The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1917-12-27
ONLY GOVERNMENT
NOT YET TAKEN POWER

Inc government VI tuG ClilbCp CSetNSo
is the only great government now en-
gagged in the war which has not al
ready assumed control of this sort. 1t
was thought to be in the spirit Of
American institutions to attempt to do
everything that was necessary through
private management, and if zeal and
ability and patroiic motive could have
accomplished the necessary unification
administration it certainly would have
been accomplished; but no zeal or abil-
ity CO - overcome insuperable obsta-
Giles, al I have deemed it my duty
to recognize that fact in all candor now
that it is demonstrated and to use with
out reserve the great authority reposed
in me. A great national necessity die
tated the action and 1 was therefore
not at liberty to abstain from it.
(Signed) t'WOODROW WILSON"
Following is the Presidents procla-
nation:
by the President of the United States
of America-A Proclamation:
Whereas, the Congress of the United
States, in the exercise of the contsitu-
tional authority vested in them, by joint
resolution of the Senate and House of
Representatives, bearing date April g.,
1917, resolved:
THAT the state of war between the
United States and the imperial German
government which has thus been thrust
upon the United States is hereby for
mally declared; and that the President
be, and he is hereby authorized and
directed to employ the entire naval
and military forces of the United States
and the resources of the government
to carry on war against the German
imperial government, and to bring the
conflict to successful termination, all
of the resources of the country are
hereby pledged by the Congress of the
United States.
And by joint resolution bearing date
of December Z 1917, resolved:
THAT a state of war is hereby de-
clared to exist between the United
states of America and the imperial and
royal Austro-Hungarian government;
and that 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 re-
sources of the government to carry on
war against the imperial and royal Aus
tro Hungarian government; and to
bring the conflict to a successful ter
nination, all the resources of the coun-
try are hereby pledged by the Congress-
of the United States
And, whereas, it is provided by sec
ton l of the act approved August 20.
1915, entitled IAN act making appro-
prlations for the support of the army
Tor the fiscal year ending June Sc.
lows:
"The President in time of war ia
empowered, through the Secretary of
war, to take possession and assume
control OF any system or systems Of
transportation, or any part thereof
and to utilize the same, to the exclu-
sion as far as may be necessary Of
all other traffic thereon, for the trans
fer or transportation of troops, war
material and equipment, or for such
other purposes connected with the
emergency as may be needful or de-
sirable.
''And. whereas, it has not become
necessary in the national defense to
take possession and assume control of
certain systems of transportation and
to utilize the same to the exclusion
as far as may be necessary of other
than war traffic thereon. for the
transportation of troops war material
and equipment thereof and for other
needful and desirable purposes con-
nected with the prosecution of the
war.
Now, therefore, I, Woodrow will
son, President of the United States.
under and by virture of the powers
vested in me by the foregoing resolu-
tions and statute, and by virtue of
all other powers thereto appertaining, do
hereby through Newton D. Baker,
Secretary of War, take possession ana
assume control at IL o'clock noon on
the 2Sth day of December, 1917, Of
each and every system of transporta-
ton and the appurtenances thereof,
located wholly or in part within the
boundaries of the continental United
States and consisting of railroads, and
owned or controlled systems of coast
wise and inland transportation. en-
gagged in general transportation.
whether operated by steam or by cleo
trio power, including also terminals,
terminal companies and terminal as
sociations, sleeping and parlor cars,