Evening journal., 1918-05-09
TRIAL FOR
stephens, ELDER
Accused Under Espionage
Law, He Criticizes Presi.
dent as Mistaken
SON ASSAILS
ALL WARFARE

Frank Stephens. founder OF Arden,
Single Tax colony, is at liberty under
5000 bail following action Of the Fed
eral Grand Jury, by which he was In
dicted under the Espionage act on two
counts.
His son. IS awaiting trial before the
Supreme Court for failing to comply
with the draft registration act.
According TO the Evening Public
Ledger Of Philadelphia yesterday both
justified their stand against war and de-
clared their intention Of maintaining
their principles at all costs.
In the meantime the split between
the leaders OF the Arden community
and the patriotic citizens grows wider
Only those residents who are support
ing the government war activities
through the purchase Of Liberty Bonds
and War Savings Stamps, cooperation
with the national war gardens or con-
tributng to the Red Cross and Bel
gian Relief Association are eligible for
membership in the new organization.
When the womens Liberty Loan
committee called upon Stephens at his
home he is alleged to'have said to Mrs.
Mabel Van Trump, a member:
on hIE a AlilA AANl NAf anu 81 ~ Nf'rt r
one who sells bonds. You are sending
our BOYS to the trenches 10 be muir
dered No lady would be on such a
mission"
This remark precipitated action by
the Federal Grand Jury.
War IS nothing more than organized
Aqurder," said Stephens today. And II
the President Of the United States eX-
poets all fair-minded persons in this
country to help him push 1t to a sue
cessful close, then he must fiud himself
a much-mistaken man. Surely there
are more human and civilized means Of
settling a disturbance other than by
waging war. !, for one, refuse OF take
any part in anything that would show
in the least that ! favor this strife"
Stephens was formerly active in the
Peoples Council Of America, and his
son IS now secretary Of that pacilsi
organizations branch here. Awaiting
trial before the Supreme Court on the
appeal in his case, the son maintains
that no power on earth" is strong
enough to make him register himself
Tor war service.
In pointing out the justice Of hi:
stand In not registering. even though
it was possible that his wife and chile
would have obtained exemption fol
him. he said today that Mr.. Wilson.
administration Is "Prussisnizng Amer
lea, degree by degree. until there shal
soon be little distinction between the
United states and militaristic Ger
many"
You do not have to break the Law
nowadays TO get into trouble" ste
phens said But to keep out Of trou
bic with the Federal authorities, yol
must break the dieates Of your con
science and heart. None Of that for me
Il have taken my stand in the mat
ter and / am willing to take the consc
quence. ! absolutely refuse TO entel
into any war-making business, and reg
istration is the first step toward war.
As secretary OF the local branch OF
the Peoples Council Of America. he de
clared that the organization was doin,
all in its power 20 have the selectivC
conscription law repealed.
The elder Stephens declared that al
his relatives were Friends, and that. lik,
himself, they all were opposed TO war
fare.
- am not pro-German," he said, "bu
! refuse to believe that war can be mad,
right Not all my relatives were op.
posed to war, however. My grand
father, Colonel Louis Nicola, was per
sonal aid on the stan Of General Wash
ington at Valley Forge.
Force was never a remedy for evil
and l shall oppose TO my last ounce o
strength all efforts on the part Of 9th
ers to make il so"
The son was reminded by the re
porter Of his great-grandfather loyalt
TO the new republic.
Il am more Interested in what my
self do than in what my elders hav
Tann - ~, enfd aofTfr-