El Nuevo mexicano., 1917-04-05
TIME FOR ACTION,
SAYS SENATOR LODGE

Senator Lodge, ranking Republican
Oh the foreign relations committee.
spoke after Senator Swanson.
N n Is more conscious than I
that this is a m for action and
not for debate.'' said Mr.. Lodge, "but
| wish briefly to state why l support
1t with the greatest -earnestness of
which | am capable. The most mo-
mentous power entrusted to congress
by the constitution is the authority
to declare war and never has con.
gress been called to a more solemn
exercise of this great power than at
this moment. We have submitted to
wrongs and outrages from the cen
trail powers of Europe with a long
patience. We have borne and for
borne to the very limit of endurance.
Now the inevitable end is here and
we are about to declare war against
Germany.
speaking for myself, and I hope
for my associates generally on this
side of the chamber, I desire to say
that in this crisis and when the
country is at war, party lines will
disappear and this disappearance Of
the party line will, / am confident. not
be confined to the minority. Both
Democrats and Republicans must for
get party in the presence Of a com.
NOR danger.
Must Build Up Army
We have only a very small army
and we must proceed at once as rapid
ly as possible to build up a large one,
fit to defend the country in any en-
Urgency. Our navy is strong in GER
tain branches and very weak in others.
1t must be our business to supply the
deficiencies as rapidly as possible.
Fortunately these deficiencies are Of
the kind which can be most quickly
supplied. The president has said that
war will involve the utmost practical
cooperation in council and action with
the governments now at war with
Germany, and as incident to that the
extension to those governments of
the most liberal financial credits, in
order that our resources may be, so
far as possible, added to theirs. | am
not only in agreement with this
policy advised by the president, but it
to me that nothing is more i'm.
portant than to follow it out.
The Common Foe
Il am a thorough believer in the
general policy laid down by Washing
ton when he advised the people of
the United States not to enter into
alliances; but the man
who won the American revolution
through the alliance with France
would have been the last to lay down
hard and fast rule that under no
circumstances and for no
were We to v Q ally ourselves with
other nations. 1t would be madness
for us to attempt to make war alone
On Germany and find ourselves, per-
haps, at the end left isolated, at war
with that power when all the nations
would be at peace, because we had
not allied ourselves with them. The
allies OF the entente as they are call
I'd, are fighting a common foe and
heir foe is now ours. We cannot
'end an army across tho ocean for
We have no army to send. Yet, l
'hould be glad, for one, il we could
lend ten thousand men of our regu-
ar troops, so that the flag Of the
United States might at least be un.
urled in the fields of France. I be.
ieve that the mere sight of that flag
n that region made so desolate by wal
would stimulate the courage and help
he success Of those who have the
anne aim that we have and who seek
he same victory. We a also help
he allies, as the president recon-
nends with large credits and with
hose supplies which we can furnish
nd which they lack. We cannot do
lore in any direction to bring this
Tar to a speedy end than to give
he credits and furnish these sup