The log cabin Democrat. [volume] (Conway, Ark.) 1908-current, 1917-04-03
PRESIDENT URGES
WAR DECLARATION
IN ADDRESS TOCONCRESS
Wilson DenOunces Course of Ger.
many, Declaring Neutrality is
No Longer Feasible.

Washington, April 3.-President
Wilson last night urged congress, as
sembled in joint session, to declare a
state of war existing between the
United States and Germany
In a dispassionate but unmeasured
denunciation of the course of the i'm
perlal German government, which he
characterized as challenge to all
mankind and warfare against all
nations, the president declared that
neutrality no longer was feasible or
desirable where the peace of the
world was involved, that armed neu-
trality had become Intellectual
enough at best and was likely to pro-
duce what it meant to prevent, and
urged that congress accept the gauge
of battle with all the resources of
the nation.
81 advise that the congress declare
the recent course of the imperial
German government to be in fact
nothing less than war against the
government and people of the United
States," said the president; that
it formally accept the status of bel
ligerent which has thus been thrust
upon it and that it take steps not
only to put the country in a more
thorough state of defense, but also
to exert all its power and employ all
its resources to bring the government
of the German to terms and end the
war"
When the president had finished
speaking, resolutions to declare a
state of war existing were introduced
in both houses of congress, referred
to appropriate. committees and will
be debated today There is no
doubt of their passage.
The objects of the United States
in entering the war, the president
said, were to vindicate the principles
of peace and justice against selfish
and autocrat;c power" Without sell
fish ends, for conquest or dominion,
seeking no indemnities or material
compensations for the sacrifices it
shall make, the United States must
enter the war, the president said,
to make the world safe for democ-
racy, as only one of the champions of
the rights of mankind, and would
be satisfied when those rights were
as secure as the faith and freedom
Of nations could make them.
The presidents address was sent
in full to Germany by a German Of
fetal news agency for publication in
that country. The text also went to
England, and summary of it's con-
tents was sent around the world to
other nations.
To carry on an effective warfare
against the German government,
which he characterized as natural
foe to liberty" the president recon-
mended
Utmost practical cooperation in
counsel and action with the govern
ments already at war with Germany.
Extension of liberal financial cred
its to those governments, so that the
resources of America may be added
so far as possible to theirs.
Organization and mobilization of
all the material resources of the
country.
Full equipment of the navy, par
ticularly for means of dealing with
submarine warfare.
An army of at least 100000 men,
based on the principle of the univers-
al liability to service and the authori-
zation of additional increments of
100000 each as they are needed or
can be handled in training.
Raising necessary money for the
United States government, so far as
possible without borrowing and on
the basis of equitable taxation.
All preparations, the president
urged, should be made in such a way
as not to check the flow of war sup
plies to the nations already in the
field against Germany.
Measures to accomplish all these
ends, the president told congress,
would be presented with the best
thought of the executive depart
ments which will be charged with
the conduct of the war, and he be-
sought consideration for them in that
light.
President Wilson's appearance be-
fore congress was marked by
scene of the greatest enthusiasm
ever shown since he began the prac-
tice of delivering his addresses in
person. Crowds on the outside of
the capitol cheered him frantically as
he entered and as he left. Congress
roared cheer after cheer in an out