THE ASHEVILLE CITIZEN
CITIZEN WANT ADS
BRING RESULTS '
THE WEATHER
FAIR.
VOL. XXXIII, NO. 163.
ASHEVILLE, N. O, WEDNESDAY MORNING, APRIL 4, 1917.
PRICE FIVE CENTS
nn
milt FOR LAFOLLETTE ALL THAT
IS
NECESSARY TO ASSURE PROMPT ACTION
MILITARY, ECONOMIC AND FINANCIAL WAR
PLANS FOR AGGRESSIVE ACTION AGAINST
GERMANY RUSHED BY THE ADMINISTRATION
Only Await Mian by Congres&on Request
of President to Declare State of War,
to Be Put into Execution, and Congres
sional Action Is Expected in Less Than
Twenty-four Hours Now.
PRESIDENT WILSON AND
CABINET HOLD SESSION
Navy Has Already Taken Steps to Insure
Co-operation Between the American
Fleet and Those of the Entente Allies
Germans.
WASHINGTON, April 3. War plans-military,
economic and financial for aggressive hostilities against
liermany were rushed forward today by the admimstra
tive branch of the government and only await action by
congress on a war resolution to be put into execution
Enactment of the resolution not later than Thursday
was confidently torecast at the capitol after a delay o
twenty-four hours had been caused in the senate by
fcenator .LalMlette s objection to its immediate considera
tion. Debate will begin in both houses tomorrow, with
action before adjournment probable. Sentiment in favor
of the resolution is almost unanimous, and the onlv dues
tion is how much time shall be devoted to speech-making
Discuss War Plans.
President Wilson and his cabinet went over the war
plains at a two-hour session, and nreviouslv the national
defense council, with its civilian advisory commission and
several subsidiary organizations, developed policies and
details of momentous consequence to the nation. Mean
while the war and navy departments were going ahead
with the most immediate preparations for defense.
k 1 3 J- Xl . 1 il i i
.aireaay me navy nas lajcen steps to insure co
operation between the American fleet and those of the
entente allies, to become effective upon the formal entry
of the United States into the war.
Important Plans.
The most important plans under preparation by the
- administration include:
Enlistment by selective conscription of young men
for a national army, in addition to the regular establish
ment and national guard, in increments of 500,000 until
enough have been trained to make certain the defeat of
Germany;
Organization of the nation's commercial interests for
economical ana enrecnve aistnoution or commodities
among the civilian population;
Rapid provision of adequate means of combatting the
submarine menace;
The raising of a very large sum of money, as much
as possible to be. Obtained by 'taxation, and the definite
amount of the first budget not to be fixed until the exact
needs of the army and navy and of the entente allies are
ascertained; -
Purchase of Supplies. .
Purchase of supplies and equipment of all kinds for
the army under a provision of law which allows the sec
s retary of war to fix a "reasonable price;' and
I Division of the young men of the country, into service
i classes, those needed more in industries than in the army
or navy to receive insignia showing they are performing
Y duty equivalent to fighting.
Most of these plans will .require the authorization of
congress, but from opinions expressed at the capitol it is
believed that once the war resolution js adopted, further
- legislation to empower the executive branch to go full
' ppeed ahead will follow quickly. There -is every indica
tion that the nation," through its representatives, will fol
low out President Wilson's words to congress and "exert
i
( CMnnrul 1 iOKf
KAISER OF WISCONSIN IS
AGAIN STUMBLING BLOCK
IN WAY OF ACTION BY U. S.
ADMINISTRATION PLANS FOR RAISING
ARMY ON THE PRINCIPLE OF UNIVERSAL
SERVICE ARE BASED ON CONSCRIPTION
Selective Conscription of Young Men Are to Be Summoned to the Colors As Rapidly As They
Can Be Trained and OfficeredMade Clear That 500,000 Men Is Nowhere the
Limit Needed and It Is Expected That This Namber Will Be Found At Once.
. CONTINUED ON FAG15 TWO)
WASHINGTON, April 3. Admin
istration plans for raising an army
on the principle of universal liability
to service, to be submitted to con
gress as soon as the pending war
resolution Is adopted, are based on
selective conscription of young men
to be summoned to the colors as rap
Idly as they can be trained and offi
cered. A detailed scheme for the
registration of eligiblea has been
worked out.
After married men, others witn. ae-
pendents and those whose service is
required in industries nave oeen ex
empted, others within tUe age limits
fixed will be examined physically, end
those found fit will be wlectei. pos
sibly by lot, until the first 500,003 to
be trained are secursJ.
Nowhere Nrar Limit.
Tt was made clear today that R00,- for war
AM la nowhere near tne lim'.t neeo.ea
nil It ! exnected that mora Iran
SOO.000 available win ho round in me
firmt daiuiflna.tlona. Otuers will be
train renl.llv as roiulblo l.'y oft)
cra from the regular army, national
vnard and officers' reserve crp-
Maximum and minimum age limits
for the first call are fixed in tne aa
mtntatratton plan, but - will not be
made public until It la presented to
congress. In recent discussions a
minimum' of eighteen years and a
maximum of twenty-three years have
been mentioned. i
Preliminary military steps posmois
under existing laws were added today
tn thnaa already taken. iney mciua
ed direction by Secretary Baker that
the first-class at the West Point Mili
tary Mnnr be araduaiea Apru zo.
supplying lit highly trained young
officers.
tnnmn no-otwratKHi.
At the navv deoartment it was an
nounced that steps have already been
taken to Insure close co-operation be
tween the American neet ana inose
of the entente allies when the necs
aary authority has ben granted. The
American emoassy ai
been In close toucli witn we snnsn
admiralty.
Standard i ration r tne munruona
inHnatrv will be one of the first direct
atana taken under direction of the na
tional defense Council. A continuous
and adequate flow of weapons and am
munition of all kinds will be Insured,
not only for the American forces, but
to the entente armies.
The national defense council has
been planning to recommend legisla
tion to standardise) priaee for army
supplies and munitions, - but It has
been discovered that under the nation.
supplying of all kinds of material Is
made obligatory on all firms and In
dividuals at "a reasonable price to be
determined by the secretary of war."
In case of violations, the government
is authorized to seize plants and in
stitute 'criminal proceedings. So far,
however, firms generally have indicat
ed entire willingness to co-operate
with the government.
Corridors Busy.
The corridors of the war and navy
departments were busy today and an
air of suppressed excitement prevailed
In all offices. Immediate preparations
must be made to double or treble the
clerical forces of both deaprtments to
meet the coming strain. New quar
ters must be found to house the new
civil elements. Buildings near the
state, war and navy structure are be
lng looked over for this purpose.
uniy one big move in preparation
remains to be -made In the
navy department. t
That Is the mobllltatlon ef the
naval militia and the various classes
of the naval reserve. The former will
go to the reserve ships of line, filling
out skeleton crews ana making the
ships ready for action. From the
latter will come the men for the coast
patrol and submarine chaser service
as well as additional men for line
ships. 1
Probably 15,000 . could be
added to the navy personnel at once
by this mobilization. It has been es
timated that double that number
would be required for full patrol ef
the Atlantic coast by motorboats. It
seems prdbable that, unless suf
ficient volunteers respond promptly.
THE ASHIVILLECIlIZt!.
Circulation Yesterday
City . . .
Suburban
Country .
4,615
4,235
1,674
Net paid . .U0,524;
Service ...... 244 -s
Unpaid; . . 206
Total. V. .'ilO.974 .
the "universal service system inay be,
Invoked to fill uP the navy's ranks.
Bids for Guns.
Bids were opened at the war de
partment today for slxteen-lnch rifles
to go In the coast defenses. The
Bethlehem Steel company was the
only bidder offering two or four
guns complete at $225,000 each or
without breach mechaism at $216,000
each. These guns are part of the
new coast defense program approve 1
by congress a year ago. In connec
tion with the army plans. It was
pointed out today that under the pres
ent national defense act the national
guard can be brought to Its full
war strength by draft. The force has
an authorised total strength or
440,000 and Its present strength. Is
about ltO.000.
Orders to muster out men with de
pendent families and those in the
government service, or at work on
government contracts may reduce
this number considerably.
It Is not known whether the w,r
department contemplates any change
In the present status of the guard.
These troops would not be available
for service In Europe under existing
law and In addition, the full number
may be required for police work at
home. More than 10,000 are now a
employed.
To Recruit Guard.
In any event. If the guard Is to
K. racmlted-to full strength, it Is
assumsd that provision will be made
to prevent a conflict between that
service and the new national armyip
be raised; The new army undoubt
edly will be formed by young men..;
Authorised strength ot the regulars
Is about 100,000 men of all branches.
That service, unless a change Is
made In the law would be filled up
with volunteers, men who wish to en
gage In soldiering a a professional
occupation.
Committees of the chamber or
commerce of the united (Kate named
to co-operate with the defense council.-
met today to work out with the
war department the problem of sup
plies, , Cash-men of fourteen eonamlt
Uns. dU'.HbuUd thronhgout the eoun
try military department were pre
est. ':
Baorftm- little, of CletelanA r
eral chairman wt the committees,
antvaaoed afterwards that the conv
ailttee would be given the widest free
dom la the method ef their opera
tions. "'""'
' The council authorised ' today 1 a
nueral medical board to cewoperate
wMn nr. rranfcHn Wsrtln. cbelrmsw
Senator LaFollette Balks Effort of Con
gress to Immediately. Declare Stale of
War Exists New Senate Cloture Rule
Will Be Employed to Gag Him.
eaBBBaBaaBBaS.aBBS.SH--------
WASHINGTON, April 3. The way was cleared on
both sides of the capitol today for prompt enactment of
the administration resolution declaring a state of war
exists with Germany and directing the president to prose
cute it with all the nation's resources to a successful
termination. ,.
LaFollette Blocks Plans. ,
Balked by Senator LaFollette in this effort to Kave
the resolution taken up immediately after it had; been
presented from the foreign relations committee, senate
leaders decided to begin tomorrow at 10 o'clock a session
to continue until a vote has been taken., lietters signea
bv Senators Martin and Gallinger, respectively, the demo
cratic and republican leaders, went-to each senator to-
night asking: mm to be in his seat tomorrow . when . the
senaj&meetsauic the plan .fo& continuous
session. .. ., . . . ' -,-,ot " ' V "
If the leaders can hold a quorum, as they were able
to do in the closing hours of the last session on the armed
neutrality bill, it is probable that there will be action late
tomorrow night or Thursday morning. It is not expected
that there will be any attempt to filibuster, but no one.
knew tonight how many senators would speak. , , . ,, j ,
Adoption In. House. , . , , , f ,
Adoption of the resolution by the house, before -to
morrow night is predicted b members of the foreign afv
fairs committee. The committee will meet in the. morn
ing and is expected to. report back quickly the resolution
(CONTINUED OW PAOB TWO) ,
N
TI
L SON
MESS
E
WAIL
WELCOMED
AT. 11
J
LONDON1. April I. President Wll
son's message aligning the United
Btates with the nations fighting
against Germany was warmly wel
corned and unanimously acclaimed by
the British people. They recognise
that no deals on with a weirhuer in
fluenee upon the result of the world
struggle has been given slnoe Great
Britain, after a few days or consider
ation, resolved to march with Prance.
No news of the last year has so stir
red the country, save only tne Rus
sian revolution.
No Demonstration-.
There have been no street demon
strations or exhibitions of excitement.
such as the first weeks of the war saw
In London, because the war has long
since passed the stage of excitement.
and is regarded here, as in America,
as a heavy and solemnly borne duty.
The substance and tone of the presi
dent's message wis an electrifying
surprise. The directness of his In
dictment or tne uerman metnoas as a
his whole-hearted statement of
America's duty to maintain her rights
and of her duty to civilisation, was
more than the public here expected.
"Telegrams To.
IMsnatches from America In the last
month had reo resented the president
as so reluctant to enter the war that
recommendations to congress limited
to defensive measures for the protec
tion of American commerce wouia
hare fulfilled the geaeral expecta
tions. ! That the Russian revolution did
touch to pave the way for American
co-oie ration with Germany's oppo
nents and made President Wilson's
policy possnle,,ls one of the first fea
tures of the situation which the news,
papers seise upon.
. The Russian revolution lifted a
great load from the minds of British
1 rborals. and they enthusiastically en
dorse the president's words concern
ing Roasts. No one here expects that
the new Russian regime will be eatab.
llshod without trouble. Nevertheless,
the moral gain through the Russian
upheaval la regarded as outweighing
the temporary handicap to effective
military action while reconstruction
la under way. .
The only feature of President Wil
son's message that evokes dissent is
his acquittal of the German people
from re-ponstbiUty for tho policies
r th- ntrmiii a-overnment- Iateral
papers, like The Daii Chronicle, con
tend tnat tne urm p-wp
aimm-teA Kk aooarent eathuaUna
such proceedings as nave been going
on In Beldam .ana eve vmuan
Its annexation. '
MomTitoa-l fft
Thai the British sreas regards the
entry ot Am.(tea as ana ( Uae mo
mentous event-, of the war, la aDo-rat
In the Importance attached to Presl
dent Wilson's address, and the high
tribute paid to the president's states
manship. ( The Pally Chronicle, giving fta edi
torial on this sufbject the unusual
honor of leaded type and . double
column breadth, wit the caption
"America at war: Wilson's magnifi
cent appeal," says;
"It la Impossible to read Pre si
dent Wilson's speech without being
struck by Its statesman-like breadth,
and elevation of tone. , Hla long- pa
tience and caution, hla determination
to advance no faster' than the aaaaa
of opinion In his country, only reader
more Impressive hla final erosalnc ef
the Rubicon. The moral affect ef
such a speech, mad with a nation
of ninety millions behind it, muat b
great throughout the world. .v.
"It 1 a strange. Impressive pheno
men on this tardy, but weighty, in
terventlon of the United States in the
death struggle of Europe. Her la a
nation composed ot settlers, whose
migration from the days of the May
flower onward has been largely in
the nature of flight front tyranny.
For the first time on any considerable
scale they now stretch out their hand.
NORTH CAROLINA'S OTTKVOttS '
WASHINGTON. D. C. Aorll 1. x
presstona by member on the b resi
dent' message were: -
Stedman "The whole eonrreea fa
vors either war directly or a stato of -war.
One Is broad as the other.'
Pou "The limit has been reached.
Over 260 Americas; have boon killed.
If It haa got to com, let's go at It
heart and oul. . My son. Edwin ha :
volunteered." - " , .
Hood W can not do otherwise
than declare a state of war exist be
tween this country and Germany, It
would be a humiliating spectacle to
pursue any other course." ;
Small "Our '" immediate ' grievance, '
is the embargo on our commerce by .
attacking our ships and taking the
lives of our eltlaena. Therefore we
should use force. To this end we '
should utilise evsry unit of our navil
forces. If necessary. It la up t the :
genius of Americana - to devtsa a .
method for successfully com batting '
the eubmarlne.t
Robinson 'The people of North '
Carolina are with the president and
my vote shall be In his support.
A. J. McKlaamon. Maxtor "Most
all of our peopl are enthusiastic over
the nrestdent'a course."
l H. - Clement, dali-hurr "They
are all strongly by WUson down
11 defense act of Jane . the
..Continued Page Twe).