Omaha daily bee., 1914-12-17
LOBECK EXPLAINS
HIS ANTI-ARMS BILL
Omaha Congressman Replies to New
York Newspaper Charge He is
Aiding the Germans.
WOULD STOP SALE OF MUNITIONS
Declares Policy of Neutrality Is that
which Does Not Countenancc
Ala TO Fighters in Any
Form.
CFrom a staff Correspondent

VI ApiA n PAdAA NNAENsEhHutAlNsi
WASHINGTON. Dec. le,-tSpecial Tel
egram )--Replying to sensational charge
made by New York newspaper that
bills recently introduced in the house OF
Representatives Lobeck of Nebraska.
Bartholdt of Missouri and Vollmer of
Iowa, prohibiting the sending of arms
and munitions OF war TO belligerent coun-
tries from the United States. were de-
liberate attempts to aid Germany. Mr.
Lobeck today made his most serious
speech since he entered congress. There
was a tenseness about the situation that
accentuated the reason for the reply.
Bartholdt and Vollmer had been vehc-
ment In their denunciations OF the charge
that they were acting as the agents OF
the German government and Ambassador
Won sternberg in particular
Congressman Lobeck refused to get ex-
cited over the article in the newspaper
in question and made a speech which was
listened to by a crowded house, Il not
crowded galleries, Mr.. Lobeck said in
explanation of the reasons which actu-
ated him in introducing his bill to stop
sending war materials TO Europe:
81 am an American citizen, born in the
state of Illinois, my father of German
parentage, my mother of Swedish parent
age, and can truly say for them they
were genuinely American in their views.
Born in that great state, breather the
air of Illinois. later in Iowa and Ne
braska. and believe l know something
about the free air of America and Amer
ican patriotism; and believe In the SUI
periority of tn eAmerican flag. what 1t
stands for, to any flag on earth.
Il suppose the reason this newspaper in
New York has published the charge that
/ am working together with the German
ambassador In the interest of Germany
against the allies and against this govern
ment is because on the second day of the
meeting of this session introduced bill
for the prevention of the expectation Of
war materials to warning nations.
II Relieve in peace l have understood
that there is a dove that has been flut-
tering around in this country for num-
Der OF years in the interest Of peace.
lBul lsJssv OF suIIIIM mv Mou 'IIeM.,
dove by stopping the expectation Of
munitions of war to the countries that
are engaged in war. If l am to pray for
peace I believe in doing something to
stop war. believe that If am to pray
for a hungry man or woman, the best
thing to do is to follow up that prayer
with loaf of bread.
"If we believe in peace in this country,
let us follow It up by stopping the men
who want to make some money out of
war, that there may be widows across the
/ sea, that there may be orphans across the
| bot ha mis- ha
| sea. Let us stop the opportunity that
causes these orphans and thee widows
and that miery.
J II am a pretty fair American citizen. II
! is more than probable that the man who
ascribes to me the position of being q
! traitor to this country is not himself al
American citizen. The chances are that u
Uncle Sam called us to follow the flag
/ he would be the first one TO duck into
/ the Atlantic ocean and get away.
! II was a little boy when the civil waI
/ broke out in this country, but l can re-
member that very few OF the German
! Americans and Swedish-Americans in I'LL
| nois at that time were born in this coun-
! try, but they went to fight for the flas
| to preserve the union, and they fought
bravely side by side with their comrades
regardless of birth or nationality.
"The German-American citizen is good
enough to help defend this country and
| to do his share toward upbuilding this
country, and no has done 1t. 1 am proud
| of the eGrman-American. / konw his
| loyalty to this country. l am proud of
every man who comes across the sea
and then takes his oath of allegiance to
support our flag, because in my expert
ence of a lifetime passed in their COM
panionship 1 have found them TO be