Jamestown weekly alert. [volume] (Jamestown, Stutsman County, D.T. [N.D.]) 1882-1925, 1917-04-05

United States, 1t is also unquestion-
ably declaration of war.
am impressed with the solemnity
of the occasion. To me, the prospect
of war is dreadful. The enormous
cost the people must pay. The great
increase in the cost of living. The
enormous burden of taxes the people
must bear and the awful sacrifice of
life that follow sicken my heart. i
am sure many other senators feel as
do.''
"We want no more territory" said
Senator Hitchcock. eve will de-
mand no indemnity. We have no his
toric grudge to settle, no racial an
tipathy. In this respect we differ
from the other countries already in
volved in this awful struggle. There
is pan-slavism against pan German
ism. Italy wants back the Trentino,
France her lost provinces; Great
Britain has German commerce and
German colonies almost in>her grasp;'
Russia wants Constantinople and
Germany, besides her place in the
sun, wants to dominate Europe.
I'VE. of all nations; will spend our
treasure and our blood and sacrifice
our lives without the thought of pos
sibility Of gain. We are going to war
to vindicate our honor and iaaepend-
ence as aSgreat nation and In defense
of humanity Such, quarrel as we
have with Germany is not of our
choosing. 1t was forced upon us,
and we did much to avoid it. For
nearly three years the president, con-
gress and the American people have
thoped 10 avoid IT. But one desperate
[act by the imperial German govern
ment has followed another. I, do not
mean to say that Germany has de-
sired war with US. do not believe
that. But the imperial German gov
|ernment has been desperate land has
taken desperate chances"
American neutrality, the senator
said, has first been shocked. by the
invasion of Belgium; then the sink
ing of the Lusitania almost caused
war. He said. however, he did not
consfder Germany had violated any
pledges she gave after the sinking
of the Lusitania because she had ex-
pressly reserved the right to revoke
that pledge.
During Senator Hitchcock's speech
Senator La Toilette was absent most
of the time, comforting with Senator
Gronna and others, who are expected
to oppose the resolution. Senator
Hitchcock said he had hoped armed
neutrality would avert war.
Unfortunately the opposition Of
the filibuster against that bill result
ed in word going out to the world
that the official branches Of the gov
ernment were at loggerheads. SEN
ator Hitchcock said.
The result has been that our
rights have been more imposed on
than ever, more American ships have
been sunk, lives of American citizens
have been lost. Armed neutrality
has passed as an expedient against
war.
II have been bitterly opposed to
war. have used my influence to
that end. Even when I knew the
people were calling for war and a
majority of congress overwhelming
ly was for it, / sought out the presi-
dent and begged him to remain long
:er. II possible, under the policy of
armed neutrality as an expedient for
peace. But the president had infor-
nation in his possession which made
it impossible.
"The country is ready and COM
gress is ready. While the vote has
not been recorded. the decision has.
been made. It is war
Senator Hitchcock was followed
by Senator Swanson of Virginia who
said: 4 ST b .s s}z
"The issue is not peace or war.
War has already been declared upon
us. The issue is whether we shall
accept war .or abject and cowardly
submission. si w.
THE Zimmerman plot to incite
Mexico against this country reaches
the lowest depths 81 national turpi-
tude." Senator Swanson said.
Senator Lodge. in.supporting the
war resolution declared that the
United States should iseise the Cor
man merchandising now IL 1in An erican1
ports and, NE them Is 81 replace sShipsl
Germany has sunk by submarines. q
. No one is more conscious than Il