The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1917-10-09
New League for National Unity
Obtains Endorsement Of Its
Principles
TALK OF PREMATURE
PEACE IS SEDITIOUS
War in Which We Are Now
Engaged Is Directed Again st
War-Eminent Men Com
pose Patriotic Organization

| Washington, Oct. S.--President Will
son today gave his accord to the
! principles asserted by the organizers
! Of the League for National Unity
( headed by leaders in the church,
! business, professional and labor world
IA large delegation called on him at
the White House today. The preSi-
dent declared that the American peo-
pie will fight by the side Of America =
allies until the war Is victortousiy
concluded.
These are the principles of the
league to which the president sub
scribed:
In an hour when our nation is
fighting for the principles upon which
it was founded, in an hour when free
Institutions and the hopes of human
ity are at stake. we hold it the duty
Of every American to take his pla &C
on the firing line OF public opinion.
1T is not time for old preiudices
or academic discussion as to past diff
ferancas. Those who are not for
America are against America.
"Our cause is Just. We took up the
sword only when international law
and ancient rights were set at .naught
exhausted by persistent deception and
broken pledges
Aims Are UnscIfish.
"0ur aims are explicit, our pur-
pose unspoiled by any selfishness,
We defend the sanctities of life, the
fundarn entail decencies of civilization.
We fight for a Just and durable peace
and that the rule of reason shall be
restored 10 the community OF nations.
'eIn this crisis the unity of the
American people must not be impair
ed by the voices of dissension and
sedition.
Agitation fer a premature pea ca
is seditious when les objects is to
weaken the determination OF America
TO see the war through 10 con-
elusive vindication OF the principles
for which we have taken arms.
serhe war we are waging is war
against war and it's sacrifices must not
be nullifed by any truce or armistice
that means 40 moro than breathing
spell for the enemy
I'VE believe in the wise purpose or
the president not 80 negotiate a, peace
With anv irresponsible and autocratic
dynasty.
I'VE approve the action OF the ma
ttcraY government in dispatching an
evolutionary force to the land of La
favette and Rochambeau. Either we
fight the enemy on foreign SOIL
shoulder to shoulder with comrades in
arms, or we fight on our own soil.
backs against our homes-and alone
we stand With Allies.
while this war lasts. the cause OF
the allies Is our cause, their defeat our
defeat and concert of action and unity
OF splrit between them and us Is essen
tial TO final victory. We, therefore,
deprecate the exaggeration of old ma
tional DISQUALIFICATION stimulated by
German propaganda-and nothing is
more imp rtant than the c1ear under
standing tfiat those who in this pres
ent crisis attack our allies, attack
America.
I'VE are organized in the interests of
a national accord that rises above any
previous division Of party. race, creed
and circumstances.
We believe that this is the critical
and fatefui hour for America and far
civilization. To lose now Is to lose
for MANY generations. The peril Is
great and requires our highest en-
beavers If defeat comes to us
through any weakness, Germany.
whose purposes for world domination
are now revealed. might draw to IT.
self as a magnet does the filings, the
residuum OF world power and this
would affect the standing and the in
dependence OF America
we not only accept but heartily APP
prove the decision reached by the
president and congress of the United
States to declare war against the COM
mon enemy OF the free nations. And
as loyal citizens of the United States
we pledge to the president and the
our undivided support TO,
the very end"
Purposes OF the League.
The purposes OF the league for ma
tiofiaI unity are stated to be:
ITO create a medium through which
the loyal Americans of all classes, sec
tions, ereeds and parties can give ex-
preston to the fundamental purpose of
the United States to carry on to n sue
cessf,'l conclusion this new war for
the in dependence of America and the
~ esert alton of democratic institutions,
and the vindication of the basic prin-
ciples of humanity"
The league completed it's organiza-
ton at meeting in Washington to-
day with the election of the follow
ing officers:
Honorary chairmen. Cardinal Glib
bons and Frank Mason North. of the
Federal council of the Churches of
nFlst IN America, CHAIRMAN, IHeO, /
~ Vail president of the American
Telephone and Telegraph company; !
vice chairman, Samuel Gormpers. |
president of the American Federation /
nf Labor Charles Barrett preSi !
dent of the Farmers education and
Cooperative union. and George Pope |
president of the National Association |
Of Manufacturers: director, Ralph NJ. |
Easley, chairman of the National CIV |
c federation; secretary, ID, L. Cease, |
editor Of the Railway Trainmens Jour- |
1ai; treasurer, Otto II. Kahn, of Kuhn !
Loeb K Co; executive committee, |
lanes NJ. Beck, Warren S. Stone, |
,nief' brotherhood OF Locomotive en-