New-York tribune., 1917-10-31

But they were all financed in largest
part from the same sources. controlled
by the same men and possessed OF the
same aims. Chief among them were
the American Truth Society, the Amer
lean Independence Union. the Ameri-
can Humanity League. the American
Women of German Descent. the Amer
lean Fair Play Society, the Continental
League. the German-American ALI
ance of Greater New York md the
United Austrian and Hungarian-Amer-
lean societies.
"In June, 1915, Henry Weismann. OF
Brooklyn, president of the German
American National Alliance of New
York. and Albert Sander, confessed
German spy. now serving a two-year
sentence in the Atlanta penitentiary,
combined all these other organizations
into a federated society called the
Friends of Peace. This federated So
ciety took Offices at $50 Nassau Street
after Victor Ridder had sent letter
to the agents of the building, written
on the letter-head of the 'Staats-HeIt-
tung," stating that Sander was a mem
Der of the 'Staats-Zeitung' staff and
would make good tenant
"On the 9th of May the Lusitania was
loss of la American lives.
"On the 18th day Of August. 1915. the
Arabic was sunk, with the loss Of three
American lives.
"On the 20th day OF August. 1915. the
Friends Of Peace sent out broadcast
letters to members of the subsidiary
societies and to pro-Germans generally.
calling a convention to be held in Chi
cago during the first week OF Septem-
Der. The real purpose Of this conven-
ton was to protest against the exporta-
tion of arms and supplies.
Cheered Hesperian's Loss
THE convention was held. John
Brisben Walker. the vitriolic critic OF
President Wilson. was made permanent
| chairman, and Herman B. Ridder, OF
the 'Staats-Zeitung,' of New York, was
appointed on the committee TO assist
him. The most significant fact recorded
concerning this convention is that
| Henry Weismann read a bulletin 20 the
convention announcing the sinking Of
/ the American liner Hesperan. The bull
letin which Mr.. Weismaun read err
roncously stated that hundreds OF lives
! had been lost. and this announcement
/ the convention greeted with cheers.
| "ln the period between the sending
I Of the letter calling the convention and
! the convention itself there was a meet
I ing OF the Friends of Peace here in
Z New York City on August 26, 1915. IN
Maennerchor Hall. 203 Fast Fifty-sixth
| street, which was attended BY 80
members. At this meeting Theodore
| Su'ro, at that time president and edi-
! tor Of Hearst's 'Deutsches Journal an
nounced the receipt of letter from
| William Randolph Hearst stating that
he would do all in his power to aid the
| society. and Henry Weismann. who
presided. declared that the Hearst
/ newspapers we're at tho command of
! the organization. 4 motion was made
1 by Bernard Ridder. and unanimously
adopted. that letter Of thanks be
written TO Mr. Hearst for his editori-
ais in support OF the cause for which
the organization stood. and Mr.. Weis-
mann added:
"'Mr. Riddcr has risen 70 the sub
limest heights Of manhood in making
this motion al this time. This means
/ that Mr.. llearst's newspapers. which
speak every day. viii be at your COM
mand. Tho sun breaks through the
clouds at last
More Proof of Hearst's Interest
"If any additional proof we're needed
OF Nr. IIearst's interest in tsis organ
ization. II is supplied hy the fact that
when Sander. the reht-hand man Of
the societys president. was arrested. he
confessed to the United States District
Attorneys Office that he was en-
ployed as dramatic critic on Hearst's
'DeutSches Journal This fact Sander
confessed when arraigned In the United
states District Court on the complaint
/ of the Secret Service.
You may naturally wonder what all
this has 10 do with the candidacy OF
Judge Hylan. Circumstantially my an
swer is that Hearst was interested in
the Friends of Peace. and Is now des-
perately determined to make Judge Hy-
Ian Mayor or New York. This in itself
is enough. bat am not yet through.
"This shec. that | show you is an
enlarged copy OF the letterhead upon
which the Friends OF Peace on August
90. 1915. sent out the call for the CON
vention in Chicago. At the top IN the
upper lefthand corner is the list Of the
disloysl societies which comprised the
Friends Of Peace
First is the American Truth Society,
OF which jeremiah O'Lesry Is founder
and nra.idcDt One Of Lss nsrDhlsts