The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1917-06-30

lOTSanlzeus out In the senate the IeSO-
luton was reported favorably the next
day in the following form:
Whereas. the imperial German
government has committed repeat
ed acts of war against the govern
menT and people Of the Unlted
resolved, by the senate and house
of representatives of. the United
States of America, in congress as
sembled, that the state Of war Pc
Imperial German government.
which has thus been thrust upon
the United States, is hereby for
mally declared; and that the presi-
dent be, and he is hereby, author
lied and directed to employ the en-
tire naval and military forces or
the United States and the resourc-
es of the government to carry on
war against the imperial German
government, and to bring the con-
f1ict to q successful termination all
of the resources of the country are
hereby pledged by. the congress OF
the United States"
Consideration of the resolution was
postponed until the next day.
AS a consequence the senate adj
journed until the following morning,
April 4, when the debate was opened
with the understanding that 1t should
continue uninterruptedly until the vote
was taken. After Is hours of discus
sion the resolution was finally passed
by vote of SO to s. Eight senators
were absent, but it is stated that they
were all in favor of the measure ana
would have voted for 1t had they been
able to attend the session.
On April 4, the house committee on
foreign relations, after a vote of II to
2, reported favorably on the resolution
in the form passed by the senate. The
following day the measure came up
for discussion, and after q debate
which lasted continuously for IL hours
in which the greatest freedom for ex-
preston of opinion was allowed, the
resolution was finally passed by a vote
of 373 to so.
1t was then signed by Vice President
Marshall and Speaker Clark. Last Of
all the President affixed his signature,
and on April 6, the United States was
officially at war with Germany.
After signing the resolution, the
President issued proclamation, de-
claring the existence Of war, and call
ing on all citizens Of the United States
to support the government. In the
same document were included a list of
regulations to be observed In dealing
with all males over Il years of age
who are termed alien enemies under
the revised statutes of the United
States. Towards these alien enemies
who observe the laws of the land, the
citizens OF the United States are en-
Joined to observe the peace and to
trust them with all such fr1endliness
as may be compatible with loyalty and
allegiance to the United States. Other
alien enemies are to be dealt with in
accordance with the interests of the
country.
simultaneously with the publication
of the proclamation a call for mobiliZa-
ton was flashed to every warship and
naval station Of the United States.
have already been made
for conserving the food supplies Of the
nation, and the various departments or
are engaged in formulat-
ing measures for the active prosecution
of the war.
President Wilson, on April is, issued
a proclamation to his fellow country
men in which he pleaded for co-opera-
ton Of all the industrial forces of the
nation, which he called the great In
ternational service army. To farmers,
the middlemen and railroad men In par
ticular he made an earnest appeal Tor
unified efforts to obtain the highest
possible efficiency in the production
and transportation of supplies, and to
all people he recommended the practice
of strict economy. Profting by the
experience Oh E1HlOPCc1I1 tAnRAOLAS8s lily
United States has appointed through
the council of national defense, a gem
eral munitions board, railroad war
board to facilitate transportation or
troops and supplies during the dura-
ton of the war, The council OF ma
tional defense has also appointed a
food board to supervise the production
and distribution of food. supplies. An
other board entitled the Committee on
Public Information" has been named
by the President.
AS I stated at the beginning, our
is at war. War is not our
choice; strife has been thrust upon us
by repeated and wanton violation OF
our rights. For long time the
American people bore these outrages
with a patience that was heroic, and
when at last they spoke through their
chief executive, their message was q
calm, noble document inspired by an
and honorable desire for
justice. Our country is not seeking
power or territory, but only the right
without let or hindrance from for
eign government. Less could scarce
ly be demanded, and the country Is
to fight for 1t with all its
and resources. There is no
fear that in this crisis Americans will
be slack in their duty to their coun-
try. Our heroic soldiers and sailors
are now as ever ready to fight and
die for the flag. Our hopes will be
with them, our prayers will follow
them, until flushed with Joy and VIC
tory, they bring our banner home in
honor.
But the lighting men are not the
only ones who are at war; the whole
nation is at war, both those who hight
and those who remain at home, and
both have stern obligations to meet.
Wartime is full Of fears and sor-
rows and hardships of all kinds. And
Il those who are not under arms mean
TO do their duty also, they must be
patient. seIf-sacrificing and charitable
TO all, especially to those of German
birth, or ancestry, who make up a
host of our fellow citizens and who,
as a. whole, are as loyal and true as
any who have sworn allegiance to our
8ag. Now for us who cannot share
h actual military duty. our path Is
clear. We must do what we can, and
| know of no more effective way than
10 use the means at hand. Intelligent
men and women in every community
are organizing for the purpose of en-
nancinr their efforts. Let us give
hem our hearty corporation and
support in every way SO that there
viii be concerted action for the COM
non good.
whatever our condition. let us not
ose sight of the fact that our COM
non aim is our country first, and al
ways. English and Scotch, German
and Irish, scandinavian, French and
Italian, Greek and Russian, were our
forefathers who sought in this country
the opportunities which prosecution
and political turmoil had denied them
In the motherland.
Today, whatever strains may mingle
IA our veins, at whatever affairs we
nav worship, we admit but one po-