Omaha daily bee., 1917-07-12

be accepted by some with the serious.
ness to which they are entitled. 1t is
however, necessary to give the warn
ing and to solemnly appeal to all pa.
triotic men and women to bestir
themselves in order that Nebraska
may be put in fighting trim for Amer.
ica.
'For the reason that the seriousness
Of this situation has forced itself up.
on the council and that it has no other
concern than that involving the best
interests of Nebraska and the United
States, the council speaks with per-
feet frankness with respect to serious
evils that can only be cured by a
thoroughly aroused American senti-
ment. To this end and in this spirit
the council takes the liberty OF ignor-
ing all precedents and refusing to be
controlled by an indisposition, natural
among thoughtful men, to do the tn-
usual. But She war in which we are
engaged is unusual and efforts in
honest support of that war must be
unusual, too. The council refuses,
therefore. to temporize with serious
situations involving the welfare of the
country.
"The University OF Nebraska is a
patriotic institution. Its efficient chan
cellor and most of its capable faculty
are working zcalously for Americas s
welfare and so general has become
their cooperation with the council
that the university has come to be
practically an adjunct OF this organ
ization. But several professors OF the
state university have so persistently
given encouragement, publicly and
privately, to those who are out OF
harmony with the American cause
that the council deems it necessary
and proper to publicly register protest
against these practices. II is not fair
to the parents who send their boys
to the front, nor to the boys them
selves, that men OF commanding in
fuence in educational or other circles
shall be permitted to cultivate senti-
ments that are detrimental to the
cause for which the boys fight. When
all the energy and genius OF the busi-
ness and agricultural interests OF the
state are being employed for the
protection of food supplies it is not
fair that conspicuous and influential
and, presumably, law-abiding men
shall preach doctrines that may en-
courage the vicious and the lawless
to acts OF violence.
Appeals to Church.
perhaps never in history has it
been deemed necessary by public
body to single out by name a great
church 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 All appeal with
respect to the organization known as
the Lutheran church. The conspicu-
Gus representatives Of that church
have very generally, and it may be
said almost universally, refused to CO.
operate with any OF the several eff
forts made by patriotic citizens for
the support of the government On
the contrary, they have, very gener-
ally, publicly and privately, diseour-
aged the American cause, and have
shown marked partiality for the cause
of Americas enemy.
Depending upon the American pa
triotism OF the men and women who
comprise the Lutheran church men,
bership, the council makes this ap-
peal to them to put check upon the
activities OF some OF
their conspicuous and influential rep
The council could wait
until great damage has been done
from this source before making its
protest. Perfectly aware that its pro-
test is unusual. but conscious OF the
absolute necessity for such protest,
the council makes that protest now in
order that American interests may
be faithfully protected. Confident
that 1t is useless to make further ap-
peal to the conspicuous representa-
tives OF that church, the council ad-
dresses its appeal to the rank and file
Of the church membership, and here
by calls upon that membership to
make known, on behalf of the Luth-
eran church, devotion to America
the country that gives 1t protection
and religious liberty.
an the discharge OF its duty to
America. the Nebraska State Council
81 Defense intends to employ its
power and authority to the limit in
The effort TO suppress in Nebraska
any interference with the determina-
tion to push this war to speedy and
successful conclusion. 1t will strive
to put down every attempt to handi-
cap or embarrass or discourage those
who, grateful for the blessings they
Enjoy IS American citizens, are try
ing to repay, at this critical time, the
great debt they owe. To this end, we
appeal 10 every patriotic man and wo-
man in Nebraska. regardless of birth
or ancestry. (Signed),
|a(1AhN AAS w ANiNSt
Acting Governor;
ROBERT M. JOYCE,
GEORGE COUpLAND.
GEORGE II. HARRIES,
RICHARD L. METCALFE,
GEORGE o. BROPHY,
DR.. Z. o. WEBER,
SARKA B. HRBKOVA,
CHARLES A McCLOUD,
GEORGE Z. JOHNSON,
T. p. REYNOLDS,
P. L. HALL, Jr.,
Adjutant General.
NEBRASKA STATE. CO(INCII.