The citizen-Republican. (Scotland, Bon Homme County, S.D.) 1???-19??, 1915-09-09
"Friends of Peace" Though Pro-
claiming Neutrality Threaten
100000 Votes to De-
feat Opponents.
WILL GO AFTER GOMPERs
Bryan to Address Alleged Pro
German Society Which Pro
poses to Fight Exten-
sion of Defense.

with chanc aftar J: j. T St ln' Of the
Chicago Law school and head of the
Chicago branch of h Friends of
to him:
"What are the Teutonio nationali-
ties going to do at the polls at the
next eIection?"
"They are going to raise hell with
any party not in our favor. The leu
100000 votes and they will vote
solidly and do not think sympathizers
for the allies will be able to muster
strength"
The interview vas based on Samuel
Gompers' charge that the Friends Of
Peace society is not working for peace
but to place the United States in a
false and %unneutral position and
bending it's efforts to help Germany.
Says Order Is Neutral.
Chancellor Tobias denied hat the
society is supporting Germany, but
declared that it is working to secure
an embargo on the export of arms to
the allies. He admitted that an en-
barge would be a violation Of inter
national law, but old the act would
be ~justifiable.
The organization is strictly neutral,
Tobias insisted, though it was started
by h pro-Germans and is officered
by and prO-GermanS and it's
membership, he said, was composed Of
pro-Germans and Germans, with one
or two exceptions.
Oppose Better Defense.
The following conversation between
Mr.. Tobias and the interviewer is re-
| corded:
What are the objects Of the Friends
Of Peace?"
syVn ora nnnnca1 tn tho cISrp,ar+ re
munitions to Europe. We desire to
maintain peace in America. We be-
lieve the Washington administration
should use it's good offices, when the
time comes, to try and settle the war.
We believe in the freedom of the seas
| during war. We believe any nation
should have the right to sen a mer-
chant ship anywhere it wishes at any
time. Interference with overseas
| traffic should not be permitted"
twill the society attempt to dis
courage an important increase in the
navy and army Of the United States?"
at will. There are 100000 men in
| the United States who have served in
| the German army. They don't want to
be called ON further. Militarism
breeds war;"
Calls 1t Old Idea.
Don't you think an adequate army
and navy insure peace?"
THAT is an old principle of militar-
ism. This is a new day"
Look at the case of a large ration
like China being overloaded by the
| Japanese because it has no means Of
self protection. How will you stop
that?"
This peace movement is sweeping
over the world. 1t has reached Japan
and the people there will rise and pro-
/ test against the action and the govern
/ ment must give in or fall"
A threat to ous Samuel Gompers as
| head Of The American Federation Of
Labor was made by Rutledge Ruther-
| ford, secretary Of the Friends of Peace.
In an interview with the Chicago Trib-
| une he is quoted as saying:
"Gompers say we are not neutral
| and that he is. We say we are neutral
| and that he Is not. But after the big
convention this Sunday and Monday
in Chicago our leaders will have more
| time to give to Gompers, and it is
probable that the American Federation
| Of Labor will change it's head. The
union men believe in our course; of all
the union leaders and members who
| have Joined us. Gompers does not
speak with the voice Of labor in this
matter, for we represent labor more
than he does"
Tho report of the resolutions COM