The daily Gate City and constitution-Democrat., 1917-04-06

. lwIII communicate the word formally
I to Berne by cable and thence to Ber
lin.
United States representatives In
, every foreign and South American
, capital should have the news within
the next twenty-four hours.
: President Wilson signed the war
. resolution while alone in the iabrary
of the white house two minutes after
IL had reached the executive mansion
from the capitol
Orders VIII Flash.
WASHINGTON, April Gas the
presidents pen scratches off the sls'
nature to the war resolution some
time today, wires and radio waves
radiating from Washington will flasA
innumerable orders, loosing America
fleets and forces against the Imperial
German government. ~
For twenty-four hours, mobilization
and countless special orders nave
awaited the final word.
Signed by Vice President.
WASHINGTON, April 6.-The war
resolution was formally reported to
the senate as having been passed by
the house and senate and signed py
Speaker Clark, at 1910 today.
Vice President Marshall affixed
his signature at 1913 p. II.
| Every seat in the gallery and
every seat in the chamber was filed
as the official messenger from the
house entered just after the chap
lain's prayer and announced:
"a message from the house OF rep
reseatatives.
There was an audible intaking OF
breath.
| The crowds Of representatives and
their clerks and the government
officials banked deep behind the
senators desks, shifted nervously.
The house messenger was escorted
| to the vice presidents desk and
solemnly delivered the portentous
paper. 1t was imm ediately handed
ba ok to Marshall, who had Wrung
his hands nervously for a long three
minutes between the presentation OF
the resolution and his receipt OF It,
AS he waited for a clerk to record
the bill on the big senate omclal
ledger, Marshall took up new STUB
pen. wet it carefully with his tongue
and held it ready. =,
| AS the resolution was put on MS
desk, after little smudge mad peen
erased in the space left for his sig
nature, Marshall dipped the pen into
an ink we'll and signed "Thomas II.
Marshall"
The vice president then carefully
shook the superhuous ink into con-
venient cuspidor.
| While the bill was going through
the little formalities of the senate
the reading clerk was reading the
usual grist of kilograms from. "back
home"
Every little stir sounded noisy In
the silence of the senate chamber.
AS Marshall finished there was
| long drawn sigh from everyone.
Those in the galleries and on the
floor squirmed and twisted for a bet
ter chance to see history IN the
making.
There was a wild scramble in the
press gallery as newspapermen
dashed for the wires with the word
of nation going to war.
The buzz and apparent CONFUSION
| not noticeable in normal times
sounded like a threshing mill in
operation in contract to the quiet
that had preceded it.
Jerry South, clerk of the house.
presented the resolution in person,
an unusual proceeding for capitol
officials.
The usual procedure was fol-
lowed.
South, entering the center aisle of
the senate, awaited the pause that
| followed the morning prayer.
"A message from the house OF
representatives" announced senate
secretary.
"Mr. President" said South.
"Mr. Secretary" Marshall replied.
81 present senate joint resolution
number one" said South, ''declaring
that a state Of war exists between
the imperial German government and
the government and the people of
the United States and making provi-
sicn to prosecute the same"
South cleared his throat raspingly.
Marshall followed suit. And it
sounded as though everyone else
emulated the example set.
Just bSore news Of Marshall's
signing the resolution reached the
white house. the president and Mrs.
Wilson went out for short walk.
81 present also," continued South.
| house resolution number IL, an act
making appropriations for the army"
South turned to leave the senate,
handing the bill to the senate en-
ploye sent to greet him. Senator
LaFollette did not turn his head as
the momentous resolution was an
nounced and borne down the aisle to
the clerks desk
He continued to sort documents
on his desk busily. Senator Stone
gazed absently into the galleries.
Every other senator leaned forward
/ int emily as Vice President Marshall
| picked up his pen
! 1t took just three minutes for the
nom entous measure to run its course
in the senate ard about four minutes
! for it to leave the senate chamber
| Before the bill was out Of the room
MN