The Bemidji daily pioneer. [volume] (Bemidji, Minn.) 1904-1971, 1917-08-03
Ll,jU,N,IDljI]ElEN TO FIGHT
F0RDRAFTR REPEAL
HE >ANN0UNCESIN
GERMAN PAPER
Minnesota Congressman Not in Favor
of Sending Troops From
u, S. Abroad.
SENDS COPY OF SPEECH
DELIVERED AGAINST WAR
Sharp Contrast is Written Position
of Congressman Kahn of
California,

Washington, Aug. 3.-Congress-
man Ernest Lundeen Of Minneapolis
has announced his Intention of fight
ing for the repeal of the conscription
law. He urges the election of rep
resentatives in the next election,
pledged to such repeal.
Mr.. Lundeen chooses as the me-
dium Of this announcement the pages
of Viereck's Weekly in New York,
formerly known as the Fatherland.
Viereck's paper is conducting a
campaign to bring it about so that
Americans of German or Austrian
birth or descent will not be COM
PEELED to 60 on the firing line. The
editor of the former Fatherland
would have them put to work on this
side of the water in agriculture, in
manufacturing, etc.
Mr.. Lundeen, however would abOl.
ish conscriptiOn altogether. He voted
against war, declaring he would vote
billions for defense but not one cent
for the kings Of Europe, then voted
for the seven billion dollar fund to
conduct the war, he had voted
against, then voted against conscrip-
tion, and after conscription had been
decided upon voted against the en-
tire army bill.
Lundeen States Position.
In HIS statement published In Vie
reck's paper, Mr.. Lundeen says:
II am not in favor of forcing any
Americans to fight abroad. opposed
conscription for foreign service and I
will vote for its repeal. While the
tlAw remains on our statute books 1t
must be obeyed. We will fight for
its repeal.
1--WE will strive to elect men, who,
in 1918, will vote preparedness and
strong defense at home; men who at
all times place foreign nations in
secondhand position and America
first.
"Under separate cover I am send
ing you copy Of my speech on the
world war. l voted against war.
When compelled to choose between
the policy of Washington or the pol
icy Of Wilson, choose to follow
Washington.
against the insidious wiles OF
foreign influence. the jealousy Of a
free people ought to be constantly
awake, since history and experience
prove that foreign influence is one
of the most baneful foes Of republi-
can government"
Contrast to Lundeen.
In contrast with this position, Rep
resentative julius Kahn of Califor-
MIA, an American of German birth,
in the same issue Of the paper, makes
the patriotic utterance:
Il, myself, was born in Germany,
but I resent this attempt to put men
like myself in the attitudeof claim
ing a divided allegiance.
"The patriotic American of Ger
man birth or parentage in this crisis
may we'll say to the Imperial Ger
man government of Germany: You
have sunk our ships and murdered
our people. Look upon your hands.
They are stained with the blood Of
my innocent fellow Americans. We
were long friends. We are now ene-
mics. l stand for my adopted coun-
try. I stand for the rights of my
fellow citizens. rights guaranteed by
international law, rights which you
should have been willing to respect in
the sacred name Of humanity, and
do not doubt that that will be the
stand taken by, practically all such.
citiZenS.'