The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1918-08-26
Preacher Phillips in First An
swer to q. s. Charges.
Declares Claims Are Untrue in
Word and in Spirit.
HEARING HERE WEDNESDAY
Federal Preliminary on ''Dis.
loyal Sermon" Matter.
West Side Divided in Sentiment
Over the Affair.

I'VE deny that the words ascribed
to Mr.. Phillips are true either in the
letter or in the spirit" 1t is the first
statement issued by Harvey E. Phil
lips to the public since his arrest last
Wednesday on the charge of disloyalty
to the government of the United
States. This statement was issued
thru the mouth of Robert Stone, as at
torney for Phillips.
Stone said today that a general
hearing will be demanded by Phillips
Wednesday morning at 10 o'clock.
when Phillips is under bond to appear
and say whether or not he desires a
preliminary hearing
When Phillips was brought before
c. H. White, United States commits
sioner, the afternoon of the arrest he
displayed an abysmal ignorance of all
court proceedings, and he spent near
ly two hours questioning the commits
the matter of a trial before a COM
missioner. Finally, Phillips was
granted weeks time in which to get
a lawyer and to decide as to the pre-
liminary hearing. Phillips was re-
leased on $1,000 bond signed by Mrs.
Annie S. Cradle and E. C. Mclaughlin
Phillips was arrested Wednesday
afternoon by c. c. Jackson, assistant
United States marshal for Kansas, on
warrant sworn out by c. E. Bartheli,
special agent of the department o1
justice. His arrest was the outgrowth
of an investigation following a SER
mon preached by Phillips at a union
meeting of the West side churches al
Central Park school house Sunday
evening, August IS.
Phillips, in the warrant, was accused
OF making statements in his sermon
tending to bring the government OF
the United States in to scorn, con-
tempt, contumeIy and disgrace. Phil
lips is also charged with making state
ments in his sermon which would tend
to give aid and comfort to the enemy
and to promote the cause of Germany.
Charges Against Him.
These charges. are based on thyee
statements which it is alleged in the
complaint attached to the warrant that
Phillips made in his Sunday evening
sermon. All three of the statements
follow, altho the complaint sets forth
that other and similar statements were
made in the sermon The statements
of which Phillips is directly accused OF
being the author are:
The idea of a war for democracy is
a fallacy, because we shall all be ruled
by a king eventually"
1.-The German hordes were sent as a
scourge for the wrongs which the al
| lied nations have permitted to be done
under their flags"
"God has sent Germany to punish
the allied nations for their sins and
the war will not end until those ma
tions are on their knees in the dust oi
! trepentence."
| Sentiment Is Divided.
I As a result of the arrest of Preacher
Phillips on a charge of disloyalty
brought under the provisions of the
espionage act the whole West side trib-
utary to the Central park district II
/ turned topsy-turvy.
/ Families are divided among them
! selves and back of it all the goo6
! church folk of the region are busy al
bees vouchsafing and inculcating the1l
| belief that "Dr. Phillips is not dis
! loyal"
Evidence of this is furnished in thu
petitions which were circulated at th'
several church services Sunday morn
i ing and at the union meeting SUNDAY
/ (COntinusf m Dsge Two.l