New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-12-30
ContemptibIe Munitions Plotters.

Dumba has gone; Won Papen has gone
They were immune from prosecution I'M
der our laws for the interference with
industry and the Indictment to disorder
which they inspired with a view to check
ing the legitimate traffic in munitions car
ried on between American citizens and
agents of the Allied governments. Won
Papen informed Dumba-so the latter
wrote to the Austro-Hungarian Foreign
Ofice-that it was worth while from the
military point of view to cripple the Beth
lehem Steel Company's pint and the mu-
nitions plants of the Middle West by inclt-
ing alien workers to strike or walk out
and theoretically to commit acts OF sabot-
age.
These higher-up fomenters Of disor-
der have been disciplined in the only way
in which they could be disciplined. Now
we are beginning to call to account the
despicable agents-many Of them Ameri-
can citizens--who cooperated in bush
whacking American manufacturers to
serve the Teutonic military interests. The
list of those just indicted by Federal
grand jury in this city contains one alien
conspirator, Franz Rintelen, who was
merely doing the dangerous work which
his government sent him here to do. His
motives NAV be to some extent respected;
they were at least patriotic. But the others
have no such excuse. They are all Ameri-
cans, all professional or semi-professional
bushwhackers of industry, who enlisted IN
German service only for what was III 1t
for themselves.
The promoters of Labor's National
Peace Council had no patriotic or other
sentimental weaknesses. They would
have worked as gladly against Germany
as for Germany. As a matter Of fact,
what they did to interfere with the mu-
nitions plants was purely incidental to
their main purpose Of absorbing as large
a percentage as possible of the credulous
Rintelen's 100000 strike promotion fund.
David Lamar, the ex"Wof of Wall
Street" was the originator Of the noto-
rious Antitrust League. which used to
operate in the Hobbies Of Washington. Its
sympathy with the cause Of labor was just
as mercenary as was its sympathy, when
converted into Labor's National Peace
Council. with the cause Of pro-German
neutrality In playing Germany's game
it was not even moved by desire to IN
crease the wages Of the workers in the
munitions factories by melting strikes
and hold-ups.
The munitions workers were able to take
care of themselves they did take care Of
themselves in most cases. The Peace
Council was after dividends. whatever
labor got or Germany got. 1t was per-
fectlv willing to become itself a violator
of the antitrust law in .he pursuance or
the laudable ambition to keep Rintelen',
gold in circulation in antitrust channels.
For these contemplate go-betweens in
the conspiracy to suppress the munitions
traffic no possible sympathy can be felt.
They were not even sincere and loyal con-
spirators. The spirit in which they oper-
ated was far baser than that of the mis-
guided hyphenates here who have con-
sciousy put Germany's interest above any
duty they owe TO our laws and our neutral
status. Only scorn can be their portion,
whether or not they escape conviction on
the charges on which they have been held.