New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-12-08
Congress Votes War on Austria;
President Signs Declaration

a commanding voice TO the settlement
of the terms of peace, we should APP
pear at that great council Of the ma
tions as still the friend Of Turkey"
Flood Leads Debate
Senator Hitchcock, Democrat, urged
that the declaration against Austria
should not be construed as indorse-
ment Of what he termed ltaly's ex-
orbitant demands against Austria. He
predicted justice for Austria in the
peace settlement.
The House debate was led by Chair
man Flood, Of the Foreign Affairs Com
mittec, and Acting Republican Leader
Gillett. both Of whom recited Austria's
aggressions against this government
and it's citizens. Mr.. Gillott also de-
tailed views held by those who also
favor war with Turkey and Bulgaria.
In announcing that he would not vote
for the resolution Meyer London said ::
"As a Socialist | am pledged 20 vote
against declaration Of war. In mat
tiers of war | am a tectotaller. / refuse
10 take the first Intoxicating drink. The
Socialists of the world oppose dec
laration of war until the last moment.
Had there been a majority of Socialists
in the countries of Europe I'm 1914
there would have been no war. II
there were majorities OF Socialists in
the parlilments of the contending ma
tions to-day, the war would be over
tomorrow. II is my obligation to give
expression to that sentiment. 20 repre-
sent that body of thought and that in
ternational code OF ethics providing
against a declaration Of war, against
a spreading Of the horrors of II.
MY vote against a declaration Of
war on Austria-H Hungary should not
be interpreted as an Endorsement OF
that vile attack by Austria Hungary on
Serbia which, chronologically speak
ing, was the beginning of the war.
"The President has made the same
declaration as Premier Clemenceau Of
France, and, by the way, Clemenceau
will not last day longer than the Boil
sheviki, of Russia. because. while he is
Premier. ho has come out with the
slogan we will fight until victory with
out defining what victory is"
1T is a strange anomaly indeed that
the one vote that will be cast in this
House in aid of the Kaiser of Germany
and the autocracy of Germany, the
control of Prussia, will be cast by a
Socialist" said Representative Lenroot,
in reply TO Mr.. London.
"The gentleman talks about interna-
tionalsm and about democracy
throughout the world, and yet If this
House agreed with him, it is plain now,
which was not so plain last April, that
autocracy and not democracy would
rule the world when this war is over.
The gentleman's native country is Rus
STA. Let me say 20 the gentleman that
the overthrow of autocracy which has
been secured was possible only through
this war that has now been waging for
three and half years.
Points 10 Russia
81 will say further to the gentleman
that Russia is the only Independent
nation i'm the world to-day where the
Socialists are in temporary control, but
let Germany win this war and twenty
four hours aftorward, instead Of democ-
racv i'm Russia, the black eagles OF
Prussia will be there. with the Car
and the Kaiser Of the German Empire,
and they will help TO wipe out that
democracy i'm Russia and substitute Tor
il the same autocratic government that
now exists IN Germany
81 have GREAT personal esteem Tor
my colleague { Mr.. London),' said Ny.
Chandler II admire his speeches and
I appreciate his motives. PERSONAL
he Is all right and politically he is All
wrong. / want TO challenge him 20 cite
one line from the so-called Bible Of
modern Socialists, Carl Marx, Just one
line IN which he denounces war Inc
founder OF socialism was personally
congratulated and thanks were extend
ed bv Abraham Lincoln for the part he
PLAYED in the Civil War on the side OF
the Union in the advocacy Of the war.
1.-THE best and most respectable ele-
ment among the Socialists IA this coun-
trv are patriotic IN the cause he de
nounces. II is peculiar thing, to the
discredit OF the courage OF my col
league and his following in New York
which presents itself, that kerensky,
who IS the greatest. at least the most
remarkable. man that has grown out Of
the world struggle, a man celebrated
i'm socialism in Russia. has repeated y
conc down into the trenches, telling
his fellow Socialists that II they DO not
crush Germany, Germany viii crush
them.
Socialists for Their Countries
"He has advocated war. Get down
into Germany, and the leading Social
ist Is Philip Schoidemann. a member
Of the Rcichstag lie says that Ger