Bisbee daily review., 1917-07-12
DISL0YALTY CHARGED NEBRASKA CHURCHMEM
 AND COLLEGE iPR0FS'
Action of Pedagogues at Uni versity Brings Scathing De- nunciation From State Council of Defense.
fRy Review Leased wire)


 LINCOLN, Neb., July 1.-The "con- spicuous" leaders of the Lutheran church and certain professors" of the University of Nebraska were de nounced for Unreasonable utterances, disloyal activity and passivity that has tended to give aid 10 Germany, an enemy" in a statement issued today by the Nebraska state council of de fense, after the most solemn and ser ious investigation and consideration" :" The statement. it is explained, is bas- ed upon reports from every section of the state and upon hundreds of let ters from patriotic men, many of whom declare they had lost thousands of dollars because they would not tame ly submit to pro-German influences"
 The names of men against whom the charges are made neIe not maGe public but George Copeland, vice chairman of the council of defense and head of the food conservation divi- sion fthe council, said: Conditions became such that the council could no longer repress the bitterness it felt" He said ample evidence to war rant his assertions had been obtained by the council.
 Churchmen csny ci srge
 Prominent Lutheran churchmen here said the council should have con fined its denunciation to German Lutherans" and asserted there was no cause to question their loyalty. Ger man Lutherans who were a:7egec 70 De in sympathy with Germany would not discuss the charges.
 Chancellor Samuel Avery of the University of Nebraska, who has been very active in patriotic relief work and has even taken part in the campaign for recruits, would not be quoted, but it is known he has strongly disapprOy- ed a number of professors whose pro German uttsrances have caused dissen- tion at the university. Some time ago students protested some of their pro 1essors were saying this is not our war and we will not fight because we do not know what it is all about" When complaint was made to Chancel- Tor Avery, it is understood there were some conferences with professors at which the chancellor, who was then urging the students to enlist, let it be known in emphatic language such doc sity class rooms.
 Half the male students at the Uni versity of Nebraska have either en- listed in some branch of the service or have volunteered and been accept ed for work on farms in the central district. Some of the professors have enlisted
 Lutherans Denounced
 Referring to disloyal Lutherans the council in its statement said:
 Perhaps never in history has it been deemed necessary by a public body to single out by name a great church or organization and appeal to the patriotism of its members to offset and check the dangerous tendencies of many of the conspicuous represen- tatives of that organization.
 Depending upon the American pa triotism of the men and women who l comprise the Lutheran church mem | bership the council makes this appeal | to them to put a check upon the un- | American activities of some of their | conspicuous and influential represen- tatives. The council could not wait | until great damage is done before mak- ing its protest. Perfectly aware that its protest is unusual, but conscious | of the absolute necessity of such a pro- test the council makes that protest now in order that American interests may be faithfully protected.
 Confident that it is useless to make further appeal to the conspicuous rep resentatives of that church the coun- cil addresses its appeal to the rank and file of the church membership and hereby calls upon the member. ship to make known, on behalf of the Lutheran church, devotion to America the country that gives it protection and religious liberty"
 The council declares it will use all tits power and authority to suppress in Nebraska any interference with the determination to push this war to a speedy and successful conclusion" Russian consuls in China publish mo-