New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-09-23
Agitators Apprehenslve
Lest Bernstorf Revelation
Is Precursor of u. S. Action
All Scurry to Cover
Books Hurriedly Inspected for
Trace of German
Money Entries


organizations yesterday that the gov
eminent is planning to curtail, II 1t
does not actually stop, anti-war agita-
ton In this country.
The publication Of Secretary Lam
sings disclosure, showing that Count
Won Bernstorff last January planned to
spend 100000 or more to back the
peace agitators and perhaps prevent
war" fell like shrapnel into the camps
Of the pacifsts. 1t caused scurrying
to cover and hurried examination OF
account books in order to show that
German money had not been response
BILE for the growth Of any Of the peace
societies now active.
Nevertheless, apprehension was feit
that the publication Of the Bernstorr
document was only the precursor OF
drastic action by the government.
Paclfists Now Unhampered
At present paciists are working UNI
hampered by any official supervision.
A nation wide campaign for IAN early
peace" which carries with it systematic
propaganda opposing the governments
war plans, is being conducted through
the mails and by means Of the express
companies.
This campaign has been rather quiet
" conducted because its promoters felt
that the continuance Of the peace move
ment was rather precarious, and that
much propaganda literature should be
scattered broadcast through the coun-
try before official interference should
develop.
Officials of the peace societies yes
terday were reluctant TO admit their
fears, however. Professor Scott Near
ing, chairman Of the Peoples Coun'
Gil, 2 West Thirteenth Street, the
most active of the peace socie-
ties, said: "The government would
make a grave error if it attempted to
stop the general yearning for peace.
do no. believe it would be so foolish
TO do such thing. 1t might break up
the peace organizations, compel them 10
abandon their Offices, dismiss their
clerks and confscate their literature
Int Il could not thereby end the peace
movement. II Is too far under way and
has spread into too many cities, towns
and hamlets, not TO mention farm
houses. to be quelled. The government
cant prevent people from thinking, and
they are thinking peace.
"Mean to Help Government
"Our work is not to hamper the gov.
eminent, but really to help 1t. IL should
be a help to enlighten it as to what the
$50 far we have been unable to dis
cover that any Of the S5O,OOO whlcn
Count Won Bernstorff wanted to spend
has found its way into the treasury OF
the PEOPLES Council or any OF OF the
predecessors Of the council we nave
gone through all our books and have
invited the government TO inspect them
The Neutral Conference committee was
the parent Of the peace movement. IL
was followed by the Emergency Peace
Federation, which developed into the
Peoples Council.
Rebecca Shelly, originator and for
mer financial secretary OF the People $
Council, said altogether about sloo,ooo
had been expended for the pease move
ment. She said most OF this money
had come from small contributors.
Calls Suppression Unwise
Jacob Panken, chairman Of the Work
mems Council, the labor union branch
Of the peace movement, threw up his
hands when asked how much money his
society had spent
ave have spent about $1,000 since
we've been organized, and we've got
about sl50.000 worth Of advertising"
he said ave thrive on the attacks of
our loving friends. We have now about
$50 900 members, all agitating for peace
and the maintenance of labor stand
ards. We get our money, not from the
Kaiser, but by levying tax OF one
cent a year on each member. A lot OF
our members haven't paid up yet.
II can't conceive of the governments
being so unwise as to even think OF
stopping the peace movement. Every.
thing is done openly and aboveboard
with us"
Officials of the American Union
Against Militarism, 10 Fifth Avenue,
which is headed by Crystal Eastman;
the Civil Liberties Bureau. headed by
Roger y. Baldwin, and the Woman's
Peace Party offered to disclose their
books to the government to show that
they are not maintained by funds from