The Lancaster news. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1905-current, 1917-10-12
WAR We ARE WAG|NG
IS WAR AGAINST WAN
MIR. WILSON SPEAKS
PUBLIC OPINION.
League for National Uni
Makes Declaration of It's
Principles.

movement 10 lead and express puI
lie opinion on the war was inaugu1
ated here today by formation of "a
League for National Unity, repr9f
senting church, political, labor, agr1
cultural and industrial organizst
tions, to which President Wilso.
gave his Endorsement in an addreS}
emphasizing the need for team pla
by the forces of American though /
and work.
Welcoming the leaders of th, /
movement at the White House in
brief speech, the president express
ed the belief that American publfI
opinion, although understanding thsI
wars causes and principles, need,I
guidance to membership that thtI
war should end only when GermanSI
is beaten and Germanys rule of au I
tocracy and might is superseded byI
the ideal of democracy.
Issue Made Clear. Il
This is the issue which the Ameri-I
. can people should always keep irl
mind. the President said. in order id
avoid be'ng mislod into byways oi
thought and of the resultant scat
tering of the force OF public opinionI
Talk of early peace before Germany
/ is defeated is one of the evidences
OF misdirected thought, he suggest
ed. and should not cloud the vision
OF those who understand that the
United States is fighting now for the
same ideals of democracy and free
dom that have always actuated the
nation.
! The President gave warming that
it should not be forgotten that Ger
man success would mean not ooJv
prevention of the spread of democ-
racy' but possibly the suppression
of that already existing.
Cardinal Gibbons Honored.
me league, which Will have head
quarters in New York, chose as hon
orary chairmen Cardinal Gibbons
and DR.. Frank Mason North, presti
dent OF the Federal Council OF
churches, Theodore n. Vail presf-
dent OF the American Telephone and
Telegraph Company, is active chair
man with Samuel Gompers. presi-
dent of the American Federation of
Labor; Charles c. Barrett, president
or the Farmers Educational and Co
operative Union, and George Pope.
president of the National Associa-
ton OF Manufacturers, as vice chair
men. The object was stated as fol-
lows:
TO create a medium throupb
"hlch the loyal Americans of ALI
classes. sections, creeds. parties can
give expression to the fundamentat
purposes of the United States To
carry on to successful conclusion
'his new war for the independence
or America and the preservation of
democratic institutions and the vim
dication of the basic principles of
humanity"
The league plans an active cam.
paign to educate Americans in the
idea that unity OF thought and pur-
pose is as essential to successfuf
prosecution of the war as co-opera-
ton in material proportions. Con-
ferences of leaders in the numerous
organizations represented will be-
held frequently, statements of prin-
ciple formulated and attempts wilf
be made to direct public thought
through the mediums of the pulpit
press, public platform and many
kinds of public. semi-public and
private organizations.
Serves Double Purpose.
The league will seek suggestions
of the individuals and small units
OF forces united in the organization
in the formulation of statements of
principles. Thus 1t is designed to
serve the double purpose of being a
definite means of expressing public
thought and of disseminating this
thought through the component or
ganizations.
The inclusive character of body h,
indicated by the officers chosen. IN
addition to those named the direc-
tor is Ralph NJ Easley, chairman of
the National Civic Federation; the