New Britain herald., 1917-09-15
TRAITORS HIT IN
 SPEECH BY ROOT
PaCidStS and 0bStruCtioniSts AC-
 lively Assist Germany

as it applies to the war.
 Arguments against the war, since We have entered the war, are enemy arguments" he asserted, while the great crowd shouted its approval
 Their spirit is the spirit of rebellion, and the effect is to hinder and lessen popular support. They encourage the enemy"
 MT. Root who appeared on the platform with Samuel Gompers, men, toned no names in his address. The crowd inferred whom he meant at in- tervals, and there were frequent out bursts. The meeting was held under the direction of the Chicago branch of the National Security league.
 In defining the attitude of citizens toward the conduct of the war, and incidentally what constituted being a traitor, Elihu Root said in part:
 '"The declaration of war between the United States and Germany com pletely changed the relations of all the inhabitants of the country to the subject of peace and war.
 Anybody who seeks to stop the ex- ecutlon of the order sending troops to France ard Belgium is simply trying to prevent the American Government from carrying on the war successful ly. He is aiding the enemies of his country, and if he understands what he Is doing he Is traitor at heart
 "It is beyond doubt that many of the professed pacifists, the opponents Of the war after the war has been en- tered upon, the men who are trying to stir up resistance to the draft the men who are melting strikes in the particular branches of production which are necessary for the supply of arms and ammunition of war; are in tentionally seeking to aid Germany and defeat the United States. As time goes on the character of these acts becomes more clearly manifest all who continue to associate with them must come under the same condemna- tion as traitors to their country.
 War of Defense.
 "This is a war of defense. It is per- fectly described in the words of the Constitution which established this na- tion-'to provide for the common de- l fense' and to secure the blessings of l liberty to ourselves and our posterity.' l The national defense demands not 1 merely force, but intelligence. By en- tering this war in April the United l States availcd itself of the very last ] opportunity to defend itself against | subjection to German power before l it was too late to defend itself success fully.
 Before the declaration everybody had a right to discuss whether the United States should carry on war against Germany. But the question of peace or war has now been decided by the president and congress, not sud- denly or rashly, but advisedlys after a long delay and discussion and patience under provocation after repeated diplomatic warnings to Germany, to known the whole country.
 "When such a decision has been made, the duties-and therefore the rights-of all the people of the coun- try immediately change. It becomes their duty to stop discussion upon the question decided and to act, to pro- ceed immediately to do everything in their power to enable the government of their country to succeed in the war upon which the country has entered
 FGC1nStS A1OeS 10 ha1S0r.
 'The men who are speaking and writing and printing arguments against the war now, and against everything that is being done to car ny on the war are rendering more ef- fective service to Germany than they could render in the field. The pur- pose and effect of what they are doing is so plain that it is impossible to re-
 
 part of them are al heart traitors to the United States and willfully seek 1 ing to bring about the triumph of Germany and the humiliation and de- 1 feat of their country.
 'The instinct of the American de- ] mocracy, which led them to act when l it did, arose from a long delayed and l reluctant consciousness still vague l and half-eXpressed, that this is no |, ordinary war which the world Is ! Waging. It is the climax of the su- 1 preme struggle between autocracy l and democracy. If autocracy is de- | feated, the nations are compelled to l recognize the rules of law and of 1 morals; then and then only will de- mocracy be safe.
 "TO this great conflict for human l rights and human liberty America has committed herself. There can be 1 no backward step. There must be | either humiliating and degrading sub- l mission, or glorious victory.'
 Governor Lowden. who had been | scheduled to appear, was unable to | attend on account of the extraordin- ary labor situation at the State Cap 1 itol. He sent this message:
 Springfield is the storm center of 1 Illinois just now, and I must remain l at my post The great majority of | working men here are loyal But sim ] ister influences are at work to in | volVe labor in a hostile attitude to- l ward the government We nuSt seD- |