The sun., 1917-03-25
FIST FIGHTSA
PEACE MEETING
Wild Disorder Marks Emer-
gency Federation Plea
in the Garden.
SPEAKERS OUTSHOUTED
DR.. Jordan Admits Germany Is
Desperate, but Sees No
Reason to Fight.

Just before the floor Of Madison
Square Garden was ripped UP last night
for the entrance Of Barnum & Bailey's
circus 10000 pacifists had an anti-war
mass meeting there which was enlivened
talthough 1t was gingery enough any
way) by three of the dandiest fist fights
that have been witnessed since the
F'rawley law was enacted.
The first opportunity for the peace
lovers to attest their faith By clouting
one another arrived when DR.. David
Starr Jordan. the principal speaker, got
this far in his address:
only Il few years ago we were all for
peace. Elihu Root. Theodore Roose-
velt----'
lie was stopped by misses. groans and
then sustained booing from all parts
Of the Garden, indicating this crowds
dislike OF the very men whose names
were cheered most 10y the $1,000 who
attended the patriotic meeting In the
same place on Thursday nigh. Then
group of young men on the rising
tier of seats under the south balcony
suddenly hurled themselves at COM
rade who had p!ped, "Hray for Teddy !"
on the main floor the crowd stood up
and turned around to see what WAS
UP. A man. apparently the Teddy
shouter. was trying to 5ab himself
through n dozen Others who were try
ing to get at him. Fists were flying.
first aimed at the Roosevelt supporter.
then indiscriminately at everybody IN
this particular part of the Garden.
Entire Fighting Tier Falls.
John F. Milholland, chairman OF the
meeting, waved his hands frantically
and the band tried the effect OF music on
souls that would not Immediately be
soothed. Presently a whole tier of the
tighters-about a dozen OF them-fell
down in n heap.
Order! order. Sit down. sit down -
Milholland was heard shouting by those
very near to him. The band stopped and
resumed. Somebody was heard scream
ing "To hell with America we want to
help England" :" The fallen dozen got up.
still slamming one another, One OF their
number was eventually carried through
the employees entrance. He was all right
when he reached the open air and went
off without saying whether he started
the row or not.
This little disturbance" said Milhol-
land when he got n hearing, "is artificial.
An effort is being made to break up this
meeting and IL there are any broken
heads the disturbers will be responsible
The police have never failed us yet and
even II they do We will take care Of this
meeting ourselves. Don't put anybody
out. II any one here is feeling bellicose
we invite him up here to the platform
where he may sign his name and enlist
, at once"
DR. Jordan proceeded with his speech,
saying that not long ago all Americans
agreed with President Wilson that war
was the long way and the wrong way "a
settle disputes" He said he could con-
ceive Of justifable war, but this would
| be war for the sake Of political gains
the underwriting OF bonds, revenge OF
any kind" He went on:
"If patriotism consists Of wanting
war there were no patriots IN this coun-
try four years ago ] have no defence
for the crimes which Germany has COM
mittsd against civilization, for the things
which the Emperor forced against his
| will, as know, has done"
No Reason for L. 8. to Enter.
There were Just two classes OF men
/ everywhere. DR.. Jordan said--wlr
hawks and the others. He termed the
/ seizure of Belgium the greatest crime
of all, but 1t must be considered that
the acts Of Germany were those OF a
desperate country. He saw no reason
for the United States getting into the
war. He said that Americans who had
been making money out Of war were
| not, In his opinion, precious in the
sight OF the Lord"
Dr. Jordan conceded that the sinking
| of American ships by Germany was
criminal, but said that England had also
sunk three OF our ships. and that this
offence was not enough to go to wal
about He declared that German mill.
tarism could never triumph over the
world, for peace without victory is the
only thing in sight" He said that
Americas duty was not to get into the
war on any side. but to help all sides
to give money for the rehabilitation OF
France, Belgium. Alsace-Lorraine--
quitting our money everywhere WHERE
It will buy the gratitude OF the nobility
of democracy"
The second fight OF the evening wal
| an interruption OF speech by Rabb
| Judah l.. Magnes. chairman of the ex
ecutive committee Of the Jewish Kehil
lah. He started a great cheer by say
ing, II believe that the plain men ant
women, the plain Americans. do no
| want to 60 10 war There were Screaml
of mo. MOI" and then a great stamp
ing which made the floor shake.
'It may be the munition makers wan
us to CO." he said. and the echo wa
Yes! Yes." and thousands Of Misses
Some teachers OF religion may want u
to go, some bloodthirsty ex-President
| may want to lead our young men boo
ing and more hisslngl but the plaii
mothers who have sons to lose do no
want war The workers who may b.
blinded, the business men who may b.
iamed do not want It,"
At this point an unintelligable some
thing was shouted in the same quartz
where the previous shind!g had oc
| CURED. Another young man wa.
bounced out into Twenty-sixth stree
and Rabbi Magnes was heard endinl
his sentence. Americans who low
America above every other land do no
want to 20 to war;
This provoked another wild outbreaks
Rabbi Magnes also said the newspa per
were lashing the passions of the peopI
into n war foam and were "under tn
control Of war mongers"
"The time has not come" he added
"when we are cnslaved even though
be through malignant charges OF tn
chief magistrate Of a great city"
lie advocated n referendum on the VA
and started both boos and Misses an,
then frantic applause by praising Presi
dent Wilson. who. he said. was reelecte,
ITO keep the nation out Of war" lie sal