Evening star., 1934-04-04
WAR'SFOES|N 1917
SEE VOTE AS RIGHT
Seven Who Opposed U. S.
Entry Into Conflict Say
Views Are Same.
BY the Associs ted Press.

A corporal's guard Of seven men VII,
shouted mo" when tide-rip Of
"ayes" put America into the World
War Just II years ago, would vote the
same way If the fateful roll were
called today.
The seven are all that remain in
Congress If the little band of 56 who
voted for peace and saw war roll up
q laundering total of ass votes Oh
April 4, 1917. The Senate voted 81
to 6 for war on April 4, 1917, and
the next day the House made SINH
lar decision by vote of 373 to so.
Here's What the seven said today on
the seventeenth anniversary OF that
yoll call
Senator Norris, Independent Repub-
Ecan, of Nebraska: Mot only our Ma
ton, but every civilized country In the
world is now suffering from the .e-
suits brought about mainly by the
great World War. Our civilization Is
even now on the verge of destruction.
Made Millions Paupers.
1T has made hundl eds of million
aires and millions Of paupers.
1T is still claiming its toll from
every homo and every fireside in the
land. 1t has created privileged c!~ss
who live in luxury upon the gold
coined from the life blood OF our
roblest citizens"
Senator Dill, Washington Democrat
who was Representative II years
ago: IF I had it to do over a hun
dred times I would vote the same way
I am unalterably opposed to sending
men across the ocear t. fight ANYBODY
: IF we had stayed out OF that war
nobody can conceive the influence our
peaceful example would have had on
the world. We would have been eco
ronnically secure instead OF in the
plight we are today"
Representative Britten. Republican.
of Illinois: When the Woodrow Will
Ron administration declared war on
GERMANY some + years ago. 1t COM
,nitted the most colossal blunder. not
only in the history of America, but for
all time to come.
Holds War Was Vain.
1.-THE war has been fought in vain." :"
Representative Church, Democrat
of California: Il voted against the
World War. Would l do so again? l
surely would.
Several hundred thousand boys
ruined. gassed and dead; $50,00O.-
100000 expended; $4,000, 900 900
loaned; sadness, distress and destltu-
ton everywhere as result.
II surely would vote as I did ana
have America remain light OF the
world instead of being hated as she is
today. Why not?"
Representative Frear, Republican, OF
Wisconsin, Wars again threaten to
engulf the world. have urged con-
stitutional amendment for a plebi-
scite on war before Congress again de-
clares war, and a further provision
that no American citizens shall be
conscripted to fight in Europe or Asia.
War experts announce we Will soon
be engaged in another war.
Reference made to recent wars Is not
to resurrect dead issues, but serves as
a warning against vicious war propa-
ganda that even surrounds
Presidents and the Congress when war
hysteria prevents sane reasoning"
Sees Vote Vindicated.
Representative Knutson. Republican,
OF Minnesota: Time has more than
indicated the position taken by those
of us who voted against Americas en-
trance into the World War.
THE Constitution should be amended
to provide that no declaration Of war
should be had until ratified by vote
of the people, save in case of INVASION
The American people would have
voted overwhelmingly against war in
1917"
Representative Lundeen, Farmer
Labor, of Minnesota In April,
1917, America departed from the old
landmarks of Washington, Jefferson.
jackson and Lincoln-real statesmen
who warned US to keep out OF Euro
pean wars and foreign entanglements
TT is now universally agreed that
we did blunder when we entered the
war and it is universally agreed
never again.
Would Require Vote.
A desire 10 Change IIle SOlioIiluIAoiI
is now alive among this group OF
men who voted no" The proposed
amendment would require popular
vote before soldiers could be sent out
side the United States to wage a var
Only a few days ago, a House
Judiciary Subcommittee held hear
ings on Representative Frear's reso-
luton to that end. While prospects
that the proposal will emerge from
committee are not bright, Frear is
assured Of seven votes if it does.
Among those who pleaded before
the committee for its enactment was
former Representative Jeanette Ran
kin of Montana, first woman member
OF Congress.
On that day II years ago she wept
as she faced the stern discipline Of
Speaker Champ Clark for violating the
rules against explaining a vote. But
explain hers she did. She said she
loved her country, but could not vote
for war.