New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-05-20
Crowds at LuSitania Me
mortal in Resolution De
cry Craven Peace.
FIGHT NOW OR LATER,
PUTNAM'S WARMING
Nation Must Beware if TeutonS
Win-Wilson Attacked-One
Pacifist Ousted from Hall.


one Of them may have been nothing
more than a German sympathizer-in
Carnegie Hall last night.
The paoifst (perhaps) stood up in
the topmost gallery and tried TO con-
vert an address which George Haven
Putnam was delivering into a joint de-
bate. Two ushers made a rapid trip TO
the sidewalk with him. The pacifst for
certain, woman, registered the only
may" when a resolution was offered
calling on the Administration TO throw
America into the world war on the side
. of the Allies.
A mighty chorus Of yeas" carried the
resolution by reclamation. 1t was TO
the following declaration that the au-
dienee. gathered for the Lusitania Me
mortal meeting which the American
Rights Committee had originally called
for May z, and which was postponed
at the suggestion of Mayor Mitchell,
subscribed:
"Since the sinking OF the Lusitanis
the American people have not been. and
could not be, really neutral. A selfish
and short-sighted official neutrality IS
proving more costly TO the nation than
would actual warfare. The unrequlted
death of Of innocent women and chill
dren and the loss Of national honor, are
more 10 be dreaded by great people
than the death of its men fighting IN
defence Of a righteous cause.
Enter Fight Against Might.
eve cannot approve a purely defen
sive foreign policy which has no higher
aim than TO meet each recurring crisis
by temporary eXpedlents designed TO
secure for American citizens grudg-
ing admission Of their individual rights.
We hold that the time has come when
our government should cease dealing
with the mere symptoms OF German
frightfulness. and we now call upon it
70 oppose the whole policy that might
makes right by supporting the Allied
nations in their fight for the defence
of democracy and for the maintenance
Of the fundamental principles Of civili-
zation."
If the audience that subscribed TO
the declaration was not the largest that
Carnegie Hall ever has held, il was not
the least enthusiastic. Its patriotic
fervor manifested itself in cheering
that punctuated each of the speeches.
President Wilson came in for a full!
measure OF criticism. That made by
Major Louis L. Seaman, soldier and war
correspondent, was most severe. but its
reception indicated 10 was not alto
gether unindoTsed.
Wilson Lost Chance for Fame"
Major Seaman told of q communica-
ton written by him in Antwerp in
August. 1914. imploring the President
10 back American protests against
German atrocities in Belgium.
Had he then protested in the name
Of civilization and the Hague tribunal
and made immediate preparations 70
enforce his protest" Major Seaman
said, "his name would have gone down
in history coupled with those of Wash
ington and Lincoln. As it is, the Pres
ident is more likely to be remembered
with DR.. Jekyl and Mr.. Hyde"
81 claim il Is time the United States
should take direct action with England
France and their allies" said Mr. Put
nam. "They have been fighting not
only for themselves, but for us-fght-
ing against the shibboleth Of a divine
state, whose rulers hold they speak
Gods words.
at has been argued we should stay
out of the war 50 We could exert
greater influence for peace when the
time comes But why should the ma
tons at war listen TO a selfish. cow
ardly, neutral outsider? They won't
They'll settle their dispute themselves"
At this point the ambitious debatcr
in the gallery lifted his voice. What
he had to say probably did not reach
even the ears Of his neighbors, for his
first words were drowned BY cries Of
put him outi'
Eight Now or Later"
When the disturber had been re-
moved Mr. Putnam went on:
"lf We don't get into the war now
we'll have TO fight for our lives when il
IL over, should Germany win-and fight
with poorer chance than If we had
joined the Allies. Let us make sure we
shall have friends on the other side in
time Of need. Were we to join France
and England now, our three fleets, our
combined land forces and resources
would keep the peace of the world for
all time"
The Rev. Dr. Randolph II. McKim, of
Washington, Confederate veteran, re-
ferred TO the sinking of the Lusitania
as an infamous crime"
The monsters responsible for the
crime should be punished, from the
blueJacket who launched the torpedo to
the admiral who gave the order and 70
the admirals imperial master who
sanctioned it, he said.
"Will any true man here say we have
done our duty as long as we grasp the
hand that is stained with the blood of
our citizens? The least we can do is to
purge the Republic of all association
with the empire that stands convicted
of that crime before the supreme court
Of civilization"
The declaration was read by James
h. Townsend. of the committee, and
seconded by Lawrence Godkin. Ad-
dresses by Professor Franklin H. Gid
dings, of Columbia University, and Ma
jor Seaman followed It's adoption.