New-York tribune., 1919-04-19
Nation Wide Propaganda
Resumed by the Union
Against Militarism Which
Was Silent During War
Circulars Flood Country
Appeal to Soldiers Urged in
Pamphlet Asking Sup.
porters to Write Congress
Nerc York Tribune
" QshtnOton Bureau

Washington Bureau
WASHINGTON, April 1S.-Nation-
vide propaganda against universal
military training, preparedness and
adequate appropriations for the army
and navy is being engineered, it was
learned to-day by the "American
Union Against Mltausm," which has
been so quiet during the war that of
fetal Washington had almost forgot
ten the existence of the organ,zs-
uon.
1t has just como to light however,
that under date Of March n the union
has been sending circulars broadcast
throughout the country, urging flood
of propaganda letters directed pu-
marlly at tho members Of the nest
House Military Affairs Committees The
circulars are. the very first sentence
states, mot for publication Members
Of the union are urged TO write let
tcrs to any members Of the Military
Committee they may know. and to get
other persons who agrco with them,
also to these members of the com
mittec.
Text of Circular
Here is the text of the circular in
PRODUCING the list of members Of tho
committeo:
This is not for publications. it is
for your own information. A lot OF
fluid Congressional oratory has gone
under the bridge since the night VIC
entered the war, and some of the men
whose records are briefly given be
low have been on four sides of every
question, so that the records must be
taken somewhat Professionally. Never
theless, the items are significant. Keep
the list for future reference. If there
happens to be on it a representative
from your state, it would do no harm
for you to sit down and indite him
little letter on exactly where you
stand. And if there are any returned
soldiers in your neighborhood who feel
about the matter or permanent peace
time conscription as you do, urge them
TO write to him.
"Any help which you can give US
on this recess work fearfuily lmpor-
tant in view of the big drive that is
coming-wll pay, in results, much big
ger dividends than the frantic last
minute kind of help which our people
are SO prone to give. Thank you.
Investigation Urged
The copy of this circular obtained
here was forwarded to one of the mem
bers of the committee by a man in
New York State, whose views on the
subj ject of preparedness and whose
\ bo of no
American Union Against Militarism
seem to have been misunderstood by
whoever placed his name on the unions
mailing list. He asked in his personal
letter to the Representative to have the
plans of the union exposed.
In the brief summaries of the rec
ords of the committee members are in
cluded phrases from their speeches, so
that the writer's Of the propaganda let
ters may seem to have been following
closely the records Of the legislators to
whom they are writing.
A good illustration Of this is shown
in the only Republican member of the
committee from New York, Fiorello II.
La Guardia,. The summary regarding
him in the circular is as follows:
"Declared April 3, 1917, he would sup
port war resolution, but that he could
not believe as some say they believe,
that the civilization of the world Is i'm
the balance or that the perpetuity of
our own form of government is at
stake; that on no other grounds
would he ever give his assent to send
ing our American boys to the death
trenches-those slaughter pens across
the sea voted fer the draft and army
reorganization act including the draft,
April %
MIR La Guardia served with distinc-
tion on the Italian front throughout
the war
Caldwell Alse Quoted
In the case Of tho only Democratic
member Of the committee from New
Work, Charles Pope taldWell, of Forest
Nills, who voted ns did MF- La Nuardia
the circular reealla that Mf Caldwell
said, IN tho debate on the war reao-
luton, that we eheuld "lrain all cur
men and mortgage roatefity foe tho
preservation of our national character. 4"
Mir Caldwell supported the war
throughout,