Evening star., 1934-03-05
|STUDENTSSWEAR
NOT T0BEAR ARMS
Delegates From Seven
Maryland Institutions Be.
gin Movement.
Special Dispatch to The Star.

Special Dispatch to The Star.
BALTIMORE. Nd, March S.
Members Of liberal clubs in seven
Maryland colleges and universities
Saturday adopted declaration
against participation in war, which Is
intended to initiate a Nation wide
pacifist movement in institutions of
higher learning.
The statement, I'VE declare that
under no circumstances will we sup
port any war entered into by the Gov
eminent Of the United States" was
signed by about so delegates to the
intercollegiate conference at Home
wood, sponsored by the Johns Hop
kins Liberal Club and the Goucher
College Chapter Of the League for
Industrial Democracy. 1t was drawn
up at special meeting Of the dele
gates following the final session Of
the conference Saturday night.
Condemned by Leaders.
Their actions were condemned by
Brig. Gen. Milton A. Reckord, adiu-
tant general of Maryland; Rev. DR..
Arthur B. Kinsolving. pastor of Old
st. Paul's Protestant Episcopal
Church; Harry Singerman, State com-
mander Of the Veterans Of Foreign
Wars, and Caesar L. Aiello, State
commander Of the American Legion.
Maj. Gen. Paul B. Malone, COM
mander of the Sd Corps Area, found
the subject unworthy of comment
Gen. Rockford called the action
absurd"
The institutions represented were:
The Johns Hopkins University,
Goucher College. Morgan College, the
University of Baltimore, the Uni
versity of Maryland and Maryland
College for Women.
The clubs have about rs members.
The League for Industrial Democracy
with which many of the clubs are
affiliated, has so chapters in colleges
and universities throughout the
country.
Norman Thomas, speaking on
Youth Faces the Next War" at the
conference, spurred the students to
action. Monroe Sweetland a student
who is the field representative Of the
league, suggested that the students
take some definite step, and Richard
Feise Of the Johns Hopkins Uni
versity, chairman of the Conference
Committee, called the special session
To Publicize Petition.
The students intend the declara-
ton to be circulated widely without
being associated with any party or
group. Besides seeking signatures to
it in colleges, they will circulate it
among labor groups, the unemployed
organizations and churches.
The likely outcome of the move
ment is indicated, they say, by the
history of the oxford petition, which
started at Oxford University, England.
last Summer and aroused worldwide
interest. The wording of that petition
was: Under no circumstances will I
fight for King or country"
Two Pennsylvania State College
students, who were guests at the con-
ference, presented the Maryland dec
laration to the Continental Congress
for Farmers and Workers yesterday
at the last of its two-day session, and
it was adopted by that body.
In case Of invasion of this country
by foreign power the line of passive
resistance. after the manner of
Gandhi, will be followed, said Frank
N. Trager, chairman of the special
session. Invasions do not occur un-
less a country is preparing for war
or economic interests demand war
he stated. The individual will to re-
sist war must be aroused to combat
these interests, he said, quoting MI
Thomas.
Gen. Reckord's Comment.
Gen. Reckord, commenting on the
petition, declared that such action is
absurd, in my opinion"
Il believe" he continued, that in
a nation such as our own, in which
, every citizen benefits under our Gov
erllment, he should be willing to de-
fend it.
Il am very much opposed to war
so is every one who ever has had a
taste Of it, but If our country should
become involved In another think It
is the duty of every citizen to bear
i his share of the burden
Rev DR.. Kinsolving declared en-
phatically that he would sign no
such petition. I could not bring my
self to agree to an unqualified paci-
fists pledge"