Der Deutsche correspondent. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1841-1918, 1915-03-03
AMERICAN INDEPENDENCE
UNION"

The name officially selected for
the organization which had its
birth at the memorable conference in
Washington, d. c., on January 3Oth
last, is the American independence
Union. The committee on organiza-
ton appointed by Chairman Bart
holdt at the conference met at the
Hotel Astor few days ago, and per-
fected the organization by electing
Mr.. Herman hidder, Honorary
President;
Hon. Richard Bartholdt, Of Mis-
souri,, President;
DR.. Thomas c. Hall, of New York,
First Vice-President.
The meeting was attended by
delegates from all parts of the coun-
try. Messages were received from
prominent men in remote sections,
from San Francisco and New Or
leans to Boston, expressing hearty
interest in the movement and offer
ing to cooperate in any manner pos
sible to make the Union a nation
wide organisation.
The task of organizing branches
in all parts of the United States was
entrusted to the executive commit
tee appointed at the meeting, which
viii work out a general plan for that
purpose. The catholic character of
the attending delegates was evil
denced by the presence OF American
citizens of Anglo-American, Irish
American, German-American, Hun
garian-American and Of other racial
descent, all inspired with the one
desire to bring the United States
back to its traditional observance Of
benevolent neutrality toward all
nations and partisanship for none.
The sentiment of the organization is
crystallized in the following reso-
luton, adopted amid great en-
thusiasm:
"The American independence
Union has been organized upon the
Declaration of Principles adopted at
a conference of representative Ameri-
can citizens held in the city of Wash
ington, on the thirtieth day of Jan
uary, 1915.
Its membership win be confined
exclusively to American citizens, ir-
respective of their descent, but of
unquestioned loyalty to the govern
ment Of the United States; a loyalty
which would remain absolutely un-
shaken and undiminished in case of
war between the United States and
any other country on the face OF the
globe.
we hold, however, that loyalty
to the government neither deprivos
a citizen=of whatever lineage or
descent-of his right to scrutinize
the action of public officials-no
matter how high their station-nor
does it absolve him of his duty so to
do, and to discuss with his fellows
the affairs of state and nations.
"The Union is not and win not
be a segregation, politically. of one
or more elements of our people
from the other Our work win be
confined to peaceful but de-
termined effort to educate public
opinion in the United States in favor
OF the liberation Of our country from
all undue foreign influence, and to
bring all lawful pressure TO bear
upon our public servants, so as to
cause them to conduct our national
affairs in a spirit of real and not
mere paper neutrality in times Of
war between friendly powers, and of
complete independence of foreign
influence in times of peace. Our
country must, in its international re-
lations, and in its public spirit and
public opinion, be American only"
The Union in conclusion invites
the attention of all patriotic citizens
to the platform adopted at the Wash
ington conference and their earnest
cooperation.
The work of organizing State
,,.o ,ob mill 40 n1,aopr first