Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1917-04-03
PREPARES
FOR WILSON'S TALK
CONTINUED From Page ~

charge the duties Of the speakershiI
in this house. 1t will be almost 1mpos
sib1e to do SO without the hearty co
loperation OF the members without re
gard to party Affiliations. will use
Imy utmost endeavor to be absolutely
lfmY and I invoke the aid Of all the
members in doing go.
IT Is absolutely unnecessary and
~Guperduous to lecture the membership
on patriotism. We are all patriots, as
are the people who elected us. We are
IaI Americans whether natives or for
eign born. On many questions we are
distinct az the pillows. yet we are one
~ tho sea- when the honor and safety
of tho republic are involved. Politics
hnds no place in this house when the
general welfare and the common de-
Tense Of the nation are at stake. Let
all the ends we aim at be "a country's
and in the accomplishment OF these
4 ends may the God Of our fathers be
with us and guide US in the way which
will rebound to the honor and perpet-
uity Of the greatest republic that ever
existed in all the flood Of time"
The speaker took the oath at 1850
O'Clock and members then were sworn
into ONCE In groups by states.
Speaker Clark's election was effect.
the house convened. the exact time he
predicted a fortnight ago.
Many Patriotic Bills
National defense Val measures
and bills for patriotic purposes pre-
dominated today in congress.
One was by Representative Kahn of
California to provide for universal mil
itary training for men between IS and
20.
A resolution asking the president to
designate June Ia, the 140th anniver.
sary birth Of the American nag as a
day for holding patriotic meetings
throughout the country. was introduce
ed by Representative siegel Of New
York.
A bill proposing the sale of postal
savings bonds In denominations from
one to one hundred dollars, introduced
by Representative Howard, of Georgia,
Is designed to enable patriotic men
and women and take a stake in the
government.
The sundry civil and general de.
rhciency appropriation bills were in.
kroduced.
War Spirit Prevails.
The capitol is arrayed in a war spirit
- congress assembled. The paciflst
DELEGATIONS wearing white bands on
their sleeves or white streamers across
their breasts, paraded the sidewalks
in numbers, filled the house and SEN
ate galleries and made calls on their
congressman.
The patriotic pilgrims were hard to
among thousands of citi.
zens who went about the days work
wearing American flags.
The national colors fluttered and rip
pled from buildings, automobiles and
almost every point Of vantage. The
street car companies placed them ON
their cars; every traffic policeman's
go-go sign had a flag fluttering from
its peak. The capitol was a wave Of
color.
Chairman Simmons of the senate
finance committee conferred with Sec
Rotary McAdoo on the amount Of mon
~ needed Immediately by the govern.
ment. 1t was agreed not to go into de.
tails until after congress takes action
defining the attitude of the United
States and then Secretaries McAdoo,
Baker and Daniels will again discuss
the question with Senator Simmons
and also with house leaders.
Senator Simmons said he thought !
the credit to be granted by the presi-
dent by congress should be a large one.
The amount fixed, he added, would not
mean that all of it was to be used or
much more might not be asked
for later. II
Lodge In Encounter.
A personal encounter between Sena-
tor Lodge Of Massachusetts and Alex ;
ander Bannwart Of Dorchester, Mass, I
which the senator knocked his op- /
ponent down occurred today in the {
corridors Of the capitol. q
Bannwart. with the Rev. Paul Harris 7
Drake of Christ church. Dorchester. S
md several other men and women of i
delegations, called Senator S
lodge to the door Of his committee r
DOM and asked him to vote against a a
declaration of war with Germany. Sen
tor Lodge replied that If President c
asked for such a declaration n
le certainly would support It. n
"That is cowardice,' retorted one of 8
he group. r,
l"National degeneracy is worse than