The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1917-03-23

9 o 9 9 9 o O 8 9 . . g. o @ 8 o o
(: PRESIDENTS PROCLAMATION .
Q % o O o o @ . o 8 o q o o o O
The presidents proclamation fol-
COWS:
whereas, public interest requires
that the congress of the United States
should be convened in extra session
at II O'Clock, noon, -on the second
day of April. 1917, to receive, a COM
munication by the executive on grave
matters OF national policy, which
should be taken Immediately under
consideration;
Nov, therefore, I. Woodrow Will
son, president cf the United States
OF America. do hereby proclaim and
declare that an extraordinary occa-
sion requires the congress Of the
United States to convene in extra ses-
sion in the capitol at the city OF
Washington on the second day OF
April, 1917, at - o'clock, noon, OF
which all persons who shall at that
time be entitled to act as members
thereof are hereby required to take
notice.
Given under my hand and, the seal
of the United States Of America, the
21st day of March. in the year of Our
Lord one thousand nine hundred and
seventeen and Of the independece OF
the Tilted States the 141st."
Washington, March 21-President
Wilson today met the constantly in
ereasing probability Of war with Ger
many by summoning congress to as
semble in extraordinary session April
Q. two weeks earlier than the date he
had chosen before the latest assaults
on American rights on the seas.
When the president addresses con-
gress he is expected to show how
state OF war actually has existed for
some time because of the unlawful
aggressions. of German submarines.
Congress is expected formally to
declare a. state of war existing. vote
a large sum, probably half billion
dollars, for national defense and
ctothe the president with authority to
use the armed forces Of the United
States as it empowered President NC
Kinley to deal with the menace OF
Spain in 1898.
Such action would not be a decla-
ration of war except in technical
sense and whether the United States
snd Germany actually go to war in
the fullest acceptance Of the term will
depend on what the imperial govern
ment does before congress is assem-
bled or after it acts.
Dispatches from abroad tonight de-
claring that the German government
expected a state of war within the
next 4S hours placed an ominous as
pect on the situation.
The presidents proclamation fol-
lows:
Whereas, public interest requires
that the congress>of the United States
should be convened in extra session
at II o'clock, noon, on the End day
of April, 1917, to receive commu-
questions of national policy;
"Now, therefore, l, Woodrow VIII
son, president of the United States OF
America, do hereby proclaim and de-
clare that an extraordinary occasion
requires the congress of the United
States to convene in extra session III
me capitol at the city of Washington
on the 2nd day of April, 1917. at .
O'Clock, noon, of which all persons
who shall at that time be entitled to
act as members thereof are hereby re-
nuired to take notice.
Given under my hand and the seal
of the United States of America, the
21st day of March. in the year of Our
Lord 1917, and of the independence
of the United States the 141st."
May Be Changes.
Much to change the presidents in
tentions or the course of the govern
ment in the crisis may develop be-
fore April 2. The first American arm
. ed ships will by that time have reach
Red the war zone. The ruthless de-
struction of one of them unquestion-
ably would be an act of war
On the other hand, sinking of a
submarine by one of the armed
merchantmen probably would be met
as an act of war by Germany. Even
the arning of American ships with
the avowed purpose of defending
them against U-boats may be declar-
ed such an act.
In any of these events practically
nothing would remain except for con-
sress to acknowledge a state of war
existing from a certain specified date
probably last Sunday, when three
American ships we're sunk with loss
of life.
The next 10 days, until congress
Aeets. will be fraught with possibili-
ties of tremendous consequences to
the United States.
President Wilson and his advisers