United States to ask congress d.
rectly by word Of mouth for dec
laration of war. In other cases
transmitted message was depended up
on to move the lawmakers to their
duty.
Mounted Troops Guard Capitol.
The capitol was surrounded by
mounted troops. There had been ru-
mors all day that trouble might be
expected. A pacifist out Of sympathy
with the ideals of II great democracy
had assaulted n senator of the United
States who from the first had stood
for Americanism. There were crowds
of pacifists In town. nine-tenths Of
whom were perfectly sincere in their
belief that there is nothing worse than
war and yet II was more than suspect
ed that masquerading under the APP
pearance Of pactism were men. some
few men, bent on evil. The guard of
regular troops about the capitol was
placed there not without belief in the
sound Judgment of the act.
Never in Washington prior to the
epochal night had anyone seen ambas-
sailors and ministers of foreign coun-
tries occupying seats on the floor of
congress as guests during legislative
session. When some American In
high public place dies and is honored
with funeral on the floor of senate
or house, as has happened number
of times In the past. the representa-
tives Of foreign countries are invited
to attend and TO show their respect
and hOnHr for the dead. Never be-
fore, however, when congress was AS
semoied IN business session nave
.nese tHe'ehers IN oinciai 'ie peeh
piuusi 70 Ht she ny sue WIN ue I'M
urs "s~Hahers.
'~"sS o. NosaoNs rresent.
ahere ~ere present wiNh "oo'Uo~
wilson S"s oehVerihg MS snrr'iH ap-
peai ID oefs y .. 1usseraho Oh tre
srench Nepup'r; Sr Ceci' Af,l'uf