The Irish standard., 1915-09-04
THE FRIENDS OF PEACE.

Declaring their belief in the exist.
ence of a preconceived plot to involve
the United States in the European
war, the Friends of Peace, federation
of numerous affiliated American or.
CARNATIONS, have issued a call for a
national peace convention to be held
in Chicago, September 5th and 9Th,
eliminating in a grand peace demon
stratfon on Labor day. The conven-
ton is a direct outgrowth of the great
peace meeting at Madison Square Gar
den, New York, June oath, attended
by 100000 persons, and the San Fran
cisco peace mass meeting attended by
100000.
The immediate object of the con.
vention, it is stated, will be to pro-
test against Americas entry into the
war, to appoint committees to visit
the belligerent nations in the hope of
bringing the war to early termination,
and to urge special session of con-
gress to consider the advisability of
placing an embargo on all war sup
plies.
The convention will be attended by
delegates from all parts of the coun-
try, and 1t is expected to be one of
the largest gatherings ever held in
America. Every political party, relig.
ious denomination, and organizations
Of every nationality going to make up
the cosmopolitan American popula-
ton, will be represented among the
delegates.
The principal sessions of the con.
vention will be at the Coliseum, but
some Of the greatest speakers are
booked for the Auditorium, while over.
flow meetings will be held at differ.
ent halls in the city.
Following is the full text of the call
which was issued at a delegate con.
vention of the Friends of Peace, held
at Terrace Garden, New York City:
Pursuant to the great peace mass
meeting in and about Madison Square
Garden. New York, June "a, 1915, at
tended by 100000 persons, the Friends
Of Peace, federation of American
organizations opposed to Americas
entry into the present war, hereby is.
sue a call for national peace con-
vention to be held in the city of Chi
cago, September 5th and 9Th, culmi-
mating in grand peace demonstra-
ton on Labor Day, September 5th.
The object Of the convention will
be to voice the existing overwhelming
sentiment against Americas participa-
ton in the present world conflict, to
demonstrate the falsity of the claim
set up by the lingo press that it rep.
resents public opinion, to reaffirm our
principles of strict neutrality, and to
urge the early converting of congress
for the purpose of considering an EN-.
barge on the expectation of war sup.
plies to belligerents during the pres
ent war and enacting such other leg
islation as may be deemed advisable
to bring the war to a speedy termina-
ton.
That we are in danger of being
drawn into "entangling alliances" is
quite evident from the comment of
the capitalist controlled press. We
view with alarm the recent statement
of Lord Northcliffe that "it Is univer-
sally admitted that by supplying US
(England) with vast quantities of mu-
nitions, the United States has been a
most valuable ally"
We do not believe 1t meant that any
nation should dictate Americas diplo.
macy in this crisis, and the published
advice from foreign sources appearing
daily in our newspapers as to the at
titude we should take in the war, we
resent as unwarranted interference.
We regard all such acts, together with
the inflammatory headlines in the
lingo element of the press, as precon-
ceived and deliberate endeavors to de-
coy us from our traditional policy of
peace and independent nationalism,
and to precipitate our now happy ma
ton into the horrors of the most ter
rible war that has ever stained the
pages of history.
1t Is the conviction of the Friends
of Peace that unless firm action is
taken soon, the continued efforts of
parties financially interested will,
through covert acts, involve this coun-
try in the war, against the peoples
will.
Your organization is respectfully in
vited to send to the convention as
many delegates as possible as the SEN
timent against war will be measured
largely nv tho numhor ~ io1ouo&ao