Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-06-01
COLLEGE STUDENTS JOIN
IN ANT|DRAFT PLOT
Two Columbia Men and One Barn.
ard College Senior Under Ar
rest in New York.
ALL HELD FOR EXAMINATION
In Conspiracy against Peace and
Dignity OF United States"-Anti-
militarism League Has Members
in Some Of Leading Institutions.
Iny Associated Pre.s.l

! NEW YORK, May s1.-Federal
agents to-day took action here against
an alleged conspiracy to defeat selcc-
tive draft registration in New York.
Three studcnts-two youths from
| Columbia University and young
! woman who is senior at Barnard
CollcEe-were arrested and held by
United states commissioner for ex-
| animation tomorrow.
The defendants are Owen Cattell.
son of James. Mckeen Cattci. Of Gar
rison. n. Y. noted psychologist and a
Phillips. Of Columbia, and Miss Eleanor
Wilson Parker. who will be graduated
| in June from Barnard. The three are
members Of the. .G9llsgiate .Antimili-
| tarism League. In the rooms of which
meeting Or o61leg Swas
| held here on May S. when plans are
! alleged to have been, made against
the neace of the United States and
their ,dignity."
pamphlet or this organization on
file at the Federal district attorneys
Office shows that it has members at
Yale. Harvard, Princeton. Cornell. Co
lumbia. oberlin, Amherst Syracuse
Hobart, Pennsylvania. Radcliffe. Bryn
Mawr, Iowa, Nevada. Leland Stanford
Rutgers and other colleges. universi-
ties and Theological institutions
throughout the country. Miss Parker
is executive secretary
According to the complaint filed by
Assistant United States Attorney Con-
tent, Cattel1. Phillips and Miss Parker
conspired to induce divers persons,
whose names are unknown" to fail to
register as required by the Selective
draft act and the proclamation of
President Wilson. These divers per-
sons" are set forth AS males between
the ages OF twenty-one and thirty
years of age, inclusive. The defend
ants, alleged to be n committee selected
at the May met ;ings. are accused
OF having endeavored. on May "a. TO
have the Grapic Press print pamphlets
entitled. VIII You Be Drafted?" The
complaint against them is based partly
upon an interview which Mr.. Content
had with Moses Spiese!. president Of
the Grapic Press. and partly upon in
formation obtained through an inves-
tisation by agents OF the Department
OF Justice. The complaint alleges the
three defendants signed their names
to manuscript copy sent to the Grapic
Press To be prepared in folder form
Cattcll said after his arraignment
that the meeting on May was at
tended by delegates representing coll
lcgc students generally. including
those subject TO the draft.
QUESTION OF CONSUMPTION
AHEAD OF VICTORY OR DEFEAT
4 copy OF the text Of tn. alleged
anticonscription document made pub
lie b. the Federal authorities contains
the assertion: I'VE will approve the
action OF any one who refuses to rcE-
lister for conscription." Tho pamphlet
says a resolution was adopted at the
May meeting "of members OF the
Collegiate Antimilitarism League and
other PERSONS" setting forth 'our rea-
sons for condemninE the draft measure
itself" 1t declares that the question
or conscription with its implications
for the future is more important than
the question OF defeat or victory in
the war; and that consumption as out
lined In the new law "is abhorrent
10 any true conception Of democracy"
The present administration and Con-
grcss were elected presumably be-
cause they were expected to keen us
out OF war;" the document asserts. and
when war was decided upon there WAS
no referendum, nor was there a refer
cndum as to conscription. the govern
ment, remembering perhaps that the
referendum in Australia had resulted
in two-to-one vote against conscrip-
tion."
The pamphlet concludes with a state
nnent that. "if " ; wan to strike with
the full strength OF our numbers, wo
must refuse to register for conscrip-
tion-even IL it puts us in jail. .
We urge all conscientiouu objectors to
resist registration--cven to the extent
Of going TO prison IL necessary"
: Bail for tho three. in the sum OF
$1,000 cash. was furnished by ,or. Fl.
W. L. Dana. OF Columbia University.
and they were released.
TAur rup popr,S.n