Arizona republican., 1917-10-09
TEAM PLAY |S NEEDED FUR UNITY
Republican A. p. Leased Wirel

WASHINGTON, Oct. S-A move ment to lead and express public opin- ion on the war was inaugurated here today by formation of the league for National Unity, representing church. political. labor, agricultural and indus trial organizations, to which President Wilson gave his endorsement in an address emphasizing the need for team play by the forces of American thought and opinion.
 Welcoming the leaders of the move ment at the White House in a brief speech, the president expressed the be- lief that American pubnc opinion, e4- though understanding the wars cause and principles, needs guidance to re- member that the war snoalu end o.... when Germany is beaten and Ger manys rule of autocracy and might are superseded by the ideals of democracy
 This is the issue which the American people had always kept in mind, the president said, in order to avoid being misled into byways of thought and the resultant scattering of the force of public opinion. Talk of early peace before Germany is defeated, is one of the evidences of misdirected thought, he suggested. and should not cloud the vision of those who understand that the United States is fighting for the same ideals on democracy and freedom that have always actuated the nation.
 The president gave warning that it should not be forgoiien that German success would mean not only preyen- ton of the spread of democracy but possibly the suppression of that already existing.
 The league, which will have head quarters in New York, chose as hon. orary chairman Cardinal Gibbons and pr. Frank Mason North. president of the Federal Council Of Churches, Theo- dOre N. Vail, president of the American Telephone and Telegraph company Is active chairman, with Samuel Gompers, president of the American Federation of Labor, Charles Barrett, president of the Farmers Educational and Co-oper- ative union and George Pope, president of the National Association of Manu- facturers, as vice chairman.
 The object was stated as follows:
 To create a medium through which the loyal Americans of all classes sec tions, creeds and parties can give ex- pression to the fundamental purpose cf the United States to carry on to sue cessful conclusion this new war for the independence of America and the pres ervation of democratic institutions. and the vindication of the basic principles of humccity.'
 The league plans an active campaign to educate Americans to the idea that unity Of thought and purpose is as essential to successful prosecution of the war as cooperation in material preparations Conferences of leaders in the numerous organizations repre- scented will be held frequently, state ments of principle formulated and at tempt will be made to direct public thought through the medium of the pulpit, press, public platform and many kinds of public, semi public and private organizations.
 The league will seek suggestions of the individual and small units of forces united in the organization in the form of statements of principles
 The inclusive character of the body is indicated by the officers chosen. In addition to those named, the director is Ralph M. Easley, riarman of the National Civic Federation, the secre- tary is D. L. Cease. editor of the Rail- way Trainmens Jre-nai; and the treasurer is Otto Kuhn of Kuhn. Loeb and company.
 James M Beck, New York, is chair man of the executive committee which lHCluUeS. NdfIeH .. SlOHe, cilltl ol lDt Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers: Oliver Wilson, grand master of the Grange; Walter George Smith, presi- dent of the American Ear Association; Vance Mccormack and William R. Wilcox, democratic and republican na- tional chairmen respectively; Robert E. Speer, chairman of the Federal Council of Churches War commission: P. H. callahan, chairman of the Knights of Columbus war activities committee: Alfred E. Marling. chairman Y NJ. C. A. international committee; Rabbi Stephen s. Wise of the Free Syna gogue; Mrs Carrie Chapman Catt, president of the National American woman suffrage association; George Wharton Pepper, president of the Ma tional committee of patriotic and de- fense societies; and w. H. Ingersoll of the Association of Advertising clubs.
 The conference adopted the following declaration of principles:
 Tn an hour when our nation is fight ing for the principles upon which it was founded, in an hour when free in- stitutions and the hopes of humanity are at stake. we hold it-~the duty of every American to take his place on the firing line of public opinion.
 Tt is not a time for old preiud'nor ar academic discussion as to past differ ences. Those who are not now Tor America are against America.
 Our cause is just. We took up the sword only when international law and ancient rights were set at raught and when our forebearance had been ex- hausted by persistent deception and broken pledges.
 Our aims are explicit our purposes unsettled by any selfishness. We de- fend the sanctities of life. the funda mental decences of civilization. We fight for just and durable peace and that the rule of reason shall be re- stored to the community of nations.
 Tn this crisis the unity of the Amer ican people must not be imnaired by the voices of dssension of sedtion.
 Agitation for premature peace is seditious when it's object is to weaker the determination of America to set the war through to a conclusive vindi
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