New Britain herald., 1917-12-08
PRESIDENT SIGNS
 WAR DECLARATION
Myer London, Socialist, Casts
 Only Negative Vote in House

Washington, Dec. s--The United States went to war against Austria Hungary at 6:03 o'clock yesterday afternoon, when President Wilson approved q joint resolution adopted by congress declaring state of war to exist. The president. under the resolution. was empowered to 'direct and employ the entire naval and mil itary forces of the government to carry on the war to "a successful ter minauon.''
 The executive probably will issue proclamation today to carry out the intent of the war declaration and start the preliminaries that must be put into operation to make it physi- cally effective.
 The war resolution was the one drafted by the senate committee on foreign relations of which Senator Stone, who voted against entering the war against Germany, is chairman. The senate put the resolution through after a little more than an hour of debate by a vcte of "A, there being no opposition to it. Senator La Toilette, of Wisconsin. left the senate chamber when the resolution was under debate, and at the time he got back the measure had been adopted. He ex- plained to the senate later that he had not been aware the vote was be- ing taken.
 London Votes 'sNo."
 The house adopted the senate reso- lution by a vote of 363 to 1-Repre- sentative Meyer London, socialist, of New York, standing alone against it. MT. London defended his attitude on the ground that socialists were op- posed to the war. Representatives Chandler, of New York, and Lenroot, of Wisconsin, severely criticised MT. London's opposition to the resolution as unpatriotic.
 In the senate opinions were ex- pressed that Bulgaria and Turkey ought to be included among America 8 enemies, but no effort was made to embrace them in the declaration against the Dual Monarchy, because of the presidents contrary advice. Senator Lodge. of Massachusetts, voiced the attitude of the majority of congress in saying that. while Turkey and Bulgaria ought to be put in the enemy alignment, the presidents lead should be followed.
 In both the senate and house the galleries were packed when the war resolution against Austria Hungary i came up for vote. The scenes that 1 characterized the declaration of war against Germany were lacking. The declaration of war against the Qua 1 Monarchy was regarded as merely 1 perfunctorv, and it was known that 1 congress was practically unanimous in 1 favor of it. Indeed, it was not thought that even one vote would be cast against it.
 The war resolution left the senate at l:45 o'clock and was at once taken up oy the house. By o'clock the house had adopted it. and if was "nlsked pack to the senate for the signature of Vice-President Marshall It was on it's way to the White House at 4:45 o'clock. and fifteen minutes later was before the president, who signed it.
 Toward the close of the house ses- sion Miss Rankin ripped down the aisle while the galleries listened at tentvely, expecting another anti-war outourSt from "the lady from Mon- tana Instead, she declared that the acceptance of the resolution was 8 mere technicality, and in a voice clear and determined, said that she was prepared to vote for it.
 T still believe that war is a stupid and futile way of attempting to settle international difficulties" the woman representative said. "I believe that war can be avoided and will be avoid ed when the people, the men and wo- men in America, as we'll as in Ger many, have the controlling voice in their Governments. Today the spe- cial privileged interests arc controlling the world.
 When the United States declared war on Germany it virtually declared war on Germany's allies. The vote that we are now to cast is not on the declaration of war: If it were I should vote against it. This is merely a vote ona technicality in the prosecution of the war already declared. I shall vote for this, as I voted for money and men,"
 Representative Foss. Republican, of Illinois. said he first believed Turkey and Bulgaria should be included in the l war declaration, but decided the Presi- 1