Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1915-07-28
JOHN WANAMAKER
QUITS GUARDIANSHIP
OF SECURITY LEAGUE
Merchant Resigns Post,
Saying "$1O0,000,OOO
Speech" May Compromise
Organization If He Re-
tains Prominent Position.

Following the storm Of protest aroused
over his hundred billion dollar peace
speech" John wnnamaker has resigned the
craftsmanship OF che Philadelphia branch
OF the National Security League. The res
ignatlon was accepted at q meeting Of
the Executive and Membership Commit
tee at the Union League, after Mr.. Wan
emaker had delivered an address explain
ing that the wide publicity Of the peace
speech had tended to confuse the real
Issue before the league and might em-
barrass the progress Of the organization.
Mr.. Wanamaker did not resign his mem
bership In the league, however, and prom
ised to support It morally and financially,
as well as TO do his utmost to further any
plan to safeguard this country from at
tack. In explaining his address OF last
Thursday at the Racquet Club, Mr.. Wan
amaker denied that his idea in wishing
. practical embargo on arms and ammunl-
tions shipped to Europe was intended as
q pro-Gsrman utterance, It being his sole
desire to stop the greatest slaughter
known in the history of the world. At the
conclusion OF the meeting Mr.. wanRmaker
said;
''I fear may have been mlsunderstood
in the speech made when l accepted the
Office Of honorary chairman Of this
league Some persons were so over
whelmed by the figure of a hundred
billions that they couldn't see anything
else. 1t is an enormous sum, but 1t isn't
too much TO pledge TO bring honorable
peace out OF this awful war.
NI,,e
sum or any sum to any Power on earth, |
But this nation can put its vast credit to |
the extent of hundred billions, II neces-
sary, at the service Of peace. to help the |
warning nations get together with an as |
surance that a settlement can be made, |
and that the devastated countries can 80 |
20 work to re.sstRbllsh their agriculture |
and industries and commerce and pay on
their war debt. Unless some such assur-
ance be given, any peace negotiations
would be futile and the devastation OF
war would go on needlessly for months
after the belligerents themselves wanted
peace.
THAT was the meaning of my hundred
billion dollar speech. My only thought
was peace for these afflicted countries.
"And 1 believe that the people Of this
nation after thinking It over will see that
some such move would give tremendous
impetus 10 peace at this time"
Mr. wanamaker also showed that the
raising of s10O, 900 100000 for such a, pur-
chase would not be an mposslbility by
submitting a letter from David s. Beach
of Bridgeport, Conn, who has formulated
the Worlds Liquidating and Refunding
Company a concern operating on an in
suranee basis. The latter assured Mr..
that the sum referred 70
could be raised by the people of this
country through the new concern.
Following Mr.. Wanamakers reslgna- s
tlon from the Craftsmanship of the Nation s
Al Security League, Colonel Theodore E. '
Viedersheim was elected to the office 9
and George Wharton Pepper was elected /
vice chairman Robert Morris was chosen 6
rs secretary; Arthur L, Newbold. treas G
1rer. and Percy II. Clark chairman of 8
-he Membership Committee. The cleo I
ion to the Executive Committee resulted e
Is follows: Charles Biddle ]. Campbell
fillmore and Isaac w. Roberts. The local :
committee will have representatives on q
he General Executive Committee of the I
National Security League. h