The Hays free press. [volume] (Hays, Kan.) 1908-1924, 1917-04-14
PRESIDENT ASKS CONGRESS To SAY
War STATE EXISTS WITH GERMANY

AAAANANCPNE0 AOlC ~
ter at Mexico City is eloquent evil
dence.
We are accepting this challenge of
hostile purpose because we know that
in such government, following such
methods, We can never have a friend.
and that in the presence of its organ
lied power, always lying in wait to ac-
cOmplish we know not what purpose,
there can be no assured security for
the democratic governments of the
world,
We are now about to accept gage
Of battle with this natural foe to lib
erty and shall, if necessary, expend the
whole force Of the nation to check and
nullify its pretensions and its power.
No False Pretense.
We are glad, now that we see the
facts with no veil or false pretense
about them, to fight thus for the uIti-
mate peace Of the world and for the
liberation of its people, the German
peoples included; for the rights of ma
tons great and small, and the priv
ilege of men everywhere to choose
their way of life and of obedience.
The world must be made safe for
democracy. Its peace must be planted
upon the tested foundations of politi-
cal liberty.
We desire no conquest, no dominion
We seek no indemnities for ourselves,
no material compensation for the sac
rifice we shall freely make.
We are but one of the champions of
the rights of mankind. We shall be
satisfied when those rights have been
made as secure as the faith and the
freedom of nations can make them.
Just because we fight, without ran
cor and without selfish object, seek
ing nothing for ourselves but what we
shall wish to share with all free peo-
pies, we shall, feel confident, conduct
our operation on belligerents without
passion and ourselves observe with
proud punctilio the principles of right
and of fair play We profess to be fight
ing for.
Regarding the details of war meas
ures, Mr.. Wilson said:
ut will involve the utmost practi-
cal cooperation in counsel and action
with the governments now at war with
Germany and, as incident to that, the
extension to those governments of the
most liberal credit, in order that our
resources may be added to theirs.
Resources.
TT will involve the organization and
mobilization of all the material re-
sources of the country to supply the
materials of war and serve the Incl
dental needs of the nation in the most
abundant and yet the most economical
and efficient way possible.
The Navy.
''It will involve the immediate full
equipment of the navy in all respects,
but particularly in supplying it with
the best means of dealing with the
enemy's submarines.
The Army.
ct will involve the immediate addi-
ton to the armed forces of the United
States already provided for in case of
war at least 100000 men, who should,
in my opinion, be chosen upon the
principle of universal liability to serv-
ice, and also the authorization of sub
sequent additional increment of equal
force so soon as they may be needed
and can be handled in training.
Finance.
cit will involve the granting ade-
quate credits to the government, sus-
tanned, 1 hope, so far as they can equi-
tably be sustained by the present gen.
Grafton, by we'll conceived taxation.
1t seems to me that it would
be most unwise to have the credits
which will now be necessary entered
on borrowed money.
Munitions
1--WE should interfere as little as
possible with the duty-for it
will be very practical duty-of sup
plying the nations already at war with
Germany with the material which they
can obtain only from u.s."
Referring once more to the attitude
Of America toward the great German
peOple-as distinguished from the
warmad and blood-lusty autocracy, the
president declared:
To Germans in America.
We are, let me say again, the sin
cere friends of the German people, and
shall desire nothing so much as the
early re-establishment OF intimate re-
lations of mutual advantage between
us, however hard it may be for them
luz TIE lALlS DSluS " DSllShS ltldL lIilS
is spoken from our hearts. We have
borne with their present government
through all these bitter months be
cause of that friendship, exercising a
patience and fOrbearance which would
otherwise have been impossible.
We shall, happily, still have an OPP
portunity to prove that friendship IN
our daily attitude and actions toward
the millions of men and women of
German birth and native sympathy
who live among US and share our life,
and we shall be proud to prove it to-
ward all who are in fact loyal to their
neighbOrS and to the government in
the hour of test. They are, most Of
them. as true and loyal Americans as
If they had never known any other
fealty or allegiance. They viii be
prompt to stand with US in rebuking
and restraining the few who may be
of different mind and purpose.
If there should be disloyaIty it viii
be dealt with with a firm hand Of stern
repression, but, If 1t lifts head at all it
will lift If ONLY here and there and