Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1917-07-12
Certain Professors of State
University as Well as ''Con-
spiCuous Leaders, Of Luth-
eran Sect Accused.
SUBSCRIBERS TO LOAN
THREATENED, is CHARGE
Sale of War Bonds Opposed
and Red Cross Work Has
Met With Antagonism, As
sertS Statement.

Lincoln, Neb., July 1.-THE con
spicuous leaders" of the Lutheran
church in the state and certain pro-
fessors' of the University of Nebras-
ka were denounced for "treasonable
utterances, disloyal activity and pas
sivity that has tended to give aid to
Germany, an enemy" In a statement
issued today by the Nebraska state
council of defense, after the most
solemn and serious investigation and
consideration" The statement. 1t is
explained, is based upon reports FROM
every section of the state and upon
hundreds of letters from patriotic
men. many of whom declare they
have lost thousands of dollars because
they would not "tamely submit to
pro-German influences"
Specifically it is charged that bank
ers who invested in liberty loan bonds
were threatened with withdrawal of
deposits: that the sale of war bonds
has been actively opposed that Red
Cross relief work has met with an
alarming antagonism; that the
Lutheran church has failed to take
single step toward organizing for
war relief work and it's conspicuous
representatives have shown marked
partiaiity for the German cause; that
certain professors at Nebraska uni
versity have been guilty Of disloyal
utterances: and that there are COM
munities where the purpose of this
war is not understood and where the
sympathies of the people are with
Germany.
Names Not Made Public.
The names Of men against whom
the charges are made were not made
public but George Coupland, vice
chairman of the council of defense
and head of the food conservation di-
vision of the council, said conditions
became such that the council could
no longer repress the bitterness 1t
felt" He said ample evidence to
warrant its assertions had been OBJ
tanned ny the COulclts
Prominent Lutheran churchmen
mere said the council should have
confined its denunciation to German
Iutherans," and asserted there was
no cause to question their loyalty.
German Lutherans who are alleged
to be in sympathy with Germany,
would not discuss the charges
Chancellor Samuel Avery of the
University of Nebraska, who has
been very active in patriotic relief
work and has even taken part in the
campaign for recruits, would not be
quoted, but 1t is known he has strong
ly disapproved number of professors
whose pro-German utterances have
caused dissensions at the university.
Some time ago students protested
some of their professors were saying,
"this Is not our war and We will not
fight because we do not know what
IT is all about" When complaint was
made to Chancellor Avery, 1t, Is un-
derstood there were some conferences
with professors at which the chan
cellor, who was then urging the stu
dents to enlist, let 1t be known in en-
phatic language such doctrines must
not be heard in university classrooms.
statement as to Churchmen.
Half the male students at the uni
yersity of Nebraska have either en-
listed in some branch of the service
or have volunteered and been accept
ed for work on farms in the central
west. Three university professors en-
listed.
Referring to disloyalty. the council
of defense in its statement says:
"Perhaps never in history has 1t
been deemed necessary by a public
body to single out by name great
church or organization and appeal to
the patriotism of its members to off
set and check the dangerous tenden-
cies of many Of the conspicuous rep
resentatives of that organization Be-
cause OF the reliable reports that may
be said to come from every section OF
Nebraska-and come in number by
the hundreds-it is necessary that the
council make such an appeal for the
respect to the organization known as
the Lutheran church.
Appeals to Patriotic Members.
Depending upon the. American
patriotism of the men and women
who comprise the Lutheran church
membership, the council makes this
appeal to them to put check upon
the un-American activities of some of
their conspicuous and influential rep
resentatives. The council could not
wait until great damage Is done be-
fore making its protest. Perfectly
aware that its protest Is unusual but
conscious of the absolute necessity Of