The Ypsilanti daily press. (Ypsilanti, Mich.) 1928-1962, 1941-04-12
SATURDAY. APRIL II. 1s4l
THE WAR 70 END WAR


With the cath anniversary OF the
week in which Germany and the
United States went TO war in 1917
now past We may hope to reach the
25th anniversary on our present
bass.
The constitutional process OF
shifting from the status OF armed
neutral" to actual belligerent re-
ouired the better part of five days
beginning on April 2 with Presi.
dent wilson's war message to Con-
gress and end.n April when he
signed the resolution proclaimins
q state OF war.
The country had passed the last
barrier short OF war on March IL,
1917. when the President, after six
weeks OF Germany's unrestricted
submarine warfare, proclaimed his
policy of armed neutrality. He
ordered naval guns and naval crews
10 be placed aboard American mer'
chant ships.
Eight days earlier, Congress had
been prevented by filibuster from
voting him authority to arm the
merchant marine, and had adjourn
ed Those guns were mounted
and cleared for action IN defense
OF the policy OF freedom Of the
seas which inched the country into
that war and which was junkei
long ago on the grounds that it was
dsL gerous and war provoker.
Less than one month after pro-
claiming armed neutrality, Presi-
dent Wilson appealed to Congress
Tor recognition OF the fact that 4
state of war ex .sted between Ger
many and the United States. The
war resolution passed the Senate
April 4 by a vote OF s2-to-6 and
was approved by the House 37S-to-
90 at 3:l2 a. m, April s. The Presi-
dent signed it the same day.
That first week OF April, 1917,
climaxed Two, months of tremen-
dous events which stirred the Unit.
ed States and aroused a clamoreus
II one sided argument over Ameri.
can relations with Germany.
3 The American people were IN
condition of collective and indivi-
dual excitement, anxiety and dis
pute. Opponents OF war or Of
armed neutrality were scored as
''pacifsts", an epithet which had
the power to burn "a years ago.
Theodore Roosevelt was clsmor-
ing to raise and lead a division to
France. William Jennings Bryan
telegraphed President Wilson to
enlist him as private when need
ed. Petitions and delegations for
and against war descended on the
White House and especially from
the West came angry resolutions
repudiating suggestions that in that
area pasifism prevailed.
Chicago mass meetings were en-.
dorsing full sized war. Balti.
more, Md, reported the greatest
patriotic demonstration" since the
Spanish American War when a
crowd OF 1000 persons broke up
pacifist meeting in the Academy
OF Music.
The country was unpreparei,
practically un.armed but becoming
converted to the cry OF war TO end
war.
The Navy went TO war with i66
combatant ships and 81 s.rplanes
OF all types. The Army had some.
thing under 300 airplanes, go regu-
lar flying officers and 81 associated
civilians with flying status. There
was no Army air corps. Bat the
War Department announced with
some satisfaction that it was Oh
tanning several scouting dlrigibles"
capable Of Tying at IS miles an
hour. -
Congressional appropriations for
national defense and all other gov.
eminent expenses during the fiscal
year OF 1917 aggregated only 81
62s.000,000 The national debt was
a mere si,2s2,000,000. There was
TAX OF raising the income tax %
pay part OF the war cost and the
rich were being warned that the
burden would fall heavily on them
Now we see history repeating
only on a much bigger scale. Our
national debt. instead OF being less
than two billions Of dollars. ap
proaches S. billions and promises
TO go much higher. Our fighting
planes are much larger and car
travel much faster. We think We
have better ships and better equip
ment OF every kind. The majority
OF our people as indicated by the
last tsome Of the minority say Il
will be the last" in every sense
OF the term) election believe thai
we have a better philosophy o.
government. Perhaps eyeryth nj
10 so much better that we can ac
compl!sh whatever we set out 'C
do now with little trouble.
German strength has com,
through hard work. long hours
compulsory labor, limited food "a
lions. We are in line with Ger
many in our compulsory military
service. but in our industrial pro
gram we are more in line will
France. Shall we follow France Of
shall we succeed by forcing par
OF our men TO fight while others re
volt at will against preparedness
The old slogan. United we stand
divided we fall" stu sounds pretty
sensible. The time seems 10 b
mar UhAn Ma shaii aaa uhafha