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The is the ONLY paper
in the Third Congressional District with
Associated Press Service.
KHIRTY-NINTH YEAR.
SENATE LIKELY TO PASS ON THE
STATE OF WAR BEFORE QUITTING
THEIR SESSIONS FOR THE DAY
Taken For Granted That Vote Will
Be Overwhelmingly For Stand
Taken By Wilson
PACIFISTS EXPECTED TO
SHOW THEIR HEADS TOO
Wilson Wants Co-Operation With
Allies; Money and Troops For
Defense of U. S. Rights
WASHINGTON, i). C„ April 3.
Uoth houses of congress met today to
act on President Wilson’s request to
declare a state of war between the
United States and Germany,
The senate foreign relations com
mittee approved the administration
resolution declaring a state of war ex
icts between the United States and
Germany before noon. The resolution
was endorsed in practically the same
form it was introduced in both houses
last night, the vote being unanimous,
except that Senator Stone voted
against a fovarable report, with Sen
ator Borah absent.
Senator Stone, who is chairman of
the senate foreign relations commit
tee, and one of the “little group of
willful men,” so severely castigated by
President Wilson on the failure of the
aimed neutrality resolution to pass,
announced he would make no minority
report, but that he expected to speak
against the resolution when it came
before the senate for final considera
tion. Senator Hitchcock, who is in
charge of the resolution, said early
this afternoon the committee report
would be presented to the senate be
fore 2 o’clock, and that he would
make an effort to put It through as
quickly as possible.
A copy of the resolution was taken
immediately after the senate commit
tee’s foi mal approval had been regis
tered to the house foreign affairs com
mittee, where an effort will be made.
to get that committee to put its report'
in the same form. The house resolu
tion says, "Whereas the German gov
ernment lias committed repeated acts
of war against the United States, con
gress declares a state of war to exist,,
and authorizes the president to employ
as he may elect the naval and military
resources of the government of the
United States to carry on war against
the German government,” to the end |
that the conflict may be brought to a
successful termination. Congress
pledges the whole resources of the
nation to that end.
It is taken for granted that both
houses will pass the resolution by,
overwhelming majorities, although the 1
small band of pacifists represented are:
expected to offer some opposition. Sen-:
.’tor Martin, the democratic floor lead-'
er said this morning that when the:
resolution came from the committee
the senate ought to act before another'
adjournment is taken, indicating the,
resolution may pass that body before;
night.
• Asks Declaration of War.
President Wilson asked congress to,
declare a state of war to exist be- j
tween the United States and Germany j
early in his speech before the joint
session last night. He made it clear
however, that no action is being taken
avainst either the Austria-Hungarian;
governments or any of the other na-1
tions allied with Germany. He said]
emphatically that the war with Ger- (
many will invoice co-operation upon
the part of the United States with
•Lose other governments now fighting
Germany, this co-operation to include
pot only the extension of liberal finan
ral assistance and credit, but the
raising in this country of an army of (
TRY A WANT AD IN THE TIMES-RECORDER. ITS FULLING POWER WILL SHOW YOU THE BEST MEDIUM VERY QUICK
not less than 500,000 men to take their
, places in the battle fronts of Europe,
, or wherever else may be necessary.
The principle of universal service was
urged by the president as the most ac
. ceptable method for raising the pro
posed army.
Review Submarine Warfare.
President Wilson went over at
length the results ot the Germans
, i i.thless submarine warfare, including
; the sinking of hospital and belligerent
merchant ships, and said: "It was for
a brief time unbelievable that such
, things would be done by a govern
ment that had hitherto subscribed to
the humane practices of civilized na
. tions, adding the submarine fighting
was directed against all mankind, and
stated he was thinking not of the prop
, erty loss involved but of the sacrifice
of innocent lives.
Germany Wars Against World.
The president said. "It is a war
against all nations, ships and people
iof neutral and friendly nations being
destroyed the same as thise of ene
my nations. There has been no dis
ci imination; the challenge is to all
mankind! We must put excited feel
ing away; our motive will not be re
-1 venge, but only vindication of right.
“Armed neutrality now appears im
practicable.
“With a profound sense of the sol
emn and even tragical character of the ;
step I am now taken, and of the grave:
I responsibility which it involves, but ini
I no hesitation, I feel obliged to execute!
I what I deem to be my constitutional I
duty.
"I, therefore, advise that congress j
declare the recent course of the im- 1
1 perial German government to be, in !
I tact. nothing less than war against
Iti e government of the' people of the
United States; that it formally accept
the status of belligerent which has
I been thrust upon it. and that it take 1
immediate steps not only to put the |
•country in more thorough state of de-j
■ tense, but also assert all its power, I
j and employ all its resources, to bring!
I the government of the German Empire
■ to terms and end war.”
I After saying the United States
I should extend liberal credits to the
Entente nations. President Wilson said
i such a step would "involve the organi-
Ization and mobilization of all mater
ia resources of this country to supply
i
(Continued on Last Page.)
What Wilson Wants:—
Utmost practical co-operation l.i counsel and action with the gov
ernments already at war with Germany.
Extension of liberal financial c edits to those governments so that
the resources of America may be ad ed so far as possible to theirs.
Organization and mobilization o all the material resources of the
country.
Full equipment of the navy, par ieularly for means of dealing with
submarine warfare.
An army of at least 500,000 men based on the principle of universal
liability to service and the authorization of additional increments of
500.000 each as they are needed or can be handled in training.
Raising necessary money for the United States government so far
as possible without borrowing, and on the basis of equitable taxation.
AMERIEUS TIMES-RECDRDER
MEMBER ASSOCIATED PRESS
IWOSSWIEII
WILL BE ORGANIZED
Tomorrow afternoon at 3:30 o’clock’
the Americus Chapter of the American
Red Cross will be formally organized;
at a meeting] to be held in the Carne-'
gie Library auditorium.
The temporary organization which
was perfected a few weeks ago has
resulted in the granting of a charter
by a national society for the organiza
tion of a chapter in this county, and
the meeting" tomorrow will be for the
purpose of placing the chapter on a
firm footing.
Already a large number of members
has been secured by the membership
committee, and the success thus far
registered by the promoters of the
i movement augurs well for the future
j of the new organization.
Every resident of Americus and
j Sumter county interested in the work
1 of the Red Cross society, particularly
,in the national crisis now upon the
I nation, is invited to attend the meeting
I tomorrow afternoon and enroll as a
■ number of the Americus chapter.
| JENKINS WANTS HEAVY
DAMAGES FROM RAILROAD
I SAVANNAH, Ga., April 3.—Because
! a Midland railway train would not
I stop at Saxonia when he flagged it.
I James M. Jenkins has sued the railway
company for $5,000. The plaintiff al
leges he tried to flag the train at
Saxonia to come back to Savannah, but
the train refused to stop. Consequent-1
ly lie alleged he had to walk back to
I Savannah and he wants $5,000 for the
| little jaunt.
would’ compel
MEN 20 TO 23
TO JOIN ARMY
I WASHINGTON. D. C., March 3.
Chairman Chamberlain of the military
affairs committee, launched the Wilson
administration's universal compulsory
military training measure in the sen-'
ate early this afternoon. Indications;
are that it will be speedily passed,
though immaterial ammendments and
alterations of its provisions may be j
made.
An amendment to the original draft
intirodluced by Senator Chamberlain j
today provides for the training of an ’
army of 500,000 young men 20 years •
ot age. and in the president’s discre-1
tion the enlistment of many thousandsi
more up to the age of twenty-three.;
The amendment. together with the'
original draft was referred to a com-1
mittee. which is expected to report it:
favorably, probably tomorrow.
AMERICUS. GEORGIA. TUESDAY AFTERNOON. APRIL 3, 1917
♦ ROOSEVELT CALLED TO ♦
♦ CONGRATULATE WILSON ♦ •
♦ ♦
♦ WASHINGTON, D. C., April 3. ♦ '
♦ —Former President Theodore ♦
-f Roosevelt was a caller at the ♦
t White House this afternoon, go- ♦
♦ ing there to congratulate Presi- ♦
-* dent Wilson upon the clarity and ♦
*■ firmness of his address to con- ♦
4- gress. The president, however, ♦
♦ was not in when he called, and ♦
♦ the former chief executive failed ♦
♦ to talk with Wilson. ♦
CENTRALPOWERS
HEADY TO TALK
PEACE FOR IB
BERLIN, April 3.—The proposal ot
Count von Czerin, the Austrian foreign
i minister, that a peace conference be
Leld by European belligerents, without
requiring a cessation of hostilities,
apparently represents accurately the
present attitude of all the Central
powers governments. A conference of
I representatives of all four countries
in the alliance to be held at Berlin in
tlie very near future, is expected to
formally approve the proposal, and the
Lokal Anzeiger. usually well informed
| concerning such matters, says the con
; ference will also stress the assertion
j that the Central Powers are prepared
and ready to continue the war if the
proposal is again rejected by the En
tente nations.
GIRCOS EMPLOYE
SERIOUSLYBURNEO
Fred Reopelle, an employe of the
| John Robinson Shows, was seriously
if not fatally burned late yesterday af
j ternoon by the explosion of a small
I gas tank attached to an artificial light
: ing apparatus used at the winter quar
ters of the circus at the fair grounds,
inear the Third District A. & M. col-
I lege.
The young man. who is about 20
I years of age, was badly burned about
| the face and head, neck, arms and
chest, but the flames were extinguish-'
ed by a fellow employe before his
entire body had been seared.
He vas removed to the Americus
and Sumter County Hospital, where he
is reported as resting as comfortably;
as could be expected, and if no com
plications arise, his recovery is looked
for, although his condition is consit
eeed more or less precarious.
The winter quarters of the circus
are lighted partly by large automatic-:
ally operated gas lights, the gas being
generated in a small tank attached to,
each light. Reopelle is understood to i
have tampered with the automatic ap -
pliances on the tank, the explosion fol
lowing.
L ■ , , -
RMHNS IFFICFI FOR :
ARMY LOCATED l.i A«US|
J. E. Stewart of the United States
army recruiting service, has been sta
turned in Americus for the month of,
April to secure enlistments. He will,
be located at room No. 38, at the Sum-,
ter Hotel, and may be found there Av
ery day during this month.
Prospective applicants flor enlist
ment in the army will be able to se-j
cure all desired information and to.
stand their preliminary examination’
I oie.
The international crisis now upon,
this country and the necessity for in-j
ertased military forces is the cause of
the present recruiting activity in Geor
gia. as well as the entire country.
♦ ♦
• IK IL V W FATHER FORECAST ♦
♦ ♦
» The weather forecast for Amer- ♦ ;
♦ icus and vicinitv follows: ♦ j
♦ FOR AMERICUS: Fair tonight ♦
♦ and Wednesday. Cooler. *
‘GLEAN IIP WEEK’
CAMPAIGN TO BE
HOTLY JESSED
The campaign for the observance ot
“Clean Up Week” in Americus is be
ing carried on without abatement not
only by the city health authorities, but
by the ladies of the city, particularly
the members of the Woman’s club,
which organization has been energetic
ally working for some time past to
bring about an improvement in the
sanitary conditions prevailing, in cer
tain sections of the community.
The issuance of a proclamation by
Mayor L. G. Council, calling upon the
citizens of Americus to observe "Clean
Up Week,” beginning on Thursday,
April sth, has given great impetus to
the movement, and a concerted effort
is to be made throughout the city to
accomplish a thorough renovation of
premises.
The regular spring house cleaning is
to be extended not only to the interior
of private homes, but to property gen
erally in all sections of the city.
The city street department is to be
augmented during “Clean Up Week” in
erder that the extra amount of trash
and rubbish collected during this pe
riod may be promptly and efficiently
1 andled.
Householders are requested by
'Mayor Council to remove all trash and
refuse matter from the premises and
to eliminate the causes of conditions
which might prove dangerous to the
public health.
The city health authorities are anx
ious to bring about such an improve
ment in sanitary conditions in certain
portions of the city as to prevent the
possibility of epidemics of disease,
which often work terrific havoc in a
community. The "Clean Up Week”
campaign has this idea as its object
and the citizens of Americus are urged
to co-operate in every possible way to
make this city more healthful and at
the same time more attractive as a
place of residence.
fflß 15 REAYLL
OR AND COUNTRY
SETS FOR WORK
1 WASHINGTON, D. C„ April 3.
The United States is really at war with
, the German Empire today, awaiting
| only formal recognition of a state of
! war by congress.
, Every agency is moving at top speed
jto guard the national against attack
;by the government which President
Wilson's address to congress Monday
j characterizes as a "natural foe to lib
erty.”
| The cabinet held its first war ses
j sion this afternoon, assembling to
• discuss the extension of credit to the
i nations already at war with Germany;
jto raise money for taxation for the
! United States use, in purchasing war
: equipment, the raising of the navy to
I a point of full efficiency, especially
las regards the task of coping with
j submarines, and the raising of a great
i army. The unanimous opinion of the
I cabinet was that this army should be
i raised upon the principle of universal
| liability to service, the first increment
Ho be 500,000 men, which would be in
creased as rapidly as needed, or as
facilities for handling a larger num- ‘
j ber of recruits are secured.
- . . 1-
MISS BECKLEY TO WRITE
54 SERIES OF NEWS ARTICLES
SAVANNAH. Ga.. April 3.—Miss Zoe
' Beckley, a special writer for the New-
York Evening Mail, has been in Savan
nah during the week discovering
things about the city and its people
I that even Oglethorpe, the founder of
: the colony, never dreamed of. Her
i stories will come out soon in the Nor
; them patters and Savannahians are
j looking; forward with interest to the
articles from the pen of the first wo
man to Julian Street-ine Savannah and
Savannahians.
WILE DECORATE
GIH IN HONDO
OF BIG MEETING
I
it is planned to decorate the busi
ness houses of Americus with flags
: and banners in honor of the big open
air mass meeting and public demon
stration to be held on Jackson street
between Lamar and Forsyth street on
Thursday morning to pass resolutions
pledging support to President Wilson
in the national crisis through which
the nation is now passing.
The patriotic spirit of the citizens of
Americus and Sumter county is thor
oughly aroused and a monster gath
ering is anticipated, the arrangements
for the event having been made with
the view of making the meetings one
of the most striking patriotic demon
strations ever witnessed in this sec
tion.
The cadet corps from the Americus
High school and the Third District A.
& M. college will march to the scene
of the mass meeting in full force,
while the student bodies of both insti
tutions will also attend the gather
ing.
Rsv. Paul W. Ellis, pastor of First
Methodist church, will deliver an ora
tion touching on the stirring events
that are transpiring in international
affairs and appropriate resolutions
v. ill be presented.
Mayor Council's proclamation call
ing upon citizens of Americus and
Sumter county to gather for the big
demonstration has aroused patriotic
s< ntiment to a high pitch, and the
mass meeting is expected to be one or
the most striking events occurring in
this city in years.
A committee of business men com
. icsed of Charles L. Ansley, W. E. Tay
lor and T. C. Tillman, has circulated
a petition among the business houses
<1 the city, requesting them to close
tneir doors between the hours of 10
and 12 on Thursday morning, during'
the progress of the mass meeting. The
following concerns have signified their
intention to suspend operations during'
that period of time:
Chas. L. Ansley, Tillman & Brown,
Mrs. E. J. Walker. Pinkston Co., Bu
chanan, S. A. Daniels, W. A. Ayash,
Williams-Niles Co., E. L. Murray, Jas. ■
A. Johnson. Allison Furniture Co.. WJ
i Josey, Maffett Co., Hightower Book-'
store, Hooks’ Pharmacy, Commercial (
City Bank. J. W. Harris, W. D. Bailey,
IL O. Love, Mrs. E. Pearlman, A. Co-i
hen, Americus Grocery Co., Glover
Grocery Co., Moreland-Jones Grocery.
Co.. Harrold Brothers, Commercial
Warehouse, Gatewood Grocery, Rylan
der Shoe Co., Thos. L. Bell, Howell’s
Pharmacy, Planters’ Seed Co., Hal &
Tillman, S. H. Kress & Co., A. W.'
Smith Furniture Co., Prather-Ansley
Co., Planters Bank of Americus, Mor-;
gan & Co., W. E. Brown, Bragg’s Fur
niture Store, B. S. Kassell, Church-1
well Bros., Alien's Drug & Seed Store.'
Bank of Commerce, N. M. Dudley, M.
N Edwards. Standard Dry Goods Co.,
W. C. Sullivan & Co., E. C. Parker &
Co., J. S. Bolton, Hoffman Bros., Davis'
<v Sons, W. A. Joyner. G. E. Buchanan J
I. W. Lester. J. O. Giddings, L. L. Les-'
ter, Sheffield Co.
I
TO PAINT FOR
pacifists: ROOMS
WASHINGTON, D. C„ April 3.-
National guardsmen, members of the
Third District of Columbia Infantry.
' back by a number of citizens, today
covered the front of the Washington
beadquarters of the Emergency Peace
Federation with a coat of yellow paint.
Another party of citizens seized and
' destroyed a number of pacifists ban
ners and a quantity of literature stor
ed inside the building.
Anti-Enlistment Campaign Begun.
WASHINGTON, D. C„ April 3.
A number of pacifist delegations from
various parts of the country started'
; today attempting to persuade con
gressmen to vote against a declaration
’of war, but met little success. An
anti-enlistment campaign, began si
multaneously with the endeavor, is be
| ing backed by the pacifists.
CS3EY
AMERICAN ARMEB
SHIP IS SONG 81
GERMAN ÜBDAT
WASHINGTON, D. C„ April 3.
William Graves Sharp telegraphed the
state department from Paris today,
stating 19 survivors from the Amer
ican armed steamer Aztec have been
landed at Brest. The dispatch states
the Aztec was torpedoed at night and
without warning, twenty-eight of the
crew still being missing. A heavy sea
running when the ship was attacked,
make its extremely doubtful that any
of the missing survived.
Carried Two 5-Inch Guns,
NEW YORK, April 3.—The American
steamship Aztec, owned by the Orien
tal Steamship company, the first armed
ship to sail from an American port,
was sunk yesterday’ by a German sub
marine, according to advices received
here last night by the company from
the United States consul at Brest,
France.
The cable me.ssage gave no informa
tion as to the fate of the crew. There
were thirty-nine men aboard the ves
sel, sixteen of them Americans.
The Aztec sailed from New York,
March 18th, for Havre. She was com
manded by Capt. Walter O’Brien. Six
teen members of the crew were na
tive born Americans.
The Oriental Navigation Company,
owners of the Aztec, also owns the
Orleans, one of the first American ves
sels to run successfully Germany’s
submarine blockade. The Aztec car
ried a full cargo of foodstuffs and
general supplies valued at more than
$500,000.
> The Aztec was armed with two five
; inch guns, oije forward and one aft.
The crew of naval gunners on board
; v. as in command of a warrant officer.
i The Aztec, formerly owned by the
, Pacific Mail Steamship Company, was
, a ship- of 3,727 tons gross and 2,345
I tons net She was built at New Castle,
j England in 1894, was 350 feet long,
and had a beam of 43 feet.
Torpedoed at Night.
PARIS, April 3. —The American
I steamer Aztec has been sunk by a
I submarine near an island off Brest.
Lome of the crew were rescued, and
'are being brought into Brest. A num
ber of the men are missing, and lit
tle hope is held that they can be sav
ed, as the steamer was torpedoed at
night, while a heavy sea was run
ning. William Graves Sharp, th*
American ambassador, was informed
last night by the French government
m the torpedoing of the Aztec, and
immediately cabled the state depart
ment at Washington. Representatives
r f the American giovernment will pro
ceed to Brest to take depositions of
survivors of the disaster.
Nineteen of Crew Picked Up.
PARIS, April 3.—A French patrol
picked up nineteen of the crew of the
Aztec. Twenty-eight men are reported
still missing.
NEW FRATERNAL ORDER
OBCINIZEOJSI NIGHT
A local lodge of the Junior Order of
United American Mechanics was or
ganized last night at a meeting held
in the Cohen hall, about 25 applica
tions for membership being received
and a request formally made to the
national headquarters of the order for
a charter for the Americus lodge.
The following officers were elected
to serve temporarily until the charter
is received: Junior Past Consul. G. I*
Williams; Head Consul. H. E. Nichols;
Vice Consul, G. W. Boone; Recording
Secretary. T. E. Castleberry; Finan
cial Secretary, H. F. Comer; Chap
lain. E. W. Home: Treasurer, R. C.
Speer; Conductor, Harmon Shumake.
Warden. M. I* Moon, Inside Sentinel.
J. B. Freeman; Outside Sentinel, H. I-
White; Trustees, G. L. Williams. A. M.
Guerry, E. W. Horne.
State Secretary J. E. Lovelace was
present at the meeting last night and
assisted in the organization of the lo
l.cal lodge.
NUMBER
