The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1917-09-15
ALLEN ASKS IF
GERMAN MONEY
BACKED LEAGUE

| BACKED LEAGUE
The Jury In the WeiIsssd-
ierRlee.rlslermsn sedltlon case
wss instructed Saturday. morn
Ing TO disregard statements by
U. s. District Attorney Allen
intlratInu that the American
Union Against MlIltarism and
tho ko-consorIptlon league
were financed by German
money.
The courts ruling followed after
a hot exchange OF questions and
answers between Allen and James
Duncan. secretary Of the Central
Labor Council. and after Attorney
Vandoryeer for the defense at
7 tempted 20 present 10 the jury a
list OF the executive committee Of
the anti.militarist organization.
headed by Jane Adams. DIR. David
Starr Jordan, Prof Scott Nearing
and others.
Tells OF early Plan
Duncan had testified that the
mo CONSUMPTION" league was the
outgrowth OF the American Union
Against Militarism. which was es-
iabllEhed long before the war be
gan. At meeting ~ the Seattle
branch OF this organization In the
Good Eats cafeteria last spring.
Hulet ~ Wells. one OF the defend
ants. and Duncan were present
when the question OF preparing an
anti-conscflprion circular came up.
Wells, according 20 Duncan. was
asked 10 act on committee 10
prepare the document, but declined.
lie agreed. however. TO arrange for
the printing Of Il. said Duncan.
This occurred before the conBcrip-
ton law was passed.
Copies OF various pamphlets.
books. and general literature OF the
American Union Against Militarism
we're offered by Attorney Wander
veer in evidence this morning. but
we're not allowed by Judge Netercr.
Council Opposed Draft
Duncan WIS called as witness
by the government 10 show that
the Central Labor Council dele.
gates 10 n meeting In the Epler
building Friday. May II. were there
for the purpose Of discussing the
high cost OF living and not the con.
scription law.
Defense Attorney vanderveer.
however. also showed. thru Duncan.
tina, the labor council had voted
against the conscription law and
asked for its repeal. and that the
state labor federation's executive
committee passed similar resolu.
tons.
vanderveer also asked Duncan 10
dcacribe the meetings OF the anti.
mllltarist union 10 show what led
up 20 the distribution of the mo
conscription" circular. upon which
the charges OF sedition aud con.
apiracy 20 use the mails Illegally
we're brought against the defend.
ants.
Denies German Charge
In ro-exsmlning Duncan. L. 8. At.
torney Allen asked him IL Il wasn't
true that German money was be.
hind the anti.militarist union.
Duncan houy denied Il.
The people with whom we met. "
he almost shouted. were loyal
Americans
He said there were 30 TO 40 pres
ent at the meeting when the no
conecription" circular was dis.
cussed. Ho named Miss Anna
Strong. member OF the school
board. and DR. Sydney Strong. pas
tor OF the Queen Anne Congregation.
al church. among those present.
Allen drew from him the fact
that the league has had several OFF.
ferent names
stops German Talk
THE objects OF the league and
those of enemy Germans are the
same. are they notT" demanded
Allen.
They are not" stoutly main.
tanned Duncan. Our object is to
maintain whatever liberty and
democracy we can"
Upon vanderveer's objection. fur
ther questioning along this line
was stopped. When he attempted
10 have the names OF Jane Adams
and others shown as head OF the
league. the Judge overruled him.
and instructed the Jury to disre-
Esrd the charges OF German money
and German influence.
U. 8. sleuth Tesslfies
Secret Service Agent A. 4.
Strange then testified that he ar.
rested r. q. Rice when he caught
him with copies OF the mo con-
scription" circular.
He said Rice told him he thought
they we're all right and that there
was nothing wrong about distrib.
utlng them lie only circulated a
few. he said.
On cross-examination by Wander
veer. Strange admitted that the ar
rest was made two days before the
CONSUMPTION act became n law.
c. NJ. Welty. an electrical work
er. was the chief witness for the
government Friday afternoon. lie
said he was originally opposed TO
the war and TO the conscription act.
But after the Z. s entered the war
and the draft law was enacted. he
laid aside his own views. He
therefore objected TO the circula-
tion OF the mo conscription" cir
oulars. he said, when the matter
came up at a meeting in the Epler
block. where he had gone to confer
on the higher cost of living.
On cross-examination, he admit
ted that he voted for the resolution
OF the labor council to repeal the
CONSUMPTION law. He also declared
that the meeting In the Epler build.
Ing was not secret and that he was