BEFUDDLING THE PACIFISTS
Von Rintelen’s first step, as he outlined it to Lamar, was to use the horrors of the European War as an appeal for universal peace, and to enlist the labouring men and the farmers of America in raising their united voice against the exports of arms and ammunition. And thus a great labour peace propaganda was originated by a German whose patriotism had driven away his scruples, and an American who had gone money-mad. The details of the organization were set forth, and soon von Rintelen had a staff of workers at his command, though they all may not have known he was paying their salaries. His agents, in secret interviews with labour leaders, were soliciting their aid, flashing rolls of gold-tinted certificates. The men who guiltily handled the money which von Rintelen drew from the bank had only one complaint, namely, that the denominations of the bills were entirely too large.
Two of von Rintelen’s agents following Samuel Gompers, president of the National Federation of Labour, to Atlantic City one day, offered him $500,000 for his services in endorsing the peace propaganda and participating in the work. Mr. Gompers scorned the offer. Other big labour leaders, whose aid was solicited, began immediately to warn their associates against the anti-American activities of German agents.
By June, 1915, von Rintelen’s schemes were moving apace. A big advertising campaign had been started in the early spring with von Rintelen’s cash. Newspaper propaganda picturing the glories of universal peace began to appear.
By the aid of Lamar, who kept von Rintelen in the background, the German soon had many persons working and talking in the interest of universal peace. It has been stated that the services of Frank Buchanan, Representative in Congress and former labour leader, and of H. Robert Fowler, ex-Congressman, were obtained. Whether they were aware of von Rintelen and his motives is a question for a jury to answer, for they have been indicted in connection with the alleged activities of the Labour’s National Peace Council.
Within a short time, thousands of invitations were scattering throughout the country to labour leaders, small and large, and to heads of farmers’ granges, to attend the national convention of the peace propaganda at the expense of the organization. All railroad fares, hotel expenses and a liberal allowance for spending money were promised.
Under the fostering financial auspices of von Rintelen, who hovered conveniently near the New Willard Hotel, the members of a peace movement gathered in Washington, expenses paid. They adopted resolutions saying they desired “to promote peace.” The resolutions demanded the enactment of laws that would enable the Government to take over as exclusive government business the manufacture of all arms, instruments and munitions of war; demanded an immediate embargo upon shipments of war supplies to the belligerents; denounced the maintenance of military and naval forces, and called for a special session of Congress to promote “peace universal.” The executive board went immediately into executive session.