The Miller press. [volume] (Miller, S.D.) 190?-current, 1917-04-12
PRESIDENT SIGNS RESOLUTION
WHICH WAS OVERWHELMING.
LY ADOPTED BY BOTH
HOUSES OF CONGRESS.
ACTION CALLS RESERVE
AND NAVAL MILlTIAMEN
Six Senators and Fifty Representa-
tves Record Votes Against Decia-
ration Of War, la Toilette and
kitchin Leading the
Opposition.

F~
Washington, April Z. - President
Wilson has signed the resolution Of
Congress declaring a state of war be.
tween the United States and Germany
at I'LL p. m. Eastern time.
All the naval militia and naval re-
serves were called to the colors by
the Presidents signature.
The President also signed a proc.
lamation formally declaring a state Of
war between the United States and
Germany. In the proclamation he call.
ed upon American citizens to give sup.
port to all measures of the govern.
ment.
House Adopts Resolution.
Washington. April 1.-THE resolu-
ton declaring that a state of war ex
lists between the United States and
Germany. already passed by the Sen
ate. passed the House at an early
morning hour. by a vote OF 373 to so.
AS 1t progressed the debate reveal.
ed an unexpected strength In the min
ority opposing the resolution.
This surprising accession to the mi.
nority ranks was attributed to the
efforts OF Democratic Leader Kitchin,
who took the floor and In a dramatic
speech announced that he could not
with a clear conscience vote for war.
One of the most earnest speeches in
behalf of the Presidents course
came from Republican Leader Mann,
who declared Germany had deliberate
ly affronted this country and that only
war could saw the national honor.
Passes the Senate.
Washington. April 6.-The resolu-
ton declaring that a state of war ex-
lists between the United States and
Germany was passed in the Senate
by an overwhelming majority.
The war resolution was passed by
q vote Of SO to 8.
Senators who cast the negative
LaFollette of Wisconsin; Norris of
Nebraska; Lane of Oregon; Stone of
Missouri and Vardaman of Mississippi.
The resolution. drafted after con-
sultation with the State department
and already accepted by the House
committee, says the state of war
thrust upon the United States by Ger
many is formally declared and directs
the President to employ the entire
military and naval forces and the re-
sources Of the government t o carry on
the war and bring 1t to a successful
termination.
Action In the Senate came at the
close Of q debate that had lasted Is
hours.
The climax was reached when Sem
ator John Sharp Williams denounced
q speech by Senator LaFollette as
more worthy of Won Bethmann-Holl.
veg than Of an American senator.
The passage Of the resolution was
not marked by any outburst from the
galleries and on the floor the senator's
themselves yer unusually grave and
quiet. Many OF them answered to
their names In voices that Quivered
with emotion.
The Resolution.
Washington. April 6.-The full text
Of the war resolution which passed
the senate by an overwhelming vote
follows: s m
The words and directed" were In
serted by the Senate Foreign Rela-
tions committee in the resolution as
originally drawn. The significance OF
the change Is obvious.
Whereas, the Imperial German
government has committed repeated
acts Of war against the government
and the people of the United States
Of America, therefore be II
Resolved. ly the Senate and House
Of Representatives Of the United
States Of America In Congress assem-
bled, that the state OF war between
the United States and the Imperial
German government which has thus
been thrust upon the United States IL
hereby formerly declared and that the
President be and he Is hereby author
ixcd and directed to employ the en-
tire naval and military forces Of the
United States. and the Of
the government TO carry on war
against the Imperial German govern
ment and TO bring the conflict to q
successful termination. All OF the re-
sources OF the country are hereby
pledged BY the Congress OF the Unit.
N Statenw