The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1917-04-04

ca .AS ON CcNGREss TO DE-
GLARE THAT A STATE OF
WAR EXISTS.
Aupaa1so Grects President ~ He
Makes Hh statemcnt and Asks
Cpaexess 10 Back Him IN HIS Po-
eatin-No War On Austrss, Turkey
- Balgaria. \,

Washington. April 3.-President
WILSON to...xht asked congress to de-
clard . state OF war existing between
The United States and Germany.
While the news Of the torpedoing of
The steamer Aztec--the FIRST American
armed ship to sai, in the war xone--
vas being told from mouth to mouth
h the capitol. the president. appear
ine before the house and senate in
3otnt seUion, asked congress to
recosniss and deal with 0srmany's
warfare on America.
The prssidsnt said war with Ger
many would involve the practical CO.
operation with the governments now
st var with Germany. Including liberal
hnancial credits. He urged the rails
ins Of an army Of at least half q mil
Hon men. with similar increnaents to
follow AZ fast a. they can be trained.
on the principle Of universal liability
to military service" r'N'
The presldsnt made Z clear that no
action was being taken against AUS
tria. Bulgaria or Turkey. and that It
was against the Prussian autocracy.
which has conclusiveiy demonstrated
that u can not i've at peace with the
United States and not against the Ge.-
man people, that action was neces-
nsry. G I
The president reached the capitol
about $40 O'Clock. As his big mo-
tor swung around before the east
front the two troops OF cavalry on
gruad. sabres giittering under the arc
iiehts swept the plaza clear while the
hundreds cheered.
He was taken Immediately to the
speaksr's room and then. into the
vsttlng house chamber. as the sena.
tors entered just before the president |
~ pix members OF the supreme court |
'who had taken seats In front OF the
eeeahsrs stsnA stood and faced about
1'hev remained standing until the last
oonA(or had entered.
Tho prssidsnt, entered at s:t2
O'Clock amid deafening cheers. Never
In the history Of his administration
had he been cheered as he was to-
night. Tho cheering lasted for two
minutes. Senators La Toilette. stone
and Cummins. who helped defeat the
armed neutrality bill. ala not join In
the applause. Senator la Toilette
stood with arms crossed and head
sunk over his chest. Senator Lane.
another Of the group .applauded mild
~ and Senator Kenyon a little more
vigorously.
OF all the audience. Senator La
FolIstte stood out. Seated we'll down
I'm front with folded arms, he gazed
steadily at the president and gave him
tho closest attention
AZ the president proceeded with
his address the chamber became quiet.
members seldom moved In their seats.
Not until the president declared I'VE
vii not choose the path Of submis-
sion did his auditors applaud. Those
words, however. moved them to yell
ins and hand clappins. No attempt
was made by Speaker Clark to curb
the demonstration.
Scarcely had sound died away when
the president declared th~t tho con-
sress should declare that a state of
war existed. A second demonstra-
tion began. Representative Caldwell
Of New York rose and yelled.
All the supreme court judges stood
and Chief Justice White smiled and
cIspped his hands. as did Justices
Pitncy and Clarke. Senators Cum
minis. Kenyon. Stone. La Toilette and
Lanc gave no expression.
The declaration that this country
should help the allies until the end
OF the war also was cheered.
The greatest outburst came whom
the president declared for an army of
100000 mon and universal service.
Applause greeted the declaration
resardins supplying the needs of the
allies.
we have no quarrel with the Ger
man people," was another statement
which received an enthusiastic re-
csption.
Mention of the recent overthrow of
the Russian monarchy brought loud
cheers.
Senator stone. sitting In the second
row. rested his head on his hand,
and listened with grim face.
"A vociferous outburst greeted IN,
declaration that "if there should no