Henderson daily dispatch., 1937-04-03
By CLARK KINNAIRD

Pr6SlQGnL .1nONldS WOOOIOW VIII
son walked through lines of soldiers
with drawn sabers into the Ameri-
can House of Representatives on
April 2, 1917, to devote 38 minutes to
saying, elaborately:
". I advise that the Congress
declare the recent course of the I'M
perial German government to be In
fact nothing less than war against
the government and people of the
United States :"
There was no surprise for the joint
assembly of the congress in special
session in what he said; only inter-
est in how he would say it.
Mr.. Chief Justice White led the
first applause the address drew, with
tear rolling down his face. Appa-
rently the only persons in the throng
who did not join the applause were
the diplomats, who were restrained by
official etiquette, and certain sena-
tors-"A little group of willful mem
who, by filibustering in the closing
days of the previous Congress, had
helped to defeat the armed neutrality
bill.
Already at War
In asking Congress to declare war,
the President was but making a for
NAL gesture, for the NATION was al
ready at war. 1t had been at war, in
fact since March II.
Just what had happened to bring
this about? Just how and why did
the United States get into the con-
flict?
There was no one reason, but a py-
ramid of circumstances. 1t has taken
all of the subsequent 20 years for
even the contributing factors to come
to light sufficiently to be understood.
It is the parallels that can be re-
cognized in Americas position in
world affairs in 1897 and in the pre-
sent policies that make so fascinating
the evidence that has finally come to
light about Americas position in
1914-'17
War Factors
In this series, the writer will take
up one by one the factors most often
cited as the reason for Americas en-
try into the war-such as foreign
propaganda, the invasion of Belgium,
Germany.'s anti-submarine campaign,
wall Street bankers" It is neces-
sary to consider first Of all President
Wilson's own part in the making of
the war.
Speaking in New York, June 80
1915, he said: II get great many let
tiers, my fellow-citizens, from import
ant and influential men in this coun-
try; but get a great many other let
tiers. I get letters from unknown men
from humble women, from people
whose names have never been heard
and will never be recorded, and there
is one prayer in all these letters: Mr..
President, do not allow anybody to
persuade you that the people of this
country want war with anybody"
This was two months after a secret
sunrise conference" at the White
House, attended by Speaker Clark and
representatives Flood and Kitchin,
the latter Democratic floor leader, at
which Mr.. Wilson expressed "eager-
ness for war"
Advised Against War
Apparently to avoid publicity, the
president invited a small g-oup of
congressional leaders to an early
morning conference at the White
House and vehemently stressed to
them his conviction that the United
States must break relations with Ger
many at once. Their determined OPP
position to any such move and their
assurance that they would fight it in
Congress forced Wilson to abandon
the plan, at least for time. Also, a
note which he had had Secretary
Lansing draw up severing diplomatic
relations
further neutrality"
Soon afterward the slogan, "1e kept
us out Of war" was echoing through
the nation. Yet four months after
the President had been reelected on
that platform the nation was at war.
British Views
It is interesting to look back on
what an English statesman said of
President Wilson and the war.
John Dillon said in Parliament:
1.-The difficulties with which Presi-
dent Wilson has been confronted in
the last two and one half years have
not been sufficiently appreciated in
this country. He had to keep the ma
ton united and bring it united into
war. He had to deal with a people
who had deep-seated and ineradi-
cable hatred of war. To bring the
United States into the war was to
make them go against one of the deep
est instincts of the soul of the race"
Premier Asquith said: 1.-THE war
was doing little appreciate harm to
the material fortunes and prosperity
Of the American people. Nor were
American interests, at home or abroad
directly imperiled."
Earl Curzon said: "The case of Anne
RIGA entering the war is widely diff
ferentiated from that of any of the
other allied countries. All of the lat
ter has a. direct personal interest in
the war, but Americas interest is Sec
ondary and remote"
The Vote I'm Congress
The declaration Of war was car
ried by vote of 1913 to so in the
House, and 80 to in the Senate. A
most frequent argument in favor of
the resolution was that it was ques-
ton Of standing behind the President
in a controversy with foreign power.
Some speakers who announced their
intention of voting Eyes" expressly as
serted that they would vote mot" ex-
cept for the fact that wa rhad already
been decided upon, the resolution was