New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-07-01
NEUTRALITY ORGANIZATION
It's Inspiration and Purposes Not
Strictly Neutral.
To the Editor Of The Tribune.

To the Editor Of The Tribune.
Sir: Referring 70 the letter of Miss
Marion Kingsbury In your issue OF the 22d
inst under tho caption mot Subsidized IL
ia only doing the ladies who are engaged In
the pence propaganda simple justice 20 ex-
onerato them from the charge OF mercennry
motives; but there are many sides TO TINS
question which they either completely ignore
or view only from that particular angle OF
observation which offers tho most agreeable
perspective.
While the subscriber would like to be
chivalrous and give the women OF tho society
which is systematically but inaptly styled
the Neutrality Organization" credit for good
Intentions, he cannot be convinced that this
movement Is wholly nltruistic or even in
spred solely by love for peace per SCI for
II we glance at the names Of those most
prominent in the agitation to place an en-
barge on the sale of arms and ammunition
we find tho preponderating majority bearing
patronymics that are undoubtedly Teutonic.
The head of the organization known as the
American Humanity League is German
woman who makes no secret of the motives
pseudo-philanthropic pacifsts; for she ex-
pressy declares that "as Germany is bound
to win, is it not better that she should win
in a year or two sooner1"
Tho SNUG complacency with which our
Teutonic friends predict the triumph Of the
central empires is quite in keeping with the
absurd and extravagant claims which their
compatriots at home have been making since
the outbreak Of this conflict, while their at
tempts to put moral" complexion on the
embargo movement Is the most audacious
proposition yet injected into a contest made
horrible and bitter not only by the magni-
tude of It's scope and the frightfulness Of the
methods employed but by the attitude Of
many German Americans who would, as It
were capitalize their citizenship in order TO
pull Germany's chestnuts out Of the fire, In
cidentally deprivng thousands OF men en-
gagged in manufacturing arms and ammuni-
ton of form Of employment which, II a
legitimate form Of industry in times of
peace cannot by any recognized process Of
reasoning be made unlawful now simply be
cause a greater quantity Is needed but il
would appear useless to argue with people
so invincibly and hopelessly prejudiced that
they refer to their brave" soldiers as the
victims Of American munitions, just as III
bravery or heroism were a German trait ex-
If the movement TO stop the sale of arms
and ammunition had been inaugurated while
Germany had several warshps patrolling the
seas, and in a position to harass the Allies
and capture large quantity of the ammuni-
ton which England is obtaining here, the
Neutrality Organization" might be credited
with pursuing a disinterested and even hu
name policy, but as England has practically
put Germany hors de combat as far as naval
engagements are concerned this movement to
place an embargo on the shipment of ammu
milton, although ostensibly started In the
cause of humanity, is in reality attempt
TO overcome the handicap which Germany is
laboring under. It is amazing that people
who claim such large number OF intellect
ual men as belonging TO their race should at
the same time be so wofuly lacking in per
spicac!ty or intuition as to fail utterly TO
realize that a very large proportion OF our
citizens are, by Gods benignity, still in full
possession Of their mental faculties.
1t has been said by way Of extenuating
the atrocities in Belgium that Germany is
Fighting for her life" statement which is
true in a sense, for having violated every
law both human and divine she has made of
herself a pariah among the nations and
holds the unenviable position OF being in
national sense what Biblical character was
in . social sense-his hand against every
man and every mans hand against him"
JOHN JOSEPH ODRISCOLL
New York, June 25, 1915.