The Sunday telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1914-1927, 1915-12-12
Presidents Policy Of Strict
Neutrality Denounced by
American Truth Society.

For the first time In Its history III,
United States approaches nationa
campaign with spokeemen for certain
OF Its people publicly proclniming thai
1t will be waged by them In tho in.
terest Of foreign government. say
the New York World. Only the pass.
age OF time will tell how far the more
outspoken leaders of central power
propaganda here will go In attempt.
ing TO carry out their threat Of a solid
hyphcnated vote against President
Wilson and all those candidates for
election who refuse to disavow his
neutrality policies.
This species of campaign. hitherto
unheard of in America, was first an
nounced last summer by an organiza-
tion calling itself the american Truth
Society" II was begun by this 80
ciety, whose officials have consistent
ly used 1t since the commencement OF
the European war in the interests OF
Germany and her allies through cir
cularizing United States senator's and
representatives with letters threaten
ing them with n solid "German-Amer-
lean" vote against them should thoy
fail to answer certain questions right.
The principal OF these questions
was: do you favor an embargo on
the expectation of arms and war mu-
nitions?"
To answer 1t fright" according to
the American Truth Society. meant TO
answer, yes"
Comparatively little attention was
paid to this move. Americans gencr-
ally believeing at the time that the
majority of this country's hyphenatcd
citizens would not, themselves, toler-
ate such n campaign. and that the
threat was an empty one.
Not an Empty Threat.
The recent elections have. in the
opinion OF many. proved that the
threat was neither empty nor idle.
German prOpagandists organized the
hyphenated vote against two candl-
dates in New York City who were
avowed supporteds OF President Will
son and his policics-liealy. who ran
for Congress In the Twenty-third con-
gressional district OF New York, and
Representative Fitzgerald. who was on
the Judiciary ticket In Brooklyn.
Mass meetings were held, some Sec
reilly and some publicly. AT all OF
these voters were asked TO cast their
ballots against Hcaly and Fitzgerald
as rebuke TO the neutrality of Pres
ident Wilson. In Brooklyn the CAM
paign was coducted SO secretly that
Congressman Fitzgerald did not know
that a solid German-American vote
was being arrayed against him until
election day. These two men were
defeated. although an exactly similar
campaign launched against the
Brooklyn postmaster failed.
However, the pro-German agitators
seized upon the results as n victory
for themselves. Elated. they boosted
that defeat would be the portion OF
President Wilson should he run in
1916, and also for all his followers:
that German-Americans were strong
enough politically to defeat him and
all the candidates who agreed with
him that to place an embargo on the
shipment Of arms and munitions
would be an unneutral act.
The issue, the Spokesman for large
numbers of German-Americans shout
ed, was the presidents "unfairness'
to Germany and his friendship" for
England. and on this issue they tele-
graphed President Wilson that the
hyphenated vote would defeat him.
Plan OF Hyphenated Campaign.
The plan of the hyphenated cam
paign as already outlined is first. an
educational" one; second, district or
ganization and stump speaking.
The educational campaign was
begun months ago. 1t is increasing
In volume. The penmen of the prop
agandists prepare the most inflamma-
tory circulars, pamphlets. reading
matter of all kinds, and with these
they flood the mails. While there arc
no accurate figures available. it is moi
cxaggeration TO say that already tens
OF thousands OF dollars have beer
spent in writing, printing and mail.
ing this matter.
The American Truth Society. with
main Offices in New York and branch
offices in Chicago, and which expect:
to establish others in New orlean,
and San Francisco. is the distributing