New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1918-04-02
Defence Society
Demands Clubs
Expel Germans
Patriotic Organization In
sists Pacifists Also
Be Ousted
Question: ausesW Worry
------
Some Would Retain as Menu
bers kaiser's Subjects
Who Behave"
Question: ausesWorry

The American Defence Society is de-
tcrmined to force spring houseclean-
ing of paciasts and Germans in New
York clubs.
The question of pacifist and German
members, particularly German MEM
bers, is disturbing New York clubs as
never before in their history. In many
clubs the members are hopelessly at
variance as to what should be done
with those members who have the mis-
fortune to be subjects of the Kaiser.
Some hold that even if man is a
thrown out of club, provided he con-
ducts himself according to the rules
for enemy aliens laid down by the gov
eminent. Others take the position that
during these times all truly American
clubs should be closed to all Germans.
Richard M. Hurd, chairman of the
American Defence Society board of
directors, said yesterday that the So
cety recently has made several at
tempts to have certain pacifists, pro
Germans and Germans expelled from
local clubs. These attempts have
failed, he said.
membership to find out which of it's
members are members of New York
clubs" said Mr.. Hurd. "The society
soon will send letters to these mem
bers to see if they cannot prevail upon
the boards of governors of their clubs
to take that action regarding certain
members which the American Defence
Society has been urging"
Mr.. Hurd specifically mentioned
three clubs, to whose members the
society intends to send these letters.
They are the Union, the University
and the New York Athletic clubs.
The Chemists Club perhaps was dis
turbed most yesterday by the question
of German members. Members of the
board of trustees said they thought
the question had been solved; many
German members had resigned and
the others, it was supposed, had ceased
to frequent the club. But yesterday
"The Journal of Industrial and Engi-
neering Chemistry" published an arti-
Gle charging that subjects of the kai-
ser still are making themselves at home
in the club The article demanded the
officers close the clubs doors to all
such members. The article argued that
they should not be permitted to be
present in club in which officers of
the army and chemists in government
service hold conferences.
LIZ. M. ~. w ulIdhST, president OIL CHC
club. admitted yesterday that a num-
Der of Germans are still members in
good standing. Furthermore, DR.. Whit
aker said he was opposed to expelling
these German members so long as they
behaved themselves"
DR.. Whitaker said, as result Of the
article in the chemists periodical, a
meeting of the clubs board of trustees
will be called to go over the situation
once more.
Members of the Harvard and the
Yale clubs yesterday predicted this
month would see Showdown" on the
question of pacifists and Germans in
their organizations.
The board of governors of the New
York Athletic Club held meeting last
night. at which three members recently
suspended as pro-Germans were to be
given hearing. The club would make
no statement last night regarding the
result.
Francis Wilson and John Blair, two
directors of the Players Club, have is
sued statement denying that q petit
ton being circulated among members
to bar pacifsts and pro- Germans was
aimed at George Middleton, son-in law
of Senator La Toilette.