Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1917-04-14
SENATE VOTES
81 TO 6 FOR war
The Resolution Declaring Bel
ligerency Exists Adopted
After Day of Debate.
La TOILETTE FOUGHT TO EMO
Speech Of Wisconsin Man Denounced
by American Senstors-crowded
Galleries Hear Debate.

Washington, April 5.-The resolu
ton declaring that state of war
exists between the United States and
Germany was adopted in the Senate
tonight by a vote of 81 to 8.
The measure was sent to the House,
where debate will begin at 10 O'Clock
tomorrow morning to continue until
action is taken.
The Senators Who Voted "No."
The Senators who cast the negative
votes tonight were:
Gronna of North Dakota, La Toilette
of Wisconsin, Norris of Nebraska,
Lane of Oregon, Stone of Missouri
and Vardaman of Mississippi.
The resolution, drafted after consul
tation with the State Department and
already accepted by the House COM
mittee, says the state of war thrust
upon the United States by Germany
is formally declared, and directs the
President to employ the entire mill
tary and naval forces and the re-
sources of the government to carry on
war and bring it 70 a successful ter
mination.
After a Days Debate.
Action in the Senate came just af-
ter IL o'clock at the close of debate
that had lasted continuously since 10
o'clock this morning.
The climax was reached late in the
afternoon when Senator John Sharp
Williams denounced a speech by Sen
ator La Toilette as more worthy of
Herr Won Bethmann-Hollweg than of
an American senator.
The passage of the resolution was
not marked by any outburst from the
galleries and on the floor the senators
themselves were unusually grave and
quiet. Many of them answered to
their names in voices that quivered
with emotion.
Many Representatives There, Too
The galleries were filled to over
flowing, and on the floor back of the
senator's seats were almost half the
membership of the House. In the dip
lomatic gallery was Secretary Ian
sing, Frank L. Polk, counselor of the
State Department; Minister Calderon
of Bolivia and Minister Ekengren of
Sweden. Earlier in the evening Doc
tor Ritter, the Swiss minister in
charge of German interests in this
| country, had been here. Secretary
McAdoo was on the floor during the
last few hours of the debate.
AS the last name was called and the
clerk announced the vote 80 to there
was hardly murmur of applause.
The great crowd was awed by the SOL
emnity of the occasion and sobered
by the speeches they had heard.
Senate Adjourns Until Tomorrow.
After the vote was announced the
Senate remained in session only a few
minutes. The galleries began to emp
ty at once and the senators them
selves, tired out by the long day, left
quickly. The Senate adjourned until
noon Friday to await action by the
House.
All six of the senators who voted
against the resolution were members
of the group of twelve which defeated
the Armed Neutrality Bill at the last
session There was no attempt to fill
buster this time, however, and most
of the thirteen hours of debate we're
| consumed by champions of the resolu-
| ton.
The text of the resolution follows:
Whereas, the imperial German gov
eminent has committed repeated acts
| of war against the government and
| the people of the United States of
| America; therefore be it
Resolved by the Senate and House
| of Representative of the United
! States of America, in Congress as
| sembled, that the state of war be-
tween the United States and imperial
| German government, which has thus
| been thrust upon the United States,
| is hereby formally declared; and that
| the President be, and he is hereby
| authorized and directed to employ the
| entire naval and military forces of the
| United States and the resources of
| the government to carry on war
| against the imperial German govern
/ ment; and to bring the conflict to a
/ successful termination, all of the re
/ sources of the country are hereby
| pledged by the Congress of the United
| States.
Senator McCumber's substitute to
| declare the existence of a state of
| war upon the. sinking of another Amer
| lean ship by Germany was defeated
| without a roll call
/ Finland and ST. Paul Safe.