The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1917-08-29
Crowd Takes Possession of
Disloyal Meeting in the
City Tuesday Night
FORCE EASTMAN
TO GIVE UP TALK
Had Launched Into Attack
on England-Fargo's
Patriots Give Notice
Works in Background.

John ID. Works, former
U. S. senator of California,
leader in the People Coun-
Gil, was in Fargo Tuesday
night, during the time that
the Eastman meeting was
broken up. If he was
scheduled to talk at the
meeting, no notice of that
fact was made. Works de-
parted early this morning
for Minneapolis.
While in Fargo, Works
was a guest at the Waldorf
hotel.
Cheers for America, the Stars and
Stripes, the singing Of national songs
and a genuine patriotic demonstra-
ton that surpassed in enthusiasm
any ever previously staged In Fargo,
brought 10 a close Tuesday evening
q peace" meeting at the Civic CEN
ter, addressed by Max Eastman. edl-
tor, OF The Masses. a Socialist pfb-
lication, the disloyal utterances OF
which recently caused the govern
ment to take action by closing the
mails 10 at least one edition.
Eastman had been permitted to
proceed only TO the point Of inslnuat-
ing that Americas course In the
world war was being directed by Sir
Arthur Balfour, when the crowd that
filled the little building. secured for
the meeting 1Ast 2 falE minutes be-
fore the TIM IL eduled to be
held, took charge ot the proceed
lngs.
Eastman Nvitbdrawa.
Eastman was one OF the first Of the
Peoples Council adherents 70 dis
cover that the temper OF the crowd
was such that IL would be well 70
abandon further attempt at spread
Ing the propaganda. and withdrew
from the platform, while soldiers
and members cf the Fargo Home
Guard took possession.
All ia all ii was q cheerful crowd
that made the Peoples Council ad-
herents give up their meeting but /
here was plenty of tenseneas In the
situation AZ all stages.
The breaking up OF the meeting
followed an enthusiasts patriotic
demonstration in the Fargo down
.own district, with members OF Co. |
B, $50 strong. and members OF the !
Fargo Home guard. marching the |
streets behind a band.
Originally, the peace" meeting |
had been announced for a corner In /
he downtown district, but that PLAN
vas dropped a few minutes before /
he time scheduled for the gathering, 1
he Civic Centre being secured for
he affair.
The soldiers and Home Guard
marched then to Ninth street south,
oassing in front of the Civic Centre. |
shortly thereafter, the soldiers and
were dismissed.
The speaker at the Civic Centre l
'ad been introduced by G. o. Par
ons, a Minneapolis Socialist, when
,roups OF soldiers returned from the
.rmory.
Audience Hostile.
II was quite evident from the start L
hat Eastman was dealing with a
lostile audience, although there was
sprinkling Of his supporters in the
rowd.
fIne speaker nad adopked Ehet
curse usually pursued by those on- 4
losing the war, leveling an attack
Ipon England, Americas ally. But L
vhen he suggested that Lord BaIfouK
vas directing the American policy.
he break came. the soldiers took
possession of the han. and the
peace" meeting gave WAY to a
atriotic demonstrati0g.
The rioteus elimination 81 the
peace" meeting was Interpret ID IA
many quarters II Fargo todAE As
cry definite declaration ef Fafgoss
csition os respects loyalty to the
overnmenf and support of the ma
Ions war plans
fargo Ii loyal. and viii have none
the dlsloyai meetings that have
cen tolerated in some other elites of
he nation, said one Fargoan this
Last nights demonstra-
on, which am glad 70 see was car
led out without serious disorder and
'ithout damage 10 property or M
lry to persons, should serve as a
.arning TO others who may think
his a fertile field for sowing seeds
dissension. Fargo Is loyal. and
argo means to stand by the govern
ientT.
Had Escort Ready.
The breaking up Of the EastE
leeting was followed aefuuns
ons In the downtown
oT several hours the Gae botel
Continued on p 30.