Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1916-01-10
PEACE ADVOCATES
AGREE0NP PROGRAM
Wonan's Party Decides to
Ask Congress for Construct
i've Legislation.
WILL lNDORSE MEASURES
ALREADY INTRODUCED
Hearings Granted by Senate and
House Gommittee-Convention
to Adjourn Tomorrw.

= Decision on n constructive congress
sional program to receive the earnest
support of the Woman's Peace Party
is the principal matter to b. undertake
zen by the delegates to the first an
.nuaI meeting of that organization to-
DAY. The party, which was organized
lust one wear ago, met for the first
time in convention Saturday evening,
held a public mass meeting at Pelfs
Theater yesterday. and'today is holding
three sessions. during which it hopes
to accomplish a number of important
tasks.
a Although the continuance of oonsid-
GRAFTON of the party's constitution, the
reports of the various officers ana
committees and the election of new
officers were all on the schedule Tor
today. what is most absorbing the at
.tention of the delegates is what sort
of legislation already introduced into
Congress they shall support and what
new pieces the organization needs to
.have introduced.
At the meeting last night there was
a thorough informal discussion or
these questions, with no voting, how
ever. and Miss Adams, the president,
appointed a committee of three to col
.Iect information on the subject and
submit it to the convention today. The
scommittee consists of Mrs. George
,Odell of this city, chairman OF the
Legislative committee of the party; Mrs.
Crystal Eastman Benedict of New YORK
and Mrs. Lucia Aules Mead OF session
Its report will be submitted this aft
.ernoon-
To Indorse Congressional Bills.
A number of measures for the passage
of which it would seem desirable for
the party to pack with all possible sup
port are already in existence. say leaders
of the organization. These include Sen
sator Owens bill for the calling of a
third Hague conference; the Crosser bill.
Ito eliminate private interests in war by
the production of war equipment. by pro-
hibiting the export of privately made
munitions and by the reservation to the
government of coal and fuel oil in public
lands.
The Shallenberger bill to create a
United states commission for enduring
peace; the Cummins bill for the gov
eminent acquisition and construction
of plants for the production of NUM-
,tions of all sorts. including ships; the
measure introduced by Representative
Heating of Colorado by which the ex-
penses of war and armament will be
so adjusted that the rich will bear the
burden instead of the poor. and the
susan B. Anthony federal mendme
for woman suffrage.
A feature of this mornings delibera-
tons was the introductio of a reso-
luton by Mrs. NJ. C~ruttenden Percy of
New York. providing for the establish
ment of a department of peace. with a
Secretary to be included in the cabinet.
This measure is in line with the idea
of the party that peace should cease to
-be a negation and become an affirma-
etion. This resolution was referred to
h special committee of three on con-
sressional program.
Provides for Investigation.
Another, introduced by Mrs. Jessie II.
Nackaye of this city, and representing
the sentiments of the Washington
branch, recommended that Congress. in
stead of providing for increased rma
ment, hould appoint a joint committee
10 investigate and report On the pos
sibility of aggressive action by other ma
tions toward the United States, or vice
versa; the possibility of eliminating
private interests IL war; the possibili-
ties of economic pressure in lieu OF
military force. the possibility of a
mutual reduction in ornaments at the
close of the present war, and, finally,
the formation. on the basis of the fore
going inquiries, of definite military and
naval programs for defending the
coast line of the United States, Alaska,
the Philippines and other possessions.
and for defending the foreign trade and
foreign property interests of citizens
of his country. This resolution was
also referred to the congressional pro-
gram committee.
a. On motion of Miss Janet Richards
plank 8 in the party platform was
schanged by unanimous vote to proyIue
for economic pressure instead of an in
ternational police as a substitute for
rival armies and naYjea number Of
other resolutions, covering a wide
range in subject, were submitted. all of
which were referred either to the con-
gressional program committee or to
the regular resolutions committee.
chosen last night and consisting of
Mrs. a. Morris Carey of Baltimore,
Janet Richards of Washington.
Appeal Made to Artists.
The report of the so-called art COM
mittee" proved of interest in that it an
to artists. writers and musicians to en-
list their support of an ideal of peace
as opposed to the war ideal which has
always been the theme Of SO man
works Of literature and art.
The session opened with the reports
of officers and closed with the reports
from states and branches. The cleo
ton of officers and the report of the
congressional program committee are
scheduled for this afterpoon.-
The feature tomorrow morning. the
fnsl session, is the consideration of
plans of work. with no voting. Miss
prevailed both On b foreign relations
committee of the Senate and the for
eign affairs committee of the House to
give representatives of the party hear
ings tomorrow. and the final meeting
of the conference will adjourn for