Sinkings  now  come  in  rapid  succession.  On  April  19,
1916,  the  President  went  before  Congress  with  the  whole
question,  declaring  that  "tragedy  had  followed  tragedy  on
the  seas  in  such  fashion"  and  that  "the  roll  of  Americans
who  have  lost  their  lives  on  ships  thus  attacked  and  de
stroyed  has  grown  month  by  month  until  the  ominous  total
loss  mounted  into  the  hundreds."  And  he  declared  that
the  severance  of  diplomatic  relations  was  the  only  course
open  unless  Germany  immediately  and  radically  mended  her
ways.  And  in  this  he  met  the  best  thought  of  the  nation.
But  the  presidential  election  was  to  be  held  that  year,
and  again  he  dallied.  And  the  campaign  slogans  of  his
party  are  suggestive  of  motives:  "He  kept  us  out  of  war,"
and  "You  are  at  work,  not  at  war."  He  had  repeatedly
told  the  German  Government  that  no  further  outrages  would
be  tolerated,  and  there  was  the  same  reason  for  a  war  with
Germany  April  6,  1916,  as  April  6,  1917.
After  the  election  he  sought  to  ascertain  upon  what
terms  peace  between  the  warring  nations  could  be  made.
To  this  end,  he  went  before  the  Senate  January  22,  1917.
