Evening star., 1932-04-17

EDITORS NoTE-This Is the first Of q series OF
aS o RSuns rss s sst nase h s i secDsS a
appear in the next issue of The Stars Sunday
HE belfry clocks pealing forth the
hour Of midnight. ushering in Good
Friday, April 6, 1917. The House of
Representatives of the United States
of America is entering upon the four
teenth hour of its unforgettable de-
bate the war resolution which is destined
to throw the vast resources of the country
into the World War
To war or not to war! That Is the question
now up for final and irreyocable decision; and
the Congressman In this hectic and dramatic
session, merely bringing to close the long
debate which has ragged with steadily increas-
ing eagerneSS throughout the Nation since
August of 1914.
During nearly IT hours the House has dis
cussed this measure before voting upon it; from
some time after 10 o'clock on the morning of
April till almost of the following morning.
1t S a resolution declaring war upon Germany
reading follows:
Whereas the Imperial German Government
has committed repeated acts of war against
the Government and the people Of the United
States of America; therefore be it
Resolved, by the Senate and the House
of Representatives Of the United States of
America, in Congress assembled. That the
state of war between the United States and
the Imperial German Government, which has
thuS been thrust upon the United States, Is
hereby formally declared: and
That the President be- and he is hereby
authorized and directed to employ the entire
naval and military forces of the United States
and the resources Of the Government to carry
on war against the Imperial German Govern
ment; and TO bring the conflict to a successful
termination all the resources of the country
are hereby pledged by the Congress of the
United States
I ATE at night on April 4. this resolution had
- been passed by the Senate, the vote being
az TO 6: and the six who had voted MOI" were
marked men targets for popular hatred and
abuse Two of them, Stone (Democrat) of
Missouri chairman of the Foreign Relations
Committee and La Follette (Repubiican) Of
wisconsin. were found the next day hung in
effigy at Fourteenth and Fl streets in the CEN
tral business section Of Washington.
Nov in the small hours of Friday morning.
April g. the great decision was impending. The
public galleries were crowded. In the diple-
matte boxes were men and women in evening
dress. just arrived from dinner parties.
One hundred speeches were made. the alot-
ment of time during the later hours of the
debate being minutes each. Most of the
speaker seemed to be less bent on convincing
their hearers than relieving their own emo
tions. The outcome was a foregone conclusion:
onis the size of the opposition minority was in
doubt
Chairman Floyd Of the Foreign Affairs Com
mittec had opened the debate, demanding 'the
crushing of PrIsSian militariSm and the liberia
tion OF the world from the menance OF
Hohenzonern dynasty" Representative Gard
ner. Republican. of Massachusetts, summoned
his eountrymen to play manly part in
defense Of democracy and liberty
few limiting amendments offered.
only to be rejected by overwhelming ma joritieS.
Such were the proposals Of Representative
MCCtliiGHgh af 0f he
fences OF the United States could be trans
ported for service in any European country
excep' "a express approval OF Congress, and