New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-02-02
Anti Preparedness The.
cries Get Warlike Recep-
ton at Hotel McAlpin
JEERS AND LAUGHS
INTERRUPT LAWYER
Praise for Kaiser Causes
Members to Quit Room
in Indignation

The pacifst theories OF Winter Rus
sell, lawyer, Of "A Broadway, and a
member OF the Neutrality-suspicious. League
and the American Union Against Mill
tarism, got an exceedingly varlike re.
ception when he tried to expound them
70 two Hundred members Of the Rotary
Club, Of New York, at luncheon in
the Hotel McAlpin yesterday.
Russell's statements aroused a storm
Of disapproval and protest. He was con-
staatly interrupted by laughs and half
smothered ieers, and before he was half
through nearly half the Rotarians had
stamped furiousIy from the room and
we're holding indignation meetings in
the corridors. He finally sat down TO a
faint ripple Of applause
Quotation Puzzles Club
The luncheon programme said that
Russell would talk on Compulsory
Military Training" and IL took several
minutes for members Of the club TO dis
cover Just what line of argument he
vas taking. Little doubt was left in
their minds when he quoted Major Cen
eral Organ, Of the New York National
Guard, as saying, in a recent speech:
The American boy is too democratic
when he leaves high school. We can get
him IN the National Guard under the
new military laws, and when We do
we'll show him what's what. Wen give
him military discipline and teach him
his place
No one Of the members Of the Rotary
Club had ever heard General Organ
make that statement, and a careful
search Of the files and clippings IN The
Tribune Office failed TO show that he ever
made a speech OF that character. Ro-
tsrlans all over the room began shift
eng uEcasily in their seats, with looks
OF blank amazement on their faces, and
several laughed and jeered
The military training laws OF New
York. said Russell, impose a condi-
ton OF involuntary servItude on every
American citizen and every American
boy in this state. They violate the Fed
eral Constitution and prevent our citl-
Gems from enjoying life, liberty and the
pursuit Of happiness.
The preparedness movement is the
work Of well organized and well sub
sidized press. The European war has
shown that invasion by sea is impossi
Bile. We can protect our coasts from
Florida 20 Labrador and from Panama
10 the Bering Sea for the cost Of one
Of the battleships now being con-
structed.
Exodus Followed This
Two years ago America was rejoic-
ing that we had never been a military
nation and a menace TO other countries.
But now we are hugging 20 our bosom
the spirit which we enormously believe
20 be that Of the Kaiser, and that spirit
is written into the military laws Of this
state
This caused an immediate exodus
from the room led by Captain Charles
J. Dieges. Of the 22d Regiment Of En-
gineers, New York National Guard, who
is q member of the Rotary Club. Cap
tain Dieges suddenly rose angrily TO his
feet and pushed his chair sharply back
against the table.
Come on" he cried. I've can't lis
ten 70 that.
he started from the room, and men
began rising and stamping out from all
parts of the hall. Most OF those VINO
remained leaped 70 their feet as soon
as Russell sat down, and ran toward
the speakers platform. Mr. Van Am
burgh was the first TO reach Russell,
and what he said was backed up by
score of others who crowded around
the pacllIst