Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1917-12-13
NOW At WAR WITH
AUSTR|A.HUKGARY
President Wilson Signs Declare.
ton after Quick Adoption
by Congress.
DEBATE IS VERY BRIEF.
Rep. London, Socialist. Only Dissentina
Voice in House-LaFollette Alb
sent when the senate Votes.


Washington, Dec. 7.-war between the
United States and Austria-Hungary was
formally declared to-day.
Congress, with one dissenting vote In
the House, adopted and President Wilson
approved a resolution declaring existence
Of a state Of war between the Imperial
and Royal Austro-Hungarian government
and the government and people Of the
United States authorizing the President to
employ the nations armed forces and
pledging its resources to victory.
The resolution, the response Of Congress
| to the Presidents request In his address
| Tuesday. Is similar to that passed April 6
declaring war with Germany.
| 1t became effective at 500 p. m. to-day
when It was signed by the executive with
out formality. An executive proclamation
will follow shortly.
| After but one hours debate, the reso-
luton was unanimously adopted by the
Senate with an affirmative vote of "a.
1t was approved by the House 80 to
/, Representative London. the New
York socialist, casting the only dissent
ing vote. A few minutes later Vice.
President Marshall and Speaker Clark
| II
the White House where President will
tary Tunulty and Assistant Secretary
Forster as the only witnesses.
THE RESOLUTION.
The resolution follows:
Joint resolutions:
Declaring that a state of war ex-
lists between the imperial and royal
Austro Hungarian government and the
government and the people of the Uni
ted States, and making provision to
prosecute the same
whereas, the imperial and royal Aus
tro-Hungarian government has committed
repeated acts Of war against the govern
ment and the people Of the United States
Of America: Therefore be it:
| Resolved, BY the Senate and House
Of Representatives of the United States
of America in Congress assembled, that
a state of war is hereby declared to exist
between the United States Of America and
the imperial and royal Austro- Hungarian
government and the President be. and he
is hereby, authorized and directed to en-
ploy the entire naval and military forces
Of the United States and the resources OF
the government to carry on war against
the imperial and royal Austro-Hungarian
government: and to bring the conflict to a
successful termination all the resources
of the country are hereby pledged by the
Congress Of the United States.
CHAMP CLAK.
Speaker Of the House Of Representatives.
THOMAS r. MARSHALL.
"Vice-President Of the United States and
President Of the Senate.
Approved by the President, 1917.
WOODROW WILSON"
In accord with President Wilson'S sug'
gestion action in respect to Turkey ant
Bulgaria, Germany's other allies, wal
left to the future. Widespread demand
in Congress for their inclusion in the
declaration was indicated in both Senate
and House debates, but when the roll
calls came the Presidents advice was
followed In a demonstration Of American
unity and harmony. Representative Lon
don, socialist, Of New York, who cast
the one negative vote. explained his op.
position by stating that he was pledged
to that course by the Socialist party
Caustic criticism Of his position enlivenet
the House proceedings.
Debate in both Houses was unexpect
eddy brief. lasting but an hour In the
Senate and only two hours and 40 min
utes in the House. Also, in sharp contrast
to the discussion which preceded the wal
! declaration against Germany last April
1t was almost devoid of spectacular fea
!. lures In spite of the dramatic setting
furnished by crowded galleries. Members
apparently acted In common accord u
expedite action. the few who spoke re-
framing from extended discussion.
The Senate acted first on the reso
luton, presented by Chairman Ston'
with the unanimous endorsement O
the foreign relations committee. SooI
! after the Senate concluded routine
] business. After brief addresses b!
Senators Stone. Lodge, Hitchcock
= owen and Vardaman. the roll call fol
lowed. When the document was trans
mitted to the House, It was substi
I tuted there by unanimous consent TO
! the more lengthy resolution reported
by the House foreign relations com
; mite, after conference with state de
l partment officials. Senators Stone
who had charge Of the resolution
Gronna. Of North Dakota. Norris o
Nebraska and Vardaman of Mississippi
voted against the German declaration
to-day Joined the majority. NTH
former Senator Lane Of Oregon. ha'
since died.
LAFOLLETTE ABSENT
Y Senator LaFollette, of Wisconsin
4 who also opposed war with German
o was absent when the roll call was TAX
-. en- and did not vote. Later he address
Q cd the Senate explaining that he di
8 not hear the summons to vote whic
d was taken while he was at his offlc
n preparing an amendment providtn
z that the United States should not oh
: serve any agreement Of the entente al
y lies to deprive or control any territor
Z of Austria held August l, 1914. TIL
Wisconsin senator said with inclusto
s Of this amendment, he would have vote
2 for the war resolution, but against
without his belated proposal.
+. Necessity for cooperative military &C
: ton OF the allies was the principal reaso
Q advanced In debate for immediate pas
9 sage OF the Austrian resolution. Senate
y Stone said that American troops Nigh
Q soon face Austrian forces through eXter
Z sion Of the western front to Italy, by tn
d inter-allied war council. He pointed on
y that the two nations actually have bee
i at war for months.
8 Urging unanimous endorsement Of tn
( resolution and deploring any action whic
t might embarrass the President or any ei
Q fort to amend the resolution to includ
= Turkey and Bulgaria. Senator Lodge, ser
Tor republican member OF the foreign rela
lions committee. gave reasons why
said a majority of the Senate favored fol
NAL declarations against Germany's othe
two allies He indicated the Turkish gov