Evening capital news. (Boise, Idaho) 1901-1927, 1918-01-01
Governor Alexander Recites
L.abors Of State in Mobil-
izing Regiment and in
Other Directions.
Activities Of Various De-
partments Detailed-Pro-
ceedings Under Registra-
ton and Draft-Results
of Defense Council.
By M. ALEXANDER.
Governor of Idaho.)

year OF world war for magnitude
and the loss of men, the sacrifice Of
treasures and atrocities committed in
the name Of war against humanity the
battles fought of oppression of the
civil populations Of Europe and part of
Asia, the like of which had never oc-
CURED in the history of the world and
probably never will occur again.
1t was year when every activity
known to science has been engaged in
the activities of this terrible war and
1t will be remembered as year to sat
isfy the ambitions of one man-Wil-
liam II. Of Germany and II will mark
the beginning of a turn of affairs in
this colossal struggle from wars of the
past as this war is for the liberty of
the peoples of the world and not one
FOR indemnity and for the aggrandize-
ment of territory
This nation IN 1917 was forced to
enter this world war for the protection
of it's liberties, and its principles for
which this republic stands and the
protection Of our homes and all that is
dear to us SO that the cruel hand of
Prussian imperialism and autocracv
and the devastation of our land may be
spared. Our nation has entered into
this war with but one idea that is
that liberty must not perish from the
face of the earth and we must win this
war for that very reason.
The present state government was
ushered in the first Monday of Jan
uary, 1917, with war and the rumors
of war in the air. but with everyone
still hoping that the threatened war
between the United States and the Ger
man government could be averted. How
peacefully the nation rested during the
month of January and how little 1t de-
sired war can best be proven by the
fact that on Jan. 81, 1917, the national
government ordered the second regi-
ment of the Idaho national guard to be
mustered out of the service and allow
ed the men out to repair to their homes
and take up civil life. II there was no
other evidence of the peaceful inten-
ton of the nation, this would be con-
elusive beyond doubt.
On the eighth day of January, 1917,
the legislature was convened and the
state government and the legislature
hoped that the Prince of Peace may
yet hold sway over this happy land
OF ours and that the momentous step
Of war would not have to be taken
Conditions changed rapidly and on
Feb. 3, 1917, diplomatic relations be-
tween the United States and Germany
were severed. Even then we still
hoped that we would be spared the ne
cessity OF taking up arms to defend
our rights that were so grossly vio-
lated by the despotism of the German
government.
DECLARATION OF WAR.
The legislature, the state government
and all the people hoped and prayed
that something would occur to stave
off the threatened calamity. Men hope
and God DEGREES, and on April 6, 1917,
there came the fatal hour and the fatal
day in the nation-for on that date,
the president of the United States ask
ed congress to declare a state of war
existing between the United States and
the imperial German government.
1t was nothing new to have state
of war or a declaration of war made
against the German government for up
to that time, so nations had declared
war against one another and 10 had
suspended diplomatic relations one
with the other. The entrance of the
United States into the world war was
heralded by all the peace loving people
throughout the world as a step that
that will eventually abolish militarism
and Prussianlsm from the face of the
earth.
From that time. April 6. 1917. on,
the trend of thought of both national
and state governments turned into
channels heretofore unknown-war
such as the world had never seen be-
fore and such as the present genera
ton of the United States had no knew
ledge.
The presidents message to congress
asking for declaration of war be-
tween this government and Germany
was met with a prompt response by
congress and the entire nation and the
slogan went forth at once: Let us all
get back Of the president, back of the
commander in-c chief of the army and
The navy; on to the soil of France and
on to Berlin as fast as we can get
there" That has been acted upon, and
the battIecry Of the nation Is not for
revenge but to avenge the wrongs COM
mitted by the iron heel of Prussianism,
which, drunk with power. has violated
every :ule of international law, and,
while claiming our friendship by
treaty, tried to foment strife between
our country and the republic of Mex
leo and between the United States and
Japan and tried through its debauched
agents to blow up the welland canal,
tried to corrupt congress and to create
% rfn nd
people and through its accredited dip
lomatic representatives at Washington
set up system Of espionage too con-
temptible for civilized nations. On Jan.
81, 1917, the German government issued
an edict depriving us of the rights Of
NE high seas. all Of which is part