, United States (USA) (American Colonies)
1917 - April 6 – WWI: The United States declares war on Germany.

U.S. At War
GERMAN SHIPS ARE SEIZED
HOUSE PASSES WAR BILL BY VOTE 373-50

Washington, April 6 - America is at war. Amidst the most dramatic scenes ever witnessed in congress, the House early today passed the resolution which formally declared Germany as an enemy and launched the United States in the fight for democracy of the world. The vote on the resolution was 373 to 50.

For the first time in history a woman voted on the question of war. With a sob and a protest of her love of country, she voted "no."

The only things left now to make the state of war formal are the signatures of Vice President Marshall and President Wilson to the war resolution.

Marshall will sign the document at noon in the senate. Then it will be sent by messenger to the White House - or Wilson himself will go to the capitol to seal with his name the tremendous step taken by this government.

The first blows will be struck at Germany. Secret orders covering precautionary steps within and without the nation will be flashed from Washington. What these orders are the administration is concealing because of their military nature.

The nation is now ready for money and for its men.

Two million youths will be wanted within the next two years. Billions of dollars will be required.

Measures covering both these needs are drafted and awaiting congressional action. The first war budget asking over three and a half billions is up for discussion today in the house appropriations committee.

The military committees have been informed of the administration's selective conscription bill to raise great armies.

The closing hours of congress debate on the war measure were thrilling with patriotism, though, however, there ran a chord of pacifism.

Miss Jeannette Rankin, woman member from Montana, tearfully announced that while she wanted to support her country, she could not vote for war. Her evident grief and the signs of a mental struggle brought cheers from warrior and pacifist alike.

Orders for seizure of German vessels in American harbors have gone forth and the task was underway this afternoon.

While war steps proceeded, prospects of other American nations being brought into the struggle loomed up.

Brazil was reported in the news dispatches to be on the brink of trouble with Germany while from Argentine came reports of British pressure to force lifting of the great embargo.

Within our own nation all government departments redoubled their energies in war tasks. There is to be a spirit of co-operation and co-ordination that will profit by the mistakes of other warring nations toward the end that the American war machine shall operate smoothly and capably.

The president meets with his cabinet today to further consider the subject of finances. Probably some definite program of raising money will be agreed upon for submission to leaders in congress. The government has under consideration calling the big financiers of the country to take up the best means of floating bond issues in addition to increasing taxes generally to meet the enormous army and navy estimates.

Senator Simmons, chairman of the senate finance committee, has suggested this course. Meantime the senator himself, along with many other congressional leaders, appears thoroughly staggered at the proportion of the estimates. Lined up alongside the $50,000,000 appropriation which was asked at the opening of the Spanish-American war the present war budget gives some idea of the magnitude of the operations planned by this government in its war against the kaiser.

Portsmouth Daily Times
Portsmouth, Ohio
April 6, 1917

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