12
WILSON OUTLINES NATION'S POLICIES
APRIL AN EVENTFUL
MONTH IN HISTORY
April 19, 1775—Battle of Lexington, the first conflict of the
Revolution.
April 11, 1783—Congress proclaimed an end of the war with
* Great Britain.
April 30, 1789—Washington became first President of the new
republic.
April 30, 1803—Treaty with France for the purchase of Louisi
ana territory.
April f 4, 1818—Act of Congress establishing the Stars and
Stripes as the flag of the United States.
April 21, 1836—Battle of San Jacinto, ending the Mexican at
tempt at the conquest of Texas.
April 14, 1846—Beginning of the war between the United States
and Mexico.
April 12, 1861—Civil war began with the firing on Fort Sumter.
April 9, 1865—Civil war ended with the surrender of General
Lee.
April 14, 1865—President Lincoln shot by J. Wilkes Booth.
April 22, 1898—United States proclaimed war with Spain.
April 2, 1917—Congress meets in extra session "to receive a
, communication concerning grave matters of national
policy."
26,000 MEN IN
DAUPHIN COUNTY
CAN BE CALLED
13,835 in the City and 12,035
in County Eligible For
Service
2,899 IN STEELTO N
Sheriff Can Deputize Men to
Protect Property and
Bridges
Twenty-five thousand, eight hun
dred and seventy men in Dauphin
count?, can answer a call to arms
from President Wilson, if given, ac
cording to figures announced by the
County Commissioners' office.
Although some of the men would
probably be exempted because of phy
sical disability, a large majority could
be called to service. In Harrisburg
there are 13,835; and in the town
ships of the county, 12,035.
Steelton would furnish 2,899; Mid
dletown. 852: Susquehanna town
ship, 1,187; Swatara township, 808;
and Rush township, the smallest
number, 12. Harrisburg's number list
ed by wards follows: First, 758; Sec
ond. 1,668; Third, 162; Fourth, 650;
Fifth. 826; Sixth, 735; Seventh, 1,396;
Eighth. 753; Xinth. 2,461; Tenth, 1,-
503; Eleventh, 1.363; Twelfth, 975;
Thirteenth. 585. These totals include
men ranging in age from 20 to 45
years, and are furnished to the State.
Men, to protect bridges, manufac
turing plants and other property
which might be damaged by German
sympathizers, can be deputized by
Sheriff W. W. Caldwell, should this
eventually become necessary. It is not
expected that this will be necessary,
however, as the State troops would
probably be called first.
Congress Agrees to
Push Through Army
Bills Without Delay
Washington, April 3.—House leaders
to-day planned to have the House pass
perfunctorily four important appropri
ation bills which the Senate failed to
act on at the last session, in the same
form as passed by the House of the
last Congress and as reintroduced yes
terday. They are: Army, carrying
$247,061,108: sundry civil, $138,241,964;
general deficiency, $62,583,250; and mil
itary academy, $1,348,496.
Chairman Dent, of the House Mili
tary Committee, announced that the
army and military academy measures
were to be pressed through within 24
hours, under an agreement between
Democrats and Republicans.
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GOOD ONES
TUESDAY EVENING,
'Memorial Service For
Americans in France
Paris, April 3.—Solemn memorial
services were held yesterday at the
American Church of the Holy Trinity
for the late Sergt. James R. McCon
nell. of Carthage. N. C., and Henry E.
M. Buckley, of Rhinebeck, N. V.. who
lost their lives while serving with the
French army.
McConnell was a member of the
Franco-American Aviation Corps and
was killed last month in an engage
ment with a German aviator. Suck
ley was commander of the Second
American Ambulance at Saloniki and
was killed in Macedonia on Marcli 26.
The church was crowded-with Amer
icans serving France in some form or
resident here, including Ambassador
Sharp.
Bishop Brent of the Philippines
spoke on the character and devotion
of McConnell and Suckley. McConnell's
body will be burled in the devastated
zone of the German retreat where it
fell.
Demand For Flags Too
Great For Manufacturers
New York, April 3.—Unprecedented
demands for American flags of all sizen
from great banners to be flung to the
breeze down to small emblems to be
worn in the buttonhole, have swamped
flagmakers with orders far beyond
their capacity, inquiry among local
manufacturers here revealed. The calls
in the last 48 hours, it was said, have
put the flag factories three to five
days behind their orders. •
One firm said that from its three fac
tories working with augmented forces
about 2.000,000 flags of all kinds are
being turned out each week. A fourth
factory, it announced, had Just been
opened to handle a SIO,OOO government
order for flags for various branches of
thg national military and civil services.
From the general public, it was said,
the greatest demand is for button
hole flags.
Would Extend Financial
War Aid to France
Washington, April 3.—Representative
Andrew J. Montague, of Virginia, has
introduced two bills to aid France. One
asked for a gift of $1,000,000,000. The
other proposed a gift of $500,000,000
and a loan of $300,000,000. Both were
referred to the Committee on Ways and
Means.
The measures would authorize the
President to borrow money on the
credit of the United States by issuance
of bonds payable in fifty years, and
bearing interest at not to exceed 3
per cent. Governor Montague will ask
for immediate consideration of the
measures.
In discussing the advisability of giv
ing or loaning money to France, Rep
resentative Flood, Virginia, chairman
of the House Foreign Affairs Commit
tee, said: "I would favor a loan to
France, but I would hardly go so far
as to favor a gift of $1,000,000,000."
PRESIDENT TELLS
WAR IS THE O
TO GERMANY'S ATTACK ON U. S.
J
By Associated Prtst
Washington, April 3.—President Wilson last night asked Congress to declare a state of war existing
between the United States and Germany.
While the news of the submarining of the steamer Aztec—the first American armed ship to sail into
the war zone—was being told from mouth to mouth in the Capitol, the President, appearing before
House and Senate in joint session, asked Congress to recognize and deal with Germany's warfare on
America.
The President said war with Germany would involve practical cooperation with the governments
now at war with Germany, including liberal financial credits. He urged the raising of 500,000 men
by universal military service.
The President made it clear that no action was being taken against the Austrian government and
the other nations allied with Germany.
President "Wilson spoke as follows:
"I have called the Congress into ex
traordinary session because there are
serious, very serious, choices of policy
to be made, and made Immediately,
which it was neither right nor consti
tutionally permissible that 1 should
assume the responsibilty of making.
"On the third of February, last, I
officially laid before you the extra
ordinary announcement of the Imper
ial German government that on and
after the first day of February it was
its purpose to put aside all restraints
of law or of humanity and use its sub
marines to sink every vessel that
sought to approach either the ports of
Great Britain and Ireland or the west
ern coasts of Europe or any of the
ports controlled by the enemies'of
Germany within the Mediterranean.
Brokcu Promise
"Thathad seemed to be the object
of the German submarine warfare
earlier in the war. but since April of
last year, the imperial government
had somewhat restrained the com
manders of its undersea craft in con
formity with its promise then given to
us that passenger boats should not be
sunk, and that due warning would be
given to all other vessels which its
submarines might seek to destroy
when no resistance was offered or
escape attempted, and care taken that
their crews were given at least a fair
chance to save their lives in their open
boats.
"The precautions taken were meager
and haphazard enough, as was proved
in distressing instance after instance
in the progress of the cruel and un
manly business, but a certain degree
of restraint was observed.
Policy Swept Aside
"The new policy has swept every
restriction aside. Vessels of every
kind, whatever their flag, their char
acter, their cargo, their destination,
their errand, have 'ieen ruthlessly
sent to the bottom without warning,
and without thought of help or mercy
for those on board, the vessels of
friendly neutrals alorg with those of
belligerents.
"Even hospital ships and ships
carrying relief to the sorely bereaved
and stricken people of Belgium,
though the latter were provided with
safe conduct through the prescribed
areas by the German government it
self and were distinguished by unmis
takable marks of identity, have been
sunk with the same reckless lack of
compassion or of principle.
"I was for a little while unable to
believe that such things would in fact
be done by any government that had
hitherto subscribed to the humane
practices of civilized nations. Interna
tional law had its origin in the attempt
to set up some law, which would be
respected and observed upon the seas,
where no nation had right of dominion
and where lay the free highways of
the world. By painful stage after
stage has that law been built up with
meager enough results, indeed, after
all was accomplished that could be ac
complished, but always with a clear
view, at least, of what the heart and
conscience of mankind demanded.
"This minimum of right the Ger
man government has swept aside un
der the plea of retaliation and neces
sity, and because it had no weapons
which it could use at sea except these,
which it is impossible to emploV as
it is employing them without throw
ing to the winds all scruples of hu
manity or of respect of the under
standings that were supposed to un
derlie the intercourse of the world.
"I am not now thinking of the loss
of property Involved, immense and
serious as that is, but only of the
wanton and wholesale destruction of
the lives of noncombatants, men,
women and children, engaged in pur
suits which have always, even in the
darkest periods of modern history
been deemed innocent and legitimate.
Property can be paid 'or; the lives of
peaceful and innocent people cannot
Against Mankind
"Tlie present German submarine
warfare against commerce is a war
fare against mankind. It is a war
against all nations. American ships
have been sunk, American lives taken,
in ways which it has stirred us very
deeply to learn of, but the ships and
people of other neutral and friendly
nations have been sunk and over
whelmed in the waters in the same
way. There has been no discrimina
tion. The challenge is to all mankind.
"Each nation must decide for it
self how it will meet it. The choice we
make for ourselves must be made with
a moderation of counsel and a temper
atcness of judgment befitting our char
acter and our motives as a nation. We
must put excited feeling away. Our
motive will not be revenge or the vic
torious assertion of the physical might
of the nation, but only the vindication
of right, of human right, of which we
are only a single champion.
"When I addressed the Congress on
the twenty-sixth of February last, I
thought it would suffice to assert our
neutral rights with arms, our right to
use the seas against unlawful interfer
ence, our right to keep our people
safe against unlawful violence.
"But armed neutrality it now ap
pears Is Impracticable. Because sub
marines are In effect outlaws when
used as the German submarines have
been used against merchant shipping,
It is impossible to defend ships against
their attacks as the law of nations has
assumed that merchantmen would de
fend themselves against privateers or
cruisers, visible craft giving chase
upon the open sea. It is common pru
dence In such circumstances, grim
necessity indeed, to endeavor to de
stroy them before they have shown
' their own intention. They must be
dealt with upon sight, if dealt with
at all.
"The German government denies
the right of neutrals to use arms at all
within the areas of the sea which Jt
has proscribed, even in the defense of
HARRISBURO t&TELEGRXPH
sh "* MS
■
' tiik IM:KSMHINT
rights' which no' modern publicist has
e\ 4 er'questioned their right to defend.
The Intimation is conveyed that the
armed guards which we have placed on
our merchantshlps be treated as
beyond the pale of law and subject to
be dealt with as - pirates would be.
Armed neutrality is ineffectual enough
at best; in such circumstances and in
the face of such pretensions it is worse
than ineffectual; it is likely once to
produce what it was meant to prevent;
it is practically certain to draw us
into the war without either the rights
or the effectiveness of belligerents.
Wc Will Not Submit
"There is one choice we cannot
make, we are incapable of making.
We will not choose the oath of. sub
mission and suffer the most sacred
rights of our nation and our people
to be ignored or violated. The wrongs
against which we now array our
selves are not common wrongs; they
cut to the very roots of human life.
"With a profound sense of the
solemn and even tragical character
of the step I am taking and of the
grave responsibilities which it in
volves. but in unhesitating obedience
to what I deem my constitutional
duty, I advise that the Congress de
clare the recent course of the Im
perial German government to be in
fact nothing less than war against
the government and people of the
United States; that it formally accept
the status of belligerent which has
thus been thrust upon it and that it
take immediately steps not only to put
the country In a more thorough state
of defense, but also to exert all Ita
power and employ all Its resources to
bring the government of the German
empire to terms and end the war.
U. S. to Co-operate
"What this will involve is clear. It
will involve the utmost practicable
co-operation In counsel and action
with the governments now at war with
Germany, and, as incident to that, the
extension to those governments of the
most liberal financial credits. In order
that our resources may, so far as pos
sible, bo added to theirs. It will in
volve the organization and mobiliza
tion of all the material resources of
the country to supply the materials of
war and serve the incidental needs of
the nation in the most abundant, and
yet the most economical and efficient
way possible. It will involve the imme
diate full equipment of the navy in
all respects but particularly In sup
plying it with the best means of deal
ing with the enemy's submarines.
Need 500,000 Men
"It will Involve the immediate ad
dition to tho armed forces of the
United States already provided for by
law in case of war, at least 500,00(1
men, who should, in my opinion, be
chosen upon the principle of universal
liability to service, and also the au
thorization of subsequent additional
increments of equal force so soon as
they may be needed and can be
handled in training.
To Ix;nd Allies Money
"It will involve also, of course, the
granting of adequate credits to the
government, sustained, I hope, so far
as they can equitably be sustained by
the present generation, by well con
ceived taxation. I say sustained so
far as may bo equitable by. taxation
because it seems to me that it would
bo most unwise to '>ase the credits
which will now be necessary entirely
on money borrowed. It is our duty,
I most respectfully urge, to protect
our people so far aB we may against
the very serious hardships and evils
which would be likely to arise out of
the Inflation which would be pro
duced by vast loans.
Aid For Entente,
"In carrying out the measures by
which these things are to be ac
complished we should keep constantly
in mind the wisdom of interfering as
little as possible in our own prepara
tion and in the equipment of our own
miHtary forces with the duty—for it
will be a very practical duty—of sup
plying the nations already at war with
Germany with the materials which
they can obtain only from us or by our
assistance. They are in the field and
we should help them in every way to
be effective there.
"I shall take the liberty of suggest
ing, through the several executive de
partments of the government for the
consideration of your committees,
measures for the accomplishment of
the several objects I havementioned. I
hope that it will be your pleasure to
deal with them as having been framed
after very careful thought by the
branch of the government upon which
the responsibility of conducting the
war and safeguarding the nation will
most directly fall.
For Cause of Pcaee
"While we do these things, these
deeply momentous things, let us be
very clear and make very clear to all
the world what our motlvej and our
objects are. My own thought has not
been driven from its habitual and
normal course by the unhappy events
of the last two months, and 1 do not
believe that the thought of the nation
has been altered or clouded. I have
exactly the same things in mind now
that I had In mind when I addressed
the Senate on the 22d of January last;
the sam<s that 1 had in mind when I
addressed the Congress on the 3d of
February and on the 26th of Feb
ruary. Our object now, as then, is to
vindicate the principles of peace and
the justice in the life of the world as
against selfish and autocratic power
and to set up amongst the really free
and self-governed peoples of the
world such a concert of purpose and
of action as will henceforth insure the
observance of those principles.
Beginning New Age
"Neutrality is no longer feasible or
desirable where the peace of the world
is involved and the freedom of its
peoples, and the menace to that peace
and freedom lies in the existence of
autocratic governments backed by or
ganized force which is controlled
wholly by their will, not by the will
of their people. We have seen the last
| of neutrality in such circumstances.
; "We are at the beginning of an age
I in which it will be insisted that the
same standard of conduct and of re
sponsibility for wrong done shall be
observed among nations and their gov
ernments that are observed among the
individual citizens of civilized states.
Sympathy For German People
"We have no quarrel with the Ger
man people. We have no feeling to
wards them but one of sympathy and
friendship. It was not upon their Im
pulse that their government acted in
entering the war. It was not with
their previous knowledge or approval.
"It was a war determined upon as
wars used to be determined upon in
the old, unhappy days when peoples
were nowhere consulted by their
rulers and wars were provoked and
waged in the Interest of dynasties or
of little groups of ambitious men who
were accustomed to use their fellow
men as pawns and tools.
Work Under Cover
"Self-governed nations do not fill
their neighbor states with spies or set
tho course of intrigue to bring about
some critical posture of affairs which
will givei them an opportunity to
strike and make conquest. Such de
signs can be successfully worked only
under cover and where no one has
the right to ask questions.
"Cunningly contrived plans of de
ception or aggression, carried, it may
be, from generation to generation, can
be worked, out and kept from the
light only within the privacy of courts
| or behind the carefully guarded con
fidences of a narrow and privileged
class. They are happily impossible
where public opinion commands and
insist upon full Information concern
ing all the nations' affairs.
Partnership of Nations
"A steadfast concert for peace can
never be maintained except by a part
nership of democratic nations. No
autocratic government could be trust
ed to keep faith within it or observe
its covenants. It must be a league of
honor, a partnership of opinion. In
trigue would eat Its vitals away: tho
plottings of circles who could
plan what they would and render ac
count to no one would be a corrup
tion seated at its very heart. Only
free peoples can hold their purpose
and their honor steady to a common
end and prefer the Interests of man
kind to any narrow interest of their
own.
"Does not every American feel tJiat
assurance has been added to our hbpe
for the future peace of the world by
the wonderful and heartening things
that have been happening within the
last few weeks in Russia?
"Russia was known by those who
knew it best to have been always in
fact democratic at heart, in all the
vital habits of her thought, In all the
Intimate relationships of her people
that spoke their natural instinct, their
habitual attitude towards life.
"The autocracy that crowned the
summit of her political structure, long
as it had stood and terrible as was
the rsallty of its power, was not In
fact Russian in origin, character, or
purpose; and now It has been shaken
off and the great, generous Russian
people have been added In all their
native majesty and might to the
forces that are fighting for freedom In
the world, for justice and for peace.
Here is a fit partner for a league of
honor.
Censure For Prussia
"One of the things that has served
to convince us that the Prussian auto
cracy was not and could never be our
friend Is that from the very outset of
the present war It has filled our un
suspecting communities and even our
offices of government with spies and
set criminal Intrigues everywhere
afoot against our national unity of
council, our peace within and without,
our industries and oun commerce.
"Indeed it ia now evident that its
APRIL 3, 1917.
Wars of the U. S.
War of the Revolution 1775-1783
Northwestern Indian Wars 1790-1795
War with France 1798-1800
War with Tripoli 1801-1805
Greek Indian War 1813-1814
War of 1812 1812-1815
Seminole Indian War 1817-1818
Black Hawk Indian War 1831-1832
Cherokee disturbance 1836-1837
Creek Indian War 1836-1837
Florida Indian War 1835-1843
Aroostook disturbance 1836-1839
War with Mexico 1846-1848
Apache, Navajo and Utah Indian War 1849-1855
Seminole Indian War 1856-1858
War between the States 1861-1865
War with Spain Apr.-Dec. 1898
Philippine insurrection 1899-1900
War with Germany 1917-
spies were hero even before the war
began and it is unhappily not a mat
ter of conjecture but c fact proved 111
our courts of justice that the intrigues
which have more than once come
perilously near to disturbing the peace
and dislocating the industries of the
country have been carried on at the
instigation, with the support, and
even under the personal direction of
official agents of the Imperial German
government accredited to the govern
ment of the United States.
Sought to Be Generous
"Even in checking these things and
trying to extirpate them we have
sought to put the most generous in
terpretation possible upon them be
cause we knew that their source lay,
not in any hostile feeling or purpose
of the German people towards us (who
were, no doubt as ignorant of them
as we ourselves were), but only in the
selfish designs of a government that
did what it pleased and told its people
nothing.
Hostile to U. S.
"But they have played their part
in serving to convince us at last that
that government entertains no real
friendship for us and means to act
against our peace and security at its
convenience. That it means to stir up
enemies against us at our very doors
the intercepted note to the German
minister at Mexico City is eloquent
evidence.
"We are accepting this challenge of
hostile purpose because we know that
in such a government, following such
methods, we can never have a friend;
and that in the presence of its organ
ized power, always lying in wait to ac
complish we know not what purpose,
there can be no assured security for
the democratic governments of the
world.
Accept Battle Gauge
"We are now about to accept gauge
of battle with this natural foe to lib
erty and shall, If necessary, spend the
whole force of the nation to check
and nullify its pretensions aj*d its
power. We are glad, now that we see
the facts with no veil of false pre
tense about them, to f.fht thus for the
ultimate peace of the world and for
the liberation of its peoples, the Ger
man peoples included; for the rights
of nations great and small and the
privilege of men everywhere to choose
their way of life and of obedience.
The world must be made safe for
democracy. Its peace must be planted
upon the trusted foundations of po
litical liberty.
Xo Selfish Ends
"We have no selfish ends to serve.
We desire no conquest, no dominion.
We seek no indemnities for ourselves,
no material compensation for the sac
rifices we shall freely make. We are
but one of the champions of the rights
of mankind. Wo shall be satisfied when
those rights have been made as se
cure as the faith and the freedom of
the nations can make them.
"Just because we fight without ran
cour and without selfish objects, seek
ing nothing for ourselves but what we
shall wish to share with all free peo
ples, we shall, I feel confident, con
duct our operations as belngerents
without passion and ourselves observe
with proud punctilio the principles of
right and of fair play we profess to be
fighting for.
"I have said nothing of the govern
ments allied with the imperial gov
ernment of Germany because they
have not made war upon us or chal
lenged us to defend our right and our
honor. The Austro-Hungarian gov
ernment has indeed, avowed its un
qualified endorsement and acceptance
of the reckless and lawless submarine
warfare adopted now without disguise
by the Imeprial German government,
and It has therefore not been possible
for this government to receive Count
Tarnowski, the ambassador recently
accredited to this government by the
imperial and royal government of
Austria-Hungary; but that govern
ment has not actually engaged in war
fare against citizens of the United
States on the seas, and I take the lib
erty, for the present at least, of post
poning a discussion of our relations
with the authorities at Vienna.
Forced Into War
"We enter this war only when we
are clearly forced into it because there
are no other means of defending our
rights. It will be all the easier for
us to conduct ourselves as belligerents
in a high spirit of right and fairness
because we act without animus, not
in enmity towards a people or with
the desire to bring any injury or dis
advantage upon them, but only in
armed opposition to an irresponsible
government which has thrown aside
all considerations of humanity and of
right and is running amuck.
"We are, let me say again, the sin
cere friends of the German people,
and shall desire nothing so much as
the earily re-establishment of Inti
mate relations of mutual advantage
between, us—however hard it may be
for them for the time being, to believe
that this is spoken from our hearts.
We have borne with their present
government through all these bitter
months because of that friendship—
exewlslng a patience and forbearance
which would' otherwise have been Im
possible.
"We shall happily still have an op
portunity to prove that friendship in
our daily attitude and actions to
wards the millions of men and women
of German birth and native sympathy
who live amongst us and share our
life, and we shall be proud to prove it
towards all who are in fact loyal to
their neighbors and to the govern
ment in the hour of test. are,
most of them, as true and loyal Ameri
cans as If they had never known any
other fealty or allegiances. They will
be prompt to stand with us in rebuk
ing and restraining the few who may
be of a different mind and purpose. If
there should be disloyalty, it will be
dealt with with a Prm hand of stern
repression; but If it lifts its head at
all. It will lift It only here and there
and without countenance except from
a lawless and malignant few.
Many Months of Trial
"It is a distressing and opnresslva
WILD CHEERING
GREETS WILSON'S
WAR ADDRESS
Two Cavalry Troops Serve as
the President's Body
Guard
NEED 500,000~MEN AT ONCE
Great Demonstration Is Given
Chief Executive During
Stirring Address
Washington, D. C., April 3.—Presi
dent Wilson last night asked Congress
to declare a state of war existing be
tween the United States and Germany,
While the news of the submarining
of the steamship Aztec—the lirst
American armed ship to sail into the
war zone—was being told from mouth
to mouth in the Capitol, the President,
appearing before House and Senate in
joint session, asked Congress to rec
ognize and deal with Germany's war
fare on America.
The President said war with Ger
many would involve practical co
operation with the governments now
at war with Germany, including liberal
financial credits. He urged the raising
of 500,000 men by universal military
service.
The President made It. clear that no
action was being taken against tha
Austrian government and the other
nations allied with Germany.
Guarded by Cavalry
The President reached the Capitol
about 8.40 p. m. As his' big motor
swung around before the east front ol
the big building two troops of the Sec.
ond Regular Cavalry, on guard, sabers
glittering under the arc lights, swept
the plaza clear, while the hundreds
of people cheered. He was taken im
mediately to the Speaker's roorii and
then into the House chamber, whera
the senators were just filing in. Six
members of .the Supreme Court, who
had taken seats in front of the Speak,
er's stand, stood and faced about.
The President entered amid deafen
ing cheers. Never had he been greeted
as he was last night. Both sides joined
with a will. It was noticed that Sen
ators La Follette, Stone and Cummins,
who helped defeat the armed neu
trality bill in the last session, did not
join in the aplpause. Senator La Fol
lette stood with arms crossed and head
sunk over his chest. Senator Lane,
another of "the group, applauded mildy,
and Senator Kenyon more vigorously.
Voice Strong: and Clear
The President began his address ai
soon as quiet was restored. He spok
slowly at first, then faster than usual
His voice was clear and grew strongei
as he proceeded.
It was a very serious and quiet audi,
ence. Not until the President declared
"We will not choose the path of sub
mission" did his auditors applaud,
Those words drew shouting and liand
clapplng. No attempt was made by
Speaker Clark to curb it.
Scarcely had the sounds of this
demonstration died away when th
President declared that the Congress
should declare that a state of war ex
isted, and a second demonstration
began.
The Capitol was under military con.
trol while the President was there.
Long lines of uniformed polici
stretched about the building and
guarded tlje entrances. Troops ol
United States cavalry from Fort Slyer,
Va., patrolled the east plaza and tin
grounds.
CliaitilHr Crowded
Inside, the building was ablaze with
lights. For once the accommodation)
on the floor of the House were entlrelj
Inadequate to accommodate even tin
members of Congress. Ttows'of extra
chairs were placed In the rear of tin
regular seats, but there was not room
enough, as every ex-member and gov.
ernment official having the floor privi
lege exercised it. ■
Secret Service men were scattered
about the galleries; they mingled with
the crowds in the corridors and out.,
side, where hundreds clamored in vain
for admission.
Every inch of space in the galleriei
was 'filled, the audience being com
posed largely of women. Mrs. Wilson
sat in the front row of the executive
gallery. Grouped about her were wlvel
of Cabinet officers and those persons
fortunate enough to obtain guests'
cards from the White House.
duty, gentlemen of the Congress
which I have performed In thus ad.
dressing you. There are, It may ba
many months of fiery trial and saerl.
flee ahead of us. It is a fearful thln|
to lead this great peaceful people int<
war, into the most terrible and dl
astrous of all wars, civilization ltselt
seeming to be in the balance. Bill
the right is more precious than peace
and we shall fight for <he thingswhicl
we have always carried nearest oJ
hearts —for democracy, for the riglw
of those who submit to authority t<
have a voice ih their own gover*
ments, for the rights and liberties 3
small nations, for a universal do
minion of right by such a concert
of free peoples as shall bring peacf
and safety to all nations and makl
the world Itself at last free. To sucl
a task we can dedicate our lives ani
our fortunes, everything that we ar|
and everything that we have, with thl
pride of those who know that the dal
has come when America is privilege]
to spend her blood and her might fol
the principles that gave her birth an<
happiness and the peace which slit
has treasured. God helping her, Bhi
can do no other" •