Evening star., 1937-04-03
Bv WiIliam s. Odlin.

l. slipped by since Washington
was in the midst of drama
IL which to this day it has not
seen even approached. The events be-
ginning April 2, 1917, and eliminating
April 6, involved the very lives of
millions of Americans and almost
unaccountable money. The United
States was walking into war.
Two days before this date 20 years
ago President Woodrow Wilson, GRIM
faced after exhausting every other
means of inducing Germany to stop
killing Americans with its Uboats,
had personally appeared before Con-
greSs and Informed it that state of
war existed between this Government
and the Imperial German govern
ment. Two days hence, with no cere-
mony and surrounded only by his
family, he had signed Congress agree
ment with his assertion
In the meantime the Capital seethed
with succession of extraordinary and
history making occurrences. 1t was
overrun with virtually every type of
human, ranging from nuts with
sure-flre inventions or ideas on how
to win the impending struggle to
sincere and level-headed patriots. And
very strongly and vociferously in evi-
dence were the most War-like OF
pacihsts, determined to prevent Amer
lea from avenging the murder of its
people on the high seas. They paraded
and held meetings and threatened
members of Congress who would not
obey their orders. Some idea of the
lengths to which they went may be
gained from the fact that the cultured
and dignified Senator Henry Cabot
Lodge of that generation found it
necessary to smack down one of the
most bellicose of the pacifist tribe,
who had called him an offensive name
and struck him outside the door of
his own Office in the Capitol.
The curtain rose on the drama Mon
day, April 2, when Congress met in
extraordinary session The wave OF
war sentiment which had been rising
all over the country for months be-
cause Of the unrestricted submarine
warfare of Germany which had taken
30 many American lives had finally en-
quilted the White House. And the pa
tient President who had promised the
Kaiser that this Nation would hold
Germany to strict accountability"
for repetitions of the LuSitania horror
was now prepared to make good. He
had called the extra session by proc
lamation issued March 81 when he
abandoned hope of bringing Germany
to terms through any avenue except
war
WAR plans were already in progress
when Congress met to hear Mr..
Wilson's excoriation of German war
methods and his recommendation that
the state of war be officially and
formally recognized. The air of
Washington was electric with patriotic
fervor in anticipation of his war mes
sage.
1t had been expected he would ad-
dress the combined branches of Con-
gress late in the afternoon, but it
was we'll past O'Clock when he ar
rived. Meanwhile, Pennsylvania ave-
nue. was lined for hours with crowds
the Capitol. But because of the spy
scare which pervaded all parts of the
country, and particularly Washington,
the Secret Service guard of the Presi-
dent was taking no chances and
whisked him from the White House
to his destination by circuitous route
north of the Capitol.
The scene there was memorable.
A Capitol bathed in light stood out in
the night. Two troops of cavalry from
Fort Myer clattered up and came to
attention as the President entered the
building And a great crowd Of peo-
pie, held in check by scores of police,
watched solemnly.
Inside the Senators had found places
In the House chamber, and the justices
of the Supreme Court also were pres
ent, as was the cabinet. The Supreme
Court justices led the applause as
President Wilson made telling points
Ill Ills DlGlflS lllulCOlIicIlU VI tllC IlldoCCIc
Of wartime Germany.
In hush that only the most mo-
mentous of occasions could create, the
President, in low voice, began:
Il have called the Congress into
extraordinary session because there
are choices of policy to be made, and
made Immediately, which it was
neither right nor consticutionally per-
missible that should assume the re-
sponsibility of making"
Then the Presidents voice rose per-
ceptibly as he launched into q de-
tailed account of the efforts he had
made to induce Germany to forego its
ruthless submarine campaign, of which
other neutrals as well as Americans
were being made victims.
THE great assemblage, including vir-
tually the entire diplomatic corps,
except the ENJOYS Of the central pow
= ers, who some time previously had