The Butler weekly times. (Butler, Mo.) 1881-1918, 1917-04-05
PRESIDENT ASKS
CONGRESS 70
DECLARE WAR
Chief Executive of the United
States Urges Americans to
Take Up Arms Against
the Germans.
FIGHTS FOR HUMANITY
kaiser's Course Denounced in Address
to Senate and House as Challenge
to Al Mank'nd-Uroes Uni
versai Service.
FIGHTS FOR HUMANITY

In a dispa s.;iOEate. but unmcasured
denunciation OF the course of the i'm.
perial German government. which he
characterized as a challenge to all
mankind, the President declared that
neutrality no longer was feasible or
desirable where the peace of the
world was involved
The President said war with Ger
many would involve practically CO.
operation with the governments now
at war with Germany, including lib
eral financial credits.
He urged the raising of half million
men, chosen on the principle of uni
versal liability to service.
The President made it clear that no
action was being taken against the
Austrian government and other ma
lions allied with Germany. President
Wilson spoke as follows:
THE ADDRESS in FULL.
Gentlemen of the Congress: Ihave
called the Congress into extraordinary
session because there are serious, very
serious, choices of policy to be made,
and made Immediately which it was
neither right nor constitutionally per-
missible that should ASSUME the re-
sponsibility of making.
"On the 3rd of February last Of
ficially laid before you the extraordi-
nary announcement of the imperial
German government that on and after
the first day Of February it was it's
purpose to put aside all restraints Of
law or of humanity and use it's sub
marines to sink every vessel that
sought to approach either the ports of
ern coast of Europe or any of the
ports controlled by the enemies of
Germany within the Mediterranean.
That had seemed to be the object
of the German submarine warfare
earlier in the war, but since April Of
last year the imperial government had
somewhat restrained the commanders
Of its undersea craft in conformity
with its promise then given to us that
passenger boats should not be- sunk,
and that due warning would be given
to all other vessels which its subma-
rines might seek to destroy when no
resistance was offered or escape at
tempted, and care taken that their
crews we're given at least fair
chance to save their lives in their
open boats
1.-The precautions taken we're mea.
ger end hap.hazard enough as was
proved In distressing instance after
ipstance in the progress Of the cruel
and unmanly busin ess. but certain
degree Of restraint was observed.
The new policy has swept every
restriction aside. Vessels of every
kind whatever their flag. their charac-
ter, their cargo their destination. their
srrand. have been ruthlessly sent to
the bottom without warning and with
out thought of help or mercy for
those on board, the vessels Of friend
ly neutrals along with those of bel
lie srents.
Even hospital ships and ships
carrying relief to the sorely be-
reaved and stricken people of Bel
gium, though the latter were provided
with safe conduct through the pre-
scribed areas by the German govern
ment itself. and were distinguished
by undesirable marks of identity.
have been sunk with the same reck-
less lack Of compositions or principle.
II was for little while unable to
believe that such things would in fact
be done by any government that had
hitherto subscribed to the humane
practices of civilized nations.
international law had its origin
in the attempt to set up some law
which would be respected and OBJ
served upon the seas, where no nation
had right of dominion and where lay
the free highways of the world.
by painful stage after stage has
that law been built up with meager
enough results. indeed, after all was
accomplished that could be accom-
plished. but always with clear view
ct least. what the heart and con.
science Of mankind, demanded
This minimum of right the Ger
man government has swept aside un-
der the pleas Of retaliation and neces.
sity, and because 1t had 20 weapons
which It could use at sea except these.
which 1t IL jI,possible to employ as It
IL employing them without throwing
to the winds all scruples Of humanity
or OF respect Tor. the Understandings
that were supposed to underlie the In
tercourse Of the world.
II am not now thinking OF the loss
Of property involved. immense and
aarSoua m that Il. but only Of the