Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1917-04-06
Can't Vote For War

81 want to stand by my country, but
l cannot vote for war"
Still she did not formally cast her
vote and half dozen of her colleagues
manded "Vote," vote" in raucous
voices. Sinking into her seat, Miss
Rankin whispered No" Jerry South,
chief clerk went to her seat to verify
her vote.
Mr.. Kitchin's participation in the
proceedings was scarcely less drama
tic. After debating the question pri-
vately for six hours with both oppo-
nents and proponents of the resolu-
tion yesterday, he finally announced
his opposition and made a stirring
speech against the measure.
Administration leaders were greatly
worried last night lest Mr.. Kitchin's
attitude would result in demand for
change in House leadership. Kisses
from the Democratic side which greet
ed Representative Hef1in, of Alabama,
however, when he declared in speech
later that Kitchin should resign from
Congress because he did not represent
the sentiment of the country, appeared
to effectively quiet these fears, tenn
porarily at least
To Support Country
A majority of those who opposed
the resolution, including Mr. Kitchin,
announced that once it was passed
they would support it without reser-
! walton. Mr.. Kitchin as chairman of
| the Ways and Means Committee, will
| have charge of the preparation of
revenue bills to meet the enormous
war expenditures.
Consideration of the resolution fray
ed the nerves of administration lead
ers badly. Starting with virtually no
opposition to the measure, 1t was be-
lieved they saw visions after Mr.. Kit
chin's speech of many votes against
| 1t. At one point they urged limiting
speech making in order that the reso-
luton might be passed before more
converts were made by the opposition.
No time limit was put on the debate,
however, and 1t was field day of
talking. Every member who wanted
to talk had an opportunity to do so.
| 1t was estimated to-day that more
than a hundred speeches were de-
| livered. The cost of white paper re-
! quired for copies of to-day's congress
sional record promised to run high.
Spectators Stay Late
Interest in the debate was progress
sive. Throughout the earlier hours
of yesterday only about half the House
mem bership was nreSenL, and the gall
leries were half empty. In the even
| ing the galleries and the floor of the
| House filed up and members and
| iournment at 3.15 this morning.
Save for a short time spent in dis
posing of proposed amendments de-
signed to limit the operation of regu-
lar troops to this country except by
approval of Congress, the long weary
hours were spent in debating and
voting on the resolution. The amend
ments were beaten overwhelmingly.
Little acrimonious discussion devel-
oped. Proponents of the measure
calmly and seriously declared that as
a result Of German violations of
American rights, state of war really
existed. Opponents pleaded that Ger
many's war of frightfulness was
forced by the British blockade which
was as much a violation of American
rights as submarine warfare.
Forced to Stop Talking
The historic sergeant.at-arms"m mace.
| the emblem of the Houses authority,
was brought into play once to quiet
| a member. In a debate with Repre-
sentative Heffn, of Alabama, over Mr..
Kitchins position, Representative
Burnett, also of Alabama, exceeded his
time and declined to surrender the
| floor. When Sergeant-at-Arms Gordon
| appeared with his mace, Mr.. Burnett
apologized and retired.
| Absence of patriotic display was a
noticeable feature. The applause for
speeches on both sides fthe ques-