The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-02-04
GREAT PRO-GERMAN
AMPAIGNLAUNCHED
Former Exclusive College
Mems League Lets Down
Bars to Outsiders.
TO INFORM ABOUT WAR

The German University League, an
exclusive society composed Of 500 Ger
man college men in the United States.
last night voted Unanimously 10 let down
the bars heretofore preventing any one
from admission to membership who has
not studied In German university or
college, II was decided that any one
who is "desrous of obtaining correct
Information on the European war" may
become an associate member
This action, taken at the regular
monthly meeting OF the league az Lue-
elbows, means the launching of a ma
tionwide pro-German campaign. Al
though there was no dissenting vote at
last nights meeting. II is understood
the proposition was originally laid be-
formal manner and that there was serl-
GUS opposition to the project. the ma
FERTILIZATION OF which means that the
league Will be TO considerable extent
Invested Of its exclusiveness.
orthodox college men" are said to
have objected violently at first to the
idea of making men associate menu
bers who have never seen the inside"
OF university or college either in
Germany or in this country. Only the
fact that intellectual Germans in
this country have found American SEN
timent Overwhelmingly In favor Of the
Allies and the supposed necessity Of
taking radical and far reaching steps
are said TO have finally overcome the
opposition,
Quietly. but with decided success. the
executive officers OF the league have been
preparing for the last few months to
put the plan into operation and II is ex-
pected the membership will soon assume
very great proportions. Adopting the
same system followed by the United
States Government in its reserve bank
scheme the league has divided the
| United States into twelve different sec
tions, and headquarters have been es-
tabllshed In every city where there is a
! reserve bank.
Another important work OF pro-Ger-
man propaganda accom- plished by the
/ league during the last few months was
made known last night when Otto j.
Merkel, executive secretary, announced
that the league had forwarded TO nearly
/ 700 American universities and colleges
/ the protest recently sent TO this country
| by Profs, Eucken and Hacckel. This
was done, Mr. Merkel explained, simply
| TO furnish American intellectual leaders
with full and complete information re-
garding the German side Of tho war.
More than rs per cent Of the college
ana university heads replied. he said.
the~answers being about evenly divided.
one-half pro-German and the other half
for the Allies.
Some unfavorable answers, voicing
bitter criticism OF the league and its
work. were read by Mr.. Merkel. Among
the replies he read was one from a pro-
fessor OF Columbia, who wrote that he
needed no additional information. hdv-
ing studied In Germany, and concluding
IL consider that Germany Is supporting
band OF highly trained organized
thugs"
DR.. Hugo schweitzer, ex-president OF
the Chemists Club of New York deliv-
cred a lengthy address on Can Ger
many BE Starved Into Submission" He
gave figures tending to prove the mega
tive OF the question.
"Elessbrot," or German war bread
was offered along with the "steins."