The Tabor independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1913-19??, 1915-09-09
"Friends of Peace" Though Pro-
claiming Neutrality Threaten
5000 1000 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 Chancellor J. ]. Tobia, Of the
Chicago Law school and head of the
Chicago branch of the Friends of
Peace, the following question was put
to him:
"Whst are the Teutonic nationaIi-
ties going to do at the polls at the
next electionT
"They are going to raise hell with
any party not in our favor. The leu
tonic nationalities will muster fully
100000 votes and they will vote
solidly and do not think sympathizers
for the allies will be able to muster
enough votes to counteract this
strength"
The interview was 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 that the
society is supporting Germany, but
declared that 1t 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 holds the act would
be justifiable.
The organization is strictly neutral,
Tobias insisted, though 1t was started
by the pro-Germans and Is Differed
by Germans and pro-Germans and its
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?"
1--WE are opposed to the shipment. Of
munitions to Europe. We desire to
maintain peace in America. We be-
lieve the Washington administration
should use its 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 send a mer-
chant ship anywhere it wishes at any
time. Interference with overseas
traffic should not be permitted"
"Will the society attempt to dis
courage an important increase in the
navy and army of the United States p"
"lt will. There are 10000 men in
the United States who have served in
the German army. They don't want to
Be called on further. Militarism
Calls II Old Idea.
you army
and navy insure peace"
"That is an old principle Of miIitar-
ism. This is q new day."
Look at the case Of a large nation
like China being overloaded by the
Japanese because 1t has no means of
self protection. How will you stop
"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 GUST Samuel Gompers as
head OF the American Federation of
Labor was made by Rutledge Reeser-
ford, secretary of the Friends of Peace.
In an interview with the Chicago Trib-
une he Is quoted as saying: '. ..'
"Gompers says 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 II 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"
The report of the resolutions COM