Newspapers / The Smithfield Herald (Smithfield, … / Feb. 6, 1917, edition 1 / Page 2
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WILSON TELLS TIIK CONGRESS Recites Pledges Made to I'nited States in Sussex Cast1 and of Ger many's New Act Disregarding Them. Can Not Relieve That lierlin Has So Far Forgotten Itself as to Force a \\ ar I'pon a People With Whom it Has No Quarrel. Will Go Refore Congress and Ask for .Means to Support American Rights in Case of Overt Act. The severance of diplomatic rela tions with Germany was formally an nounced to the country and the world by President Wilson at a joint session of Congress Saturday at 2 o'clock. The President spoke as follows: "Gentlemen of the Congress: The imperial German government on the 31st of January announced to this government and to the governments of the other neutral nations that on and after the 1st day of February the present month, it would adopt a policy with regard to the use of submarines against all shipping seek ing to pass through certain designat ed areas of the high seas to which it is clearly my duty to call your at tention. "Let me remind the congress on the 8th of April last in view of tin; sinking on the 24th of March of the cross-channel passenger steamer Sus sex, by a German submarine, with out summons or warning and the consequent loss of the lives of several citizens of the United States who were passengers aboard her, this gov ernment addressed a note to the im perial German government in which it made the following declaration: " 'If it is still the purpose of the relentless and indiscriminate war fare against vessels of commerce by the u;;e of submarines without re gard to what the government of the United States must consider the sa cred and indisputable rules of interna tional law and the universally recog nized dictates of humanity, the gov ernment of the United States is at last forced to the conclusion that there is but one course it can pursue. Unless the imperial government should now immediately declare and effect an abandonment of its present methods of submarine warfare against passenger and freight carrying ves sels, the government of the United States can have no choice but to sev er diplomatic relations with the Ger man empire altogether.' "In reply to this declaration the imperial German government gave this government the following assur ance: 'The German government is prepared to do its utmost to confine the operations of war for the rest of its duration to the fighting forces of the belligerents, thereby also insur ing the freedom of the seas, a prin ciple upon which the Germr.n govern ment believes now, as before, to be in agreement with the government of the United States. Promised to Be Good. " 'The German government, guided by this idea, notifies the government of the United States that the Ger man naval forces have received the following orders: In accordance with the general principles of visit and search and destruction of merchant vessels recognized by international law, such vessels, both with and with out the area declared as naval war zone, shall not be sunk without warn ing and without saving human lives, unless these ships attempt to escape or offer resistance. " 'But,' it added, 'neutrals can not expect that Germany, forced to fight % for her existence, shall, for the sake of neutral interest, restrict the use of an effective weapon if her enemy is permitted to continue to apply at will methods of warfare violating the rules of international law. Such a demand would be incompatible with the character of neutrality, and the German government is convinced that the government of the United States does not think of making such a de mand, knowing that the government of the United States has repeatedly declared that it is determined to re store the principle of the freedom of the seas, from whatever quarter it has been violated.' "To this the government of the United States replied on the 8th of May, accepting, of course, the assur ances given, but adding: 'The govern , ment of the United States feels it necessary to state that it takes it for ' granted that the imperial German government does not intend to imply that the maintenance of newly an nounce J policy 5* ifl any way contin gent upon the course or result of dip lomatic negotiations between the gov ernment of the United States and other belligerent government, not withstanding the fact that ccrtain passages in the imperial government's note of the 4th instant might appear to be susceptible of that construction. In order, however, to avoid any mis understanding, the government of the United States notifies the imperial government that it can not for a mo ment entertain much less discuss, a suggestion that respect by German naval authorities for the rights of citizens of the United States upon the high seas should in any way or in the slightest degree be made contingent upon the conduct of any other govern ment affecting the rights of neutrals and non-combatants. Responsibility in such matters is single, not joint; ab solute, not relative.' "To this note of the 8th of May the imperial German government made no reply. A Threat to All. "On the 31st of January, the Wed nesday of the present week, the Ger man ambassador handed to the secre tary of State, along with a formal note, a memorandum which contained the following statement: " 'The imperial government, there fore, does not doubt that the govern ment of the United States will under stand the situation thus forced upon Germany by the entente allies' brutal methods of war and by their deter mination to destroy the central pow ers and that the government of the United States will further realize that the now openly disclosed intention of the entente allies gives back to Ger many the freedom of the action which she reserved in her note addressed to the government of the United States j on May 4, 1916. " 'Under these circumstances, Ger many will meet the illegal measures of her enemies by forcibly prevent ing after February 1, 1917, in a zone around Great Britain, France, Italy and in the eastern Mediterranean, all navigation, that of the neutrals in eluded, from and to England and from and to France, etc. All ships met within the zone will be sunk.' "I think that you will agree with me that in view of this declaration, which suddenly and without prior intimation of any kind, deliberately withdraws the solemn assurance given in the imperial government's note of the 4th of May, 191(5, this govern ment has no alternative consistent with the dignity and honor of the United States but to take the course which, in its note of the 18th of April, 1916, it announced that it would take in the event that the German govern ment did not declare and effect an abandonment of the methods of sub marine warfare which it was then em ploying and to which it now purposes again to resort. "I have, therefore, directed the sec retary of State to announce to his excellency, the German ambassador, that all diplomatic relations between the United States and the German empire are several and that the American ambassador at Berlin will immediately be withdrawn, and, in accordance with this decision, to hand to his excellency his passports. Can't IU>lie\e Worst. "Notwithstanding this unexpected action of the German government, this sudden and deeply deplorable re i nunciation of its assurances, given this government at one of the most critical moments of tension in the relations of the two governments, I refuse to believe that it is the inten tion of the German authorities to do in fact that they have warned as they will feel at liberty to do, I can not bring myself to believe that they will indeed pay no regard to the ancient friendship between their people and our own or to the solemn obligations, which have been exchanged between them and destroy American ships and take the lives of American ships zens in the wilful prosecution of the ruthless naval programme they have announced their intention to adept. Only actual overt acts on their part can make me believe it even now. "If this inveterate confidence on my part in tiie sobriety and prudent forsight of their purpose should un happily prove unfounded; if Ameri can ships and American lives should in fact be sacrificed by their naval commanders in heedless contraven tion of the just and reasonable un derstanding of international law, and the obvious dictates of humanity I shall take the liberty of coming again before the congress to ask that au thority be given me to use any means that may be necessary for the pro tection of our seamen and our peo ple in the prosecution of their peace ful and legitimate errands on tne high seas. I can do nothing less. I take it for granted that all neutral governments will take the same course. ( "We do not desire a hostile con flict with the imperial German gov ernment. We are the sincere friends of the German people and earnestly desire to remain at peace with the government which speaks for them. We shall not believe that they are hostile to us unless and until we are obliged to believe it; and we purpose nothing more than the reasonable defense of the undoubted rights of our people. We wish to serve no selfish ends. We seek merely to stand true alike in thought and in action to the immemorial principles of our people which I have sought to express in my address to the senate only two weeks ago ? seek merely to vindicate our rights to liberty and justice and an unmolested life. These are the bases of peace, not war. God grant that we may not be challenged to defend them by acts of wilful in justice on the part of the government of Germany." CITY ANI) TOWN LEGISLATION. Indications Are That County School Hoard Policy May Not Undergo Any Change. State IJoiler Inspec tor. Senate I'asses Bill Increasing Penalty for Pistol "Toting" After Argument. Raleigh, N. C., Feb. 1. ? The official bill for providing optional forms of municipal government under the con stitutional amendments was offered in the House today by Representa tive Pegram, of Durham. At the same time Senator Brenizer and his spe cial Senate committee are at work preparing a suitable bill for the Sen ate on the subject, using the Pegram bill as a basis. So the work of devel oping the legislation necessary for governing the municipalities under the changed conditions is at last un der way and good progress is prom ised. The bills provide as forms of gov ernment that may be adopted, com mission form, aldermanic form, man agerial form and then something of a cross between aldermanic and com mission. There are being worked out changes in the time for elections pre scribed, some thinking that the late summer is too late for the best inter ests of some of the cities. Especially are cities of Charlotte, Senator Bren izer's home town, anxious to vote this spring. The House passed a bill to estab lish the office of State Boiler Inspec tor under the direction of the Depart ment of Labor. All amendments, in cluding one to cut the inspection fee from $5 to $3, were voted down. A flood of petitions came in from many sections of the State urging the passage of the Anti-Saloon League legislation amending the prohibition law. The Senate, after long argument, passed the bill by Senator Gray, to increase the penalties for pistol tot ing. An amendment by Senator Long, of Alamance, to cut the minimum fine for the first offense from $51 to $25 and make the second offense $50 in stead of $100 was defeated. The bill unamended passed 29 to 15. Numerous petitions were sent for ward in the House urging the enact ment of the Anti-Saloon League leg islation. Among the unfavorably reported bills was that to provide for the judges instead of the parties to the litigation to summons the expert wit nesses and fix their compensation. The bill had been endorsed by most of the judges in the State but it went to the unfavorable c^tendar. Unfavorable report came for the education bills involving election and appointment of county boards of edu cation as a State policy and indicat ing a disposition on the part of the committee to stand pat. Mr. McLendon gave notice that there would be minority reports and the bills were set as special order for next Thursday. AN AD IN THE HERALD WILL brings results. Try one. business locals LET US PRINT THEM? THE UP to-date business man would not think of writir^ his business letters on plain stationery. Neither should the live wide-awake farmer. Name your farm and then come to The Herald Office and let us print you gome nice note heads and envelopes. You will then take a greater pride in your farm. CAR LOAD WIRE FENCING JUST received. See us for prices tha< are right. Cotter Hardware Co. CAR LOAD WIRE FENCING JlJSl received. See us for prices tha1 are right. Cotter Hardware Co. 200 TONS OF 7Vi PER CENT Cotton Seed Meal at $43.50 per ton ? Cash. Austin-Ste phenson Co., Smithfield, N. C. A CAR LOAD OF ONE AND TWO horse wagons just arrived at Cot ter-Underwood Company's, Smith field, N. C. . YOU MAY HAVE AN ALMANAC, but you need a North Carolina Al manac which is better. You should buy a Turner's ? worth 10 cents. Beaty & Lassiter, Smithfield, N. C. SEED COTTON? DON'T LET YOUR cotton waste in the fields. It is ea sier saved than made. We pay highest market prices for seed cot ton. ANY KIND. Farmers Mer cantile Co., Selma, N. C. GUANO FOR YOUR PLANT BEDS at Cotter-Underwood Co., Smith field, N. C. THE FARMER SHOULD HAVE his printed stationery just as much as the merchant and banker. The Herald print-shop is prepared to turn out neat stationery for the farmer and carpenter. See us when you next come to town. IF YOU HAVE A FARM YOU wish to sell, write Box 123, Smith field, N. C. THE SMITHFIELD BUILDING At Loan Association has helped a number of people to build home3 It will help others, and maybe you. New series of shares now open See Mr. J. J. Broadhurst. IF YOU HAVE A FARM YOU wish to sell, write Box 123, Smith field, N. C. I KEEP SHUTTLES, BOBBINS AND Needles for the Singer and for other sewing machines. J. M. Beaty. IF YOU BUY GUANO AT FOUR Oaks, see us or Mr. John W. San ders and we will save you some money. Cotter-Underwood Co. PRINTED STATIONERY ADDS dignity to one's letters. Every farmer should have his farm nam ed and then have his printed letter heads, note heads and envelopes. The Herald Print-shop is ready to do this class of printing on short notice. MR. JOHN W. SANDERS WILL sell guano at Four Oaks, N. C., for Cotter-Underwood Co. See him be fore you buy. SEND US TEN CENTS AND WE will send you a copy of Turner'? North Carolina Almanac for 1917. Herald Office, Smithfield, N. C. SEE OUR LINE OF STOVES AND Ranges ? we have them from $10.00 up, with all the ware. Cotter Hard ware Company. TWO CARS OF TOBACCO BED Guano just received. Austin-Ste phenson, Smithfield, N. C. FOR GRAFONOLAS AND COLUM bia double disc Records, call al Cotter Underwood Company's. TWO CARS OF TOBACCO BED Guano just received. Austin-Ste phenson, Smithfield, N. C. SEND THIRTY CENTS IN STAMPS for one dozen assorted sizes nee dles for your sewing machine. J. M. Beaty, Smithfield, N. C. 200 TONS OF 7*2 PERCENT Cotton Seed Meal at $13.50 per ton ? Cash. Austin-Ste phenson Co., Smithfield, N. C. NOW IS AN IDEAL TIME TO paint and we have it ? either Lead Oil or ready prepared. Cotter Hard ware Company. NOW IS AN IDEAL TIME TO paint and we have it ? either Lead Oil or ready prepared. Cotter Hard ware Company. 20 TONS OF V/i PER CENT Cotton Seed Meal at $43.50 per ton ? Cash. Austin-Ste phenson Co., Smithfield, N. C.I ?are always ready to light every nook and corner of the house. Built of 6olid brass and nickel plated, they last a life time. Easy to carry ? easy to fill ? easy to clean. Use Aladdin Security Oil ? the most economical kerosene oil? for best results. STANDARD OIL COMPANY (New Jersey) BALTIMORE, MD. Washington, D. C. Charlotte, N. C Norfolk, Va. Charleston, W. Va Richmond, Va. Charleston, S. C. MARDI GRAS New Orleans, La $28.05 Mobile, Alabama $23.85 Pensacola, Fla $23.25 Round trip tickets will be sold from Smithfield at the fares shown above by the ATLANTIC COAST LINE The Standard Railroad of the South for all trains from February 12 To 19, Inclusive Limited, returning, until midnight of March 2nd, Hut Limit May be Extended Until March 19th, by depositing tickets with Special Agent by March 2nd, and upon pay ment of $1.00 at time of deposit. Proportionate Fares From All Other Stations CHILDREN HALF FARE LIBERAL STOP OVER PRIVILEGES For further particulars, sleeping car reservations, etc., call on, J. A. CAMPBELL, Ticket Agent, Smithfield, N. C. Another Lot Bibles I We have just received a new lot of Bibles and Testa ments. Bibles from 35 cents up to $3.00. Testaments from 10 cents up to $1.00. Large Type Edition Testament and Psalms for 50 and 75 cents. Herald Office Smithfield, N. C. INAUGURATION President Woodrow Wilson Washington, D. C. Monday, March 5th, 1917 $10.05 Round Trip VIA SOUTHERN RAILWAY From Raleigh, Durham, Chapel Hill, Burlington, and all intermediate points to Greensboro. $10.65 from Goldsboro; $10.70 from Selma Round trip tickets for this occasion will be on sale March 1, 2, 3, 4, and for trains scheduled to arrive Wash ington by noon March 5th. Tickets will be limited return ing to reach original starting point by midnight of March 10th, 1917, or by depositing ticket in Washington and paying a fee of $1.00 final limit will be extended to April 10th, 1917. Special Pullman Sleeping Cars will be operated from Raleigh and Durham, and from all points for special parties of twenty-five or more. For sleeping car reservations, and complete informa tion, ask Southern Railway Agents, or address, J. O. JONES, Traveling Passenger Agent, Raleigh, N. C.
The Smithfield Herald (Smithfield, N.C.)
Standardized title groups preceding, succeeding, and alternate titles together.
Feb. 6, 1917, edition 1
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