New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-11-27
FORD ARGOSY
OF PEACE MAY
VIOLATE LAW
U. S. Authority Says Act
Might Be Held to Defeat
Government Measures.
LINE OFFICIALS DENY
SHIP is CHARTERED
Governors Send Regrets, Edison
Silent-WOmen Ask Wilson
TO Back Peace Congress.

( II Mr. Ford succeeds in his threat
to wish the warning monarchs OF hu-
rome merry Christmas by hauling
their embatted legions from the
trenches and sending them all home
with strict instructions never to come
back. he may fnd on his return to the
United States an indictment involving
a five-year sentence at Atlanta awaiting
him instead Of the olive crown.
Not only the man who made the
jitney possible. but every one asso-
ciated with him in his proposed con-
quest Of Europe may also lay himself
open to the same indictment.
A high Federal authority in New
York pointed this out yesterday ana
quoted Section Of the United States
Penal Code 20 drive home his point.
To forestall any accusations on the
part Of pacifcists in regard to munl-
tion makers plot 10 thwart the auto
mobile makers project, It may be well
to state that the above mentioned sec
tion was passed By Congress in iIsS
at the time Of the \. !. Z. negotla-
tions.
II Mr.. Ford still persists in his de-
termination 70 rush In where the
United States government has feared
70 tread, and turns the Oscar II, with
her load Of pacfcism toward the bat
.lefelds Of the Old World. he will be
obliged TO avoid the following porten-
tous warning:
Five Years and $1,000.
Probably his co-apostlc, hr. Bryan,
alone has sufficient lung capacity to do
Justice 70 its punctuation, but here
it is!
every citizen Of the United States,
whether actually resident or abiding
within the same. or in any place sub
iect TO the jurisdiction thereof. or in
any foreign country who, without the
permission or authority Of the govern
ment. directly or indirectly. commences
or carries on any verbal or written
correspondence or intercourse with
any foreign government or anv officer
or agent thereof. with an intent to
influence the measures or conduct Of
any foreign government or officer or
agent thereof in relation to any dis
putes or controversies with the United
States, or 10 defeat the measures
Of the government Of the United
States, and every person, being a citi-
zen of or resident within the iurisdic-
ton Of the United States or in any
place subject to the jurisdiction there
Of. and not duly authorized, who coun-
sells. advise. or assists in any such cor
respondence with such intent, shall be
fined not more than $4,000 and impris-
oneG not more than five years, but
nothing in this section shall be con-
strued TO abridge the right Of a citi-
zen to apply. himself or his agent, to
any foreign government or the agents
thereof for redress Of an injury which
he nav have sustained from such gov
ernment or any of It's agents or sub
iects."
Deny Liner Is Chartered.
II may be that Mr.. Ford will plead
that the continuation of the present
war without his sanction is an injury
sustained by him. A lawyer well versed
in Federal statutes said yesterday that
the government might well take the
stand that. inasmuch as the President
will 1ot attempt 20 end the war or do
ANYTHING toward that end until the ma
tions concerned request his friendly
oficec Mr.. Ford may be said to intend
"to defeat the measures OF the govern
ment Of the United States" by his pro-
posed action.
"If ! were Mr.. Ford should proceed
very slowly" said the Tribune's in
formant
This morning the runner-up TO Mr..
BRYAN folded up his plan for world
peace and slipped away from the city
TO Washington and Baltimore, taking it
and mis- secretary, Louis Z. Lochner,
with him. He had scarcely left when
the officials of the scandinavian Amer
lean Line spoke up loud and clear, de-
nving that the Oscar ii had been char
tered by the automobile maker. In
fact. several passengers not connected
with the threatened abolition Of war
Continued on page 4. column