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The Commoner
30
V0L- 17, No. 3
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Washington Peace Demonstration
Heprintod from tho Now York unions. Notwithstanding the het-
Evoning-Post, February 13, 1917J
Washington, D. C, February 12.
It takos a great deal of courage to
lnvado the national capital these
days and demonstrate about peace
or anything olso in tho face of
sneers." Tho very word "pacifist" Is
hardly euphemism in tho midst of
outcries about "patriotism" and
"undivided America." But the Lin
coln's Birthday demonstration of the
group of two hundred or more pa
cifists who vehemently declared
themselves on the question of keep
ing out of tho European war was
something which penetrated beneath
tho surface
To say that it converted those who
would impetuously plunge tho coun
try into war would be far from the
truth. But it did serve as a vivid
reminder to legislators and official
that thore is in America today a mil
itant spirit against war, against mil
itarism, and all that the war-systems
of Europe connote. It gave notice
of the certain concentration in this
country in the event of vmr of all the
liberal groups and elements akin to
those which are slowly but surely
making themselves felt as a factor
for peace in all bolligorent countries.
It breathed into the tense atmos
phere of Washington a spirit of en
ergetic opposition to American par
ticipation in tho war.
From Morning Until Lato at Night
Speeches from early morning un
til late at night, at the capltol, at
several conferences in the committee
Tooma, at the hotels, at the White
house and at the church auditorium
in the evening, were received with
enthusiasm and . sympathetic re
sponse. Throughout tho day the
hastily organized meetings attracted
crowds of people who applauded and
cheered the arguments against war
with a fervor almost religious.
Tho delegation which came to
Washington under the auspiceB of
the Emergency Peace Federation of
New York was .made up of social
workers, pacifists, anti-militarists,,
representa44yes of religious organi
zations, peace societies, and -labor
Cured His RUPTURE
I wis badly ruptured w-hllo. lifting a
trunk several years ago. Doctors said
my only hope o euro was an operation.
Trussos did mo no gotid. Finally I got
hold of something that quickly and com
pletely cured mo. Years have passed and
tho rupture has riovor risturnod, although
I am doing hard work as a carpontor.
" There was no operation, no lost time, no
trouble. I liavo nothing to sell, but will
glvo full Information about how you may
And a complete cure without operation, If
you wrlto to mo, Eugono M. Pullen, Car
pontor, 823C Marcellus Avonuo, Manas
quan, N. J. Bettor cut out this notlco and
show it to any others who aro ruptured
you may savo a mo or at icast scop
tho misery of rupture and tho worry and
danger of an oporatlon.
ttH&UMATISM Cured
I will gladly sond any Rheumatism suf
foror a Slmplo Horb Rccipo Absolutoly
Froo that Completely Cured mo of a tor
rlblo attack of muscular and inflamma
tory Rheumatism of long standing after
everything olso I tried had failed mo. I
liavo gfvon it to many sufferers who bo
llevod tholr cases hopeless, yet they found
relief from their suffering by taking thoso
slmplo horbs. It also relievos. Sciatica
promptly, as woll as Nouralgla, and Is a
wonderful blood purlllor, You aro most
-wolcomo to this Herb Recipe if you will
sond for it at onco. I bollovo you will
consider it a God-Send after you havo
put it to tho tost. Thoro is nothing In
jurious contained in it, and you can seo
for yourself oxactly what you are taking.
I -will gladly send this Recipe -absolutoly
fr0Q to any sufferer who will sond namo
and address. If convoniont. encloso two
Serit stamp. W. A. SUTTON, soso
Sfml!H Ave., Lo Angclon, California.
erogencous elements, the whole day
passed without friction or dissension
in a splendid, unanimity of expres
sion. Boginning with a breakfast at
tho Hotel Continental, where the
delegation heard stimulating speech
08' at tho start, the members went to
the capltol to visit individual sen
ators and representatives. Senator
Wadsworth, of New York, received
one part of the delegation, listened
attentively, but had nothing to say.
Senator Stono, of Missouri, chairman
of tho committee on foreign rela
tions, received tho entire delegation
in tho Marble room, just off the sen
ate chamber. He showed deep in
terest in the speeches and seemed to
be visibly moved by the sentiment of
the addresses. Senators La Follette
and Works, Representatives Warren
Worth Bailey, Callaway, and others
encouraged the delegation by ap
plauding their efforts. The pacifists,
on tho whole, found many a friendly
ear under the dome of the capltol.
Resolutions for tho President
At the afternoon meeting, resolu
tions were adopted for presentation
to President Wilson. The whole
delegation marched to the White
house in tho biting cold, but the
President was "out." In his stead,
Secretary Tumulty courteously re
ceived the several hundred delegates
in the President's private office. The
Rev. Norman M. Thomas, of New
York, read the following resolution:
We speak for vast numbers of the
American people. We speak for
hosts who voted at the last election,
believing that they were voting for
the policy of peace.
We recognize that as devoted
Americans, we are bound to uphold
the true honor, dignity, and welfare
of our country by rendering every
service in our power, not only to the
land of our birth, but to the cause of
humanity the world over.
, We desire, therefore, to do ev
erything in' our power to maintain
the leadership of -our country in the
work! of -.bringing about world peace
and abolishing forever the abomin
able war system;-
Acknowledging ouf" deep debt to
President Wilson for hisN splendid
efforts to secure a settlement of in
ternational disputes, .by' peaceful,
means, we aesjre to pieage to him
Our loyal support in every such en
deavor. In the critical situation in which
tho country now finds itself, an overt
act may at any moment inflame the
public press and start hysterical
demonstrations misrepresenting the
sober judgment and purposes of the
mass of the public.
We therefore adjure our represent
atives in congress to take no irre
vocable steps towards war, but in
case of such a crisis seek, tlirough
an advisory referendum, a direct ex
pression of the will of the American
people.
(1.) As American citizens, we con
sider that -the honor or our country
is best maintained by remaining the
greatest of all neutral nations, and
thereby keeping the onnorhmltv tn
initiate, as the friend of all nations,
a constructive international pro
gramme that shall redound to the
advantages of humanity and the
glory of tho United States.
(2.) Wo believe that the despera
tion displayed by the warring powers
is evidence that the war is nearing
its close and that all belligerents
may be expected under the circum
stances to have less regard for the
rights, of neutrals. To participate
now in tho war, after having tor
auillcient reasons endured injuries
inflicted by both belligerents, would
servo no useful purpose, and would
involve us in the intolerable evils
that now afflict the warring nations.
(3.) Although it is hoped by
many that our entrance into the war
might hasten itsclose, we desire to
call attention to the uncertainty of
such an outcome, and to the danger
that our participation might lead to
new combinations and complications,
and indefinitely prolong tho world
struggle now in progress.
Supported by Addresses
After the reading of the above,
Mrs. Henry Villard. of New York.
'was asked to speak. She spoke ex
temporaneously, but tho White
house sentographers took down all
tne speeches for transmission to the
President.
Edward F. Cassldy, of the Central
Labor Union, of New York, spoke
briefly on the viewpoint of tho
workingman toward war. and C. A.
Sorenson, of Nebraska, expressed
the attitude of the western granges
and peace societies. Mr. Tumulty
prQmised to advise" the President of
all that had been said.
In connection with the day's pro
gramme, an interesting student con
ference was held composed for the
most part of alumni who -aim to
provo in the immediate future that
that the colleges of the United States
will not permit ' themselves to be
stampeded for military service. In
cidentally, most of the student rep
resentatives were from Columbia,
whose executive head is wont to in
terpret the viewpoint of that uni
versity in concepts of belligerency.
A memorial had 'been "drawn up by
the student conference which is, to
be addressed to college men and
women throughout the , United
States, which, advocated a referen
dum to- the people before war, giving
five main reasons why no steps to
involve the country in war should
be taken by the President or con
gress. His contention was expressed,
that war with Germany would bring
serious evilson this country, to say
nothing of the physical and mental
sufferings of our people; such a war
would strengthen militarism in
America,, weaken democratic move
ments, cripple many social reforms,
burden future generations with en
tangling debt, and tend to involve
this country in obnoxious 'entangling
alliance with European countries. A
number of alternatives to war are
suggested. The President should
make an immediate attempt to or
ganize the neutrals into ar league of
neutrals, to defend by force, if
necessary, neutral rights, as in case
of the armed, neutralities of 1780
and 1800. In the meantime, it would
be possible, until the procedure of
such a league had been settled, to
keep American passengers from the
danger zone; to permit change of
registration of our vessels, and to
use every pressure that we possibly
could exert toward the modification
of the' illegal methods of the bellig
erents. The pacifists were well satisfied
with the results of v their day's effort.
They intend to carry forward their
work throughout the country by ar
ranging public meetings in the prin
cipal cities and awakening a public
opinion everywhere against war.
The platform of the Emergency
Peace Federation says in part:
The Emergency Peace Federation
is supporting the peace policy of
President Wilson, and offers to him
and to the country any help that it
can give to keep it outofwTT
programme is: r l
al conniots Ifettag" 1
the present war is over.
(2.) To keep Americana out of
the danger zone. or
(3.) To consult the peonle h
referendum before declaring war
The losses of this country are it,
cidental to the waging of war in"
Europe. Neither of these groups of
belligerent nations is wilfully at
tacking the interests of this coun
try, but both are anxiously seekine
o.ur friendship. Neither honor nor
glory could bo gained by warrine
against a nation that is driven to
desperation after thirty months of
war. We urge that at the present
crisis it is for Americans an unpat-
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PATENTS
WISCONSIN ESTATE LOOKIXG FOU
IIEIIIS .
Tho estate of Oscar Riley. decejMd.
lato of Monroe, Green County, mot
sin, is- seeking lost heir or heirs o
Margaret Ellen Riley, nee le;
ceased, lato of Paris Illinois, ho J
supposed to havo died soyeialjea
ago leaving a husband, ElUcl Gora
and children. ' Tho last heard or
Gordons was while residing In f nnu b
camp near Paris, IInis. s.
garet Ellen Gordon, neo B le. y
D. Dunwiddle, Attorney for Estat
,. ?. 0., Monroo, Wisconsin.
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