TaÌˆgliche Omaha tribuÌˆne. [volume] (Omaha, Nebr.) 1912-1926, 1916-02-25


full business. Il has become a truism
the type Of man whose last refuge
is patriotism, But just now patriot
ism appears to be profitable.
The Fatherland, during the last
year. has successfully exposed a
good many sham patriots. There
was Colonel Thompson, for instance,
with his scandalous Navy League,
The Colonel was loud in his as
s~everations Of patriotism, But on
analysis. they proved faulty.
Thu F~atherland showed that Col
onel Thompson personally was a
sorry patriot; that he had been
found guilty and fined in the Federal
Courts for violation of the Sherman
Law; that he was chairman of a
company known in Wall Street to be
making huge profits from munitions
manufacturers; finally, that his
precious child, the Navy League,
was backed by Morgan and his Wall
Street munitions group,
Since then the Colonel has sub
sided. Very little has since been
heard of the Navy League. 1t has
been discredited from one end Of
the country to the other.
Similar was the fate OF the
National Security League, founded
by the same interests and managed
on the same lines.
There was in existence at the time
a third patriotic organization, the
American Defense Society-then a
small and struggling body, not sup
piled with the generous donations
that flowed so abundantly into the
Golfers of the Navy League and the
National Security League, from Wal
Street bankers interested in the
Steel Trust and the manufacture oil
munitions.
A month ago, | received a letter
from the Chairman Of the Board Of
Trustees of the American Defense
Society, couched in cordial phrases
inviting me to join the Board of this
Society Of Patriots.
| hesitated a moment for profes-
sional patriotism is distasteful to me
But as a strong believer in the
National Defense, / communicated
with the officers OF. the Society
Several letters passed between us
| set some Investigations afoot
Then | made some amazing dis
coveries.
/ learned that t.sis Society, which
so loudly wants its American
patriotism, is no, an American Soci
ETY. at all. That its Committee or
Publicity is acknowledg ! TO be pro.
Ally. That, like the British patro
boat, Baralong, it also Il a pro-Brit
ish craft, sailing under a false flag
That it is not carrying on a cam,
paign for the National Defense, bur
a campaign on behalf of Britain anc
her Allies.
/ found that its Advisory Boarc
was composed of men who for tht
most part we're dangerous advisers
Among them were hrebrands, who
were savagely attacking II President
while seeking to involve this country
in Europe's war on England's side
| found that munitions makers were
among them, and lastly two vice
presidents of the notorious Nav
League, the Legitimate offspring o.
Morgan and his Wall Street group.
| am, therefore, compelled to re.
fusefthe courteous offer of the Amer.
lean Defense Society. / cannor
identify myself 18th an organization
sailing under false colors. AND it j!
my painful duty to warn the Amer
ie public against this creature O.
the English propaganda.
And ! also advise the American
Defense craft to haul down til,
American flag under which it il
sailing, and run up its true colors
the pirate ensign of Britain.