Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-10-09
PRESIDENT WARNS
AGAINST DANGER
OF EARLY PEACE
Such Talk, He Says, Is One
OF Evidences of Misdi-
rected Thought.
WAR SHOULD END ONLY
WHEN GERMANY is BEATEN
League for National Unity Form
ed to Lead and Express Amer
lean Public Opinion.
WILSON INDoRsEs MOVEMENT
active Campaign Planned to Carry
Out Declaration of Princi-
ples rs Adopted.
WILSON INDoRsEs MOVEMENT
tBy Annotated Press.1


WASHINGTON, October s.-An e.-
'ehs'Ve movement to lead and express
pubic opinion on the war was inauEu-
rated nero to-day by formation OF the
League for National Unity. represent
Ing church. political. labor. agricultural
ana industrial organizations. to which
fresident Wilson gave his Endorsement
IN an address emphasizing the need
Ior team play by tho forces of Amer
lean thought and opinion.
welcoming the leaders of the move
ment at the White House In a brief
speech. the President expressed the be-
het that American public opinion, al
though understanding the wars causes
and principles. needs guidance to re-
member that the war should end only
when Germany Is beaten and Ger
many's rule OF autocracy and might
are superseded by the ideals of democ-
racy.
This is the issue which the Amer
lean people should always keep In
mind. the President said. in order to
avoid being misled into byways OF
thought and OF the resultant scatter
Ing. OF tho force of public opinion
Talk of early peace before Germany
is defeated is one of the evidences of
misdirected thought. he suggested. and
should not cloud the vision of those
who understand that the United States
is hEhtinE now for the same ideals of
democracy and freedom that have al
ways actuated the nation.
The President gave warning that Il
should not be forgotten that German
succs would mean. not only preven-
tlon of the spread OF democracy, but
possibly the suppression OF that already
existing.
MANY PROMINENT MEN
NAMED AS OFFICERS
The league, which will have head
quarters in New York. chose as hon
orary chairmen Cardinal Gibbons and
DIR. Frank Mason North. president OF
the Federal Council of Churches
Theodore n. Vail. president Of the
American Telephone and Telegraph
Company. is active chairman. with
Samuel Gompers. president of tho
American Federation OF Labor; Charles
Barrett president of the Farmers Edu-
cational and COOPERATIVE Union, and
George Pope. president of the National
Association of manufacturers, vice
chairmen. The object was stated as
follows:
ITO create a medium through which
the loyal Americans of all classes. Sec
tions. creeds and parties can give ex-
preston to the fundamental purpose
of the United States to carry on to a
successful conclusion this new war for
the independence OF America and the
preservation of democratic institutions
and the vindication of the basic princi-
Piles of humanity"
The league plans An active campaign
to educate Americans in the idea that
unity OF thought and purpose is as
essential to successful prosecution OF
the war as cooperation in material
preparations. Conferences of leaders
In the numerous organizations repre-
sented will be held frequently. state
ments Of principle formulated and at
tempts will be made to direct public
thought through the mediums of the
pulpit, press. public platform and many
kinds of public. semi-public and pri-
vate organizations.
DECLARATION OF PRINCIPLES
ADOPTED BY CONFERENCE
The conference adopted the follow
ing declaration Of principles:
I'm an hour when our nation is fight
ing for tho principles upon which it
was founded. in an hour when free in
stitutions and the hopes Of humanity
arc at stake. we hold it the duty Of
every American to take his place on
the firing line of public opinion.
ut is not a time for old prejudices
or academic discussion rs to past diff
ferences Those who are not now 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
and when our forbearance had been
exhausted by persistent deception and
broken pledges.
"Our aims are explicit, our purposes
unsoiled by any selfshness. We de-
fend the sanctities of life. the funda-
.ental decencies OF civilization. We
fight for just and durable peace and
mat the rule Of reason shall be re-
stored to the community of nations.
I'm this crisis the unity OF the
American people must not be impaired
q by the voices of dissension or sedition.
Agitation for a premature peace is
seditious when its object is to weaken
the determination of America to see
the war through to a conclusive vim
dicatlon Of the principles for which we
have taken arms
1.-THE war we are waging is a war
against war, and its sacrifices must not
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