Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1917-07-12
ACCUSE LUTHERANS /,
OF D|SLOYALA ACTS
Leaders of Nebraska Defense
Council Charge Church With
"Anti-War Activities"
UNIVERSITY MEN INVOLVED

LINCOLN. Neb.. July 13.-Anti-war
activities in Nebraska. which, IN the
opinion OF tho state council OF defense.
tend to give aid and comfort to Ger
many. have been disclosed by the
council. in q statement It has issued.
charging leaders OF the Lutheran
Church and certain professors In tho
state university with Unreasonable ut
terances and disloyal activities"
The statement, It is explained. was
issued only after ~the most solemn and
serious Investigation and considera-
ton" and IL based upon reports from
every section of the state and upon
hundreds of letters from patriotic men.
thousands of dollars because they
would not "tamely submit to pro-
German influences"
Specifically 1t is charged that bankers
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
theran Church has failed to take a
single step toward organizing for war
relief work and Its Conspicuous repre-
sasy feT the ae German eauss ssa.
tain professors at Nebraska University
have been guilty Of disloyal utterances.
and that there are communities where
the sympathies OF the people are with
Germany.
Names Not Made Public.
The names Of tho men accused were
not made public, but George Coupland.
vice chairman Of the council OF defense
and head OF the food conservation d.
vision Of the council said: Conditions
became such that tho council could no
longer repreas the bitterness It felt"
He said ample evidence to warrant its
assertions had been obtained. Promi-
mont Lutheran churchmen here said the
council should have confined its denun-
citation to German Lutherans. and as
sorted there was no cause to question
their loyalty. German Lutherans who
were alleged to be in sympathy with
Germany would not discuss the charged.
Chancellor Samuel Avery of the Unit
versity OF Nebraska, who has been very
active in patriotic relief work and has
taken part in the campaign for recruits.
would not be quoted. but Il IL known
he has strongly disavowed utterances
Of several professors whose pro-German
| remarks have caused dissensions at the
university. Some time ago students
were saying: This is not our war and
we will not fight because we do not
know what 1t is all about" When coin
plant was made to Chancellor Avery.
It is understood there were some COM
ferences with professors, at which the
chancellor, who was then urging the
! students to enlist, let 1t be known in
emphatic language such doctrines must
| not be hoard In university classroorps
Half the male students at the Uni
versity Of Nebraska have either enlisted
In some branch Of the service or have
| volunteered and been accepted for work
on farms in the central west Three
university professors enlisted
Defense Councils Statement.
Referring to disloya1 Lutherans, the
council Of defense in its statement
says:
Perhaps never in history has It been
deemed necessary by public body to
organization and appeal to the patriot
ism of its members to Offset and check
the dangerous tendencies of many of
organization. Because of the reliable
| reports that may be eaid to come from
| every section Of Nebraska-and come
in number by the hundreds-it is neces-
| peal with respect to the organization
known as the Lutheran Church
| Depending upon the American pa
tr1otfsm Of the mon and women who
ship. the council makes this appeal to
them to put a check upon the un-Amer-
lean activities OF some of their con-
| spfcuous and influential representa-
| lVos. tno COUNCIL cOulo not wait until
great damage is done before making
| its protest
Says Protest Is Necessary.
Perfectly aware that its protest is
! unusual, but conscious of the absolute
necessity Of such a protest, the council
makes that protest now, in order that
American interests may be faithfully
protected"
| The council declares 1t will use all
It's power and authority to suppress in
Nebraska any Interference with the de-
termination to push this war to a
speedy and successful conclusion"
| NJ i'm mn DnIn Tn nlrg -: