The Union times. [volume] (Union, S.C.) 1894-1918, 1917-04-06

vote of 80 to 6. 1t goes to the house
where debate will begin tomorrow
morning at 10 o'clock and continue
until action is taken.
Senators who cast the negative
votes were: Gronna Of North Da-
kota, La Toilette of Wisconsin, Nor
ris of Nebraska, Lane of Oregon,
Stone of Missouri and Vardaman of
Mississippi.
Senator McCumber's substitute to
declare the existence of a state of
war upon the sinking of another
American ship by Germany was de-
feated without roll call.
The resolution, drafted after con-
sultation with the state department
and already accepted by the house
committee, says the state of war
thrust upon the United States by Ger
many is formally declared and directs
the president to employ the entire
military and naval forces and the re-
sources of the government to carry
on war and bring it to successful
termination.
Action in the senate came just after
IL o'clock at the close of a debate that
had lasted continuously since 10
o'clock this morning. The climax was
reached late in the afternoon when
Senator John Sharp Williams de-
nounced speech by Senator La Fol
lette as more worthy of Herr Won
Bethmann-Hollweg than Of an Amer
lean senator.
No Outburst From Galleries.
The passage of the resolution was
not marked by any outburst from the
galleries. The senators themselves
were unusually quiet. Many of them
answered to their macs in voices that
quivered with emotion.
The galleries were filled to over
flowing and on the floor back of the
senator's seats were almost half thc
membership of the house. In the
diplomatic gallery was Secretary Lam
sing, Counsellor Polk of the state de-
partment, Minister Calderon of Bo-
y livia, Minister Ekengren Of Sweden.
y sAaflief NJ the evening DR.. Ritter, the
Swiss minister, in charge of German
interests in this country, had been
there.
Secretary McAdoo was on the floor
during the last few hours of the de-
bate.
the clerk announced the vote, 80 to 6,
there was hardly a murmur of ap-
plause.
All six of the senator's who voted
against the resolution were embnrS Of
the group of ~ which defeated the
armed neutrality bill at the last ses-
sion. There was no attempt to filibus-
ter this time, however, and rost of
the 13 hours of debate was consumed
by champions of the resolution. Of
the other six opponents of the armed
neutrality, Senators Cummins, Ken
yon and Kirby voted for the resolu-
tion tonight. Senators O'Gorman,
Clapp and Works retired to private
life at the end of the last session.
The text of the resolution follows:
Whereas, the imperial German gov
ernment has committed repeated acts
of war against the government and
the people of the United States Of
America; therefore, be it
Resolved, BY the senate and house
of representative of the United States
of America, in congress assembled.
that the state of war between the
United States and the imperial Ger
man government which has thus been
thrust upon the United States is here
by formally declared; and that the
president be, and he is hereby au-
thorized and directed to employ the en-
tire naval and military forces of the
United States and the resources of the
government to carry on war against
the imperial German 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"
Almost every senator and many
house members were present when the
senate debate began. In brief open
ing statement, Senator Hitchcock, in
charge of the resolution, said the
present was a time for faction, not
discussion"
Time for Talk Past.
"The time for discussion has pass
ed" he said. "The president has al
ready stated more clearly, effectively,
more conclusively the reasons which
make this grave step necessary. The
resolution provides for war against
the imperial German government Il
is framed on the lines of other war
resolutions. 1t places responsibility
for the war squarely upon the shoul-
'ders of the German government.
charged with repeated acts of war
against the United States. 1t is also
unquestionably declaration of war.
l am impressed with the solemnity of
the occasion. Some may be filled with