The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-03-31
AMERICANS MUST
NOT BE SLACKERS
WHEN WAR COMES
Salisbury Tells What United
States Must Do.
Feed and Equip Soldiers of the
Allies in France.
RAISE ARMY OF A MILLION
MOuthpiece of Administration
Thinks U. s. VIII Fight.
He Would AbrOgate All Treaties
With the Kaiser.
MOuthpiece of Administration
Thinks U. S. VIII Fight.
He Would AbrOgate All Treaties
With the Kaiser.

Washington, March 31.-Senator
Willard Salisbury. president pro tenn
Of the senate and an acknowledged
mouth piece of the administration in
the upper house of congress, has is
sued an authorized statement in which
he assumes a war with Germany
must come. He lays down certain
things this government should do.
In the first place he advocates the
abrogation of all treaties with Ger
many. He insists that the credit of
the government be extended to the
allies and holds that until this coun-
try can equip and train 100000 men,
that number of men of France should
be fed and equipped by the United
States and supplied with munitions.
The peace terms, he says, should be
such that the United States would be
freed from the danger of invasion il
the future.
There is one thing that should be
done to definitely clear the ground for
the future" said Senator salisbury.
..T'his country should declare that the
treaties existing between the United
States and Germany have been AFRO
gated by the repeated gross violations
of these treaties, as evidenced by the
sinking of American ships and the
taking of American lives, as well as
by the refusal to permit the commerce
of this country to safely use the hlgh
seas in the express way provided in
the treaties of 1885 and 1888 and re-
affirmed by the treaty of 1928, and
all of which have been recognized by
both countries and notably by our
own supreme court as existent and IN
force"
Senator Salisbury declined to say
whether he thought congress should
declare a state of war existing between
this country and Germany, or shoulo
make a declaration of war. He SAID
ne thought that the executive should
be heard before anyone reached a con-
clusion.
Assuming" he continued, that
congress shall declare a state of war
existing or make an outright declara-
ton of war there should be no hesl-
tation or delay of any KIND IN DONG
whatever we can do to bring to an eho
the war upon which we would then
enter If we enter upon the war, 1t
goes without saying that We must as
sist those who are upon the same slde
with us in every possible way.
THE credit of our government VIII
undoubtedIv be loaned to the allies to
any extent needed for every soldier
they have at the front is dong some
of the work we might properly be
called upon to do and every gun they
for the common cause
The great power of this country
can be best exercised by using our in
dustrIal skill in organization. I'm
doubtedIy for six months to year,
at least, the only men we could send
to Europe would be small expedition
airy forces, which would be useful
chiefly for sentimental purposes. In
my opinion. however, this government
should do its full share when it makes
common cause with the allies.
I'VE must not be slackers. know
of no better way, while we are prepar-
ing an army, than to assume the bur-
den which we should esteem a privi-
lege, of furnishing. say one million of
the soldiers of France with all their
food, equipment, munitions and neces-
saries until we are able thru our own
army and navy to exert at least
power of a million men for the cause
which will have become a common
one"
Terms Not Difficult.
Regarding the terms of the participa-
ton of the United States, Senator
Salisbury expressed the belief they
would not be difficult to understand
nor too hard to reach" Europe, IN his
estimation would assume the burden
of settling the terms of peace so far
as European countries, their national
boundaries and forms of government,
are concerned.
1T would be sufficient for us to
know" Senator Salisbury continued,
that no military autocracy would be
permitted to retain. at the end of the
war, a navy that would threaten us or
a fleet by which armies could be sent
to invade us and the common interest
of the countries turnout the world and
especially of those with whom We must
join in this war. makes this a rea-
sonably united desire
IF we on this side of the Atlantic
are allowed to resume without posi-
bility of European aggression our ordi-
nary peaceable lives, we will not be-
come embroiled in the quarrels of Eu-
rope nor will any European nation be
given excuse for interfering with the
republic of this hemisphere"