Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1917-08-19
PEACE FARLEY MAY
BOOM LA TOILETTE
Minneapolis Conference Ex-
pected to Start Senator in
Presidential Race.
WILL ATTACK DRAFT LAW
Special Correspondence of The Star and
New York World.

special Correspondence of The Star ana
New York World.
MINNEAPOLIS, Mimi, August IL
The peace meeting of the Peoples
Council of America. scheduled to take
place in Minneapolis in September. viii
be national in scope and will
be the occasion for staging all of the
objections registered against American
participation in the war. Its 1mmed1-
ate effect will not be far-reaching, ex-
cept as 1t may give a wrong impress
sion that America is not united in the
war and to that extent may further
weaken Russias support and encourage
Germany. 1t Will be "camoufiage.
designed to deceive the world as to
what really is going on in the heart
of America.
From another viewpoint it will be of
more than usual significance. 1t will
be the opening of political campaign.
to raise an issue for the congressional
races a year hence, preliminary to the
next presidential campaign.
Senator La Toilette Central Figure.
The aim of it's supporters is to unite
all of the elements in the country that
may be united in condemning Amer
ica's interest in the world war. These
will include the pacifists. the Bryanites.
the pro-Germans, the radical socialists,
the Syndicalists and the !. W. w
Its first grand movement will be to
stage fight for the repeal OF the dra1t
law.
Senator Robert NJ. La Toilette of
Wisconsin is generally credited with
being the head of the movement and
has supplied its intellectual material
There are many Independent move
ments working to the same end. All
of them gravitate to the position of the
ableSt man in opposition to the govern
mentS war position.
The adherence of Senator Gronna of
North Dakota indicates the effort that
will be made to link up with the move
ment the Non-Partisan League, which
has gained so much strength in that
state and which, under the leadership
of Townley. has been openly critical of
the administrations war policy
German Press Approves.
That the movement may have far
reaching political consequences is
realized by the German press in the
United States. The New York Stats
Zeitung calls attention to il and to
the possibility of union of the farm
ers' organizations such as the Nom
Partisan League, with radical labor or
CARNATIONS. meaning the socialists.
under the leadership of Senator La Fol-
lette. who is hailed as possible presi-
Dental candidate three years hence.
Senator La Toilette has been openly
hostile to the war movement and has
omitted no opportunity to register that
opposition. In his position he has had
support in the positions taken by such
men as Senator Stone of Missouri. SEN
ator Gronna of North Dakota and Sen
ator Hardwick of Georgia.
Everything that has occurred under
the inspiration of these leaders appears
to have been staged with the Mime
apolis meeting in mind.
A Party of Discomfort.
The plans which are said to be in proc
ess of formulation indicate one OF the
most interesting efforts to bring into ex-
istence a party of discomfort ever at
tempted in the history of this country
Ii aDpare ntly aims to discard old political
labels Senator La Follette's attitude is
not supported by republicans in the Sem
ate. Those who are supporting him in
the Senate and out of it are recruited
from so many various elements that it IS
impossible to label them. An evidence of
the character Of his support is that of
Representative Lunsden of minneapolis
who in a recent communication to
Niereck's former Fatherland. announc-
ed his intention to vote to repeal the draft
law.
So far as the congressional elections one
year hence are copcerned. the fight, If II
develops according to present indications
will be between those who supported the
government and those who do not. regard
less of party affiliations. 1t will be a
struggle similar to that which occurred
during the civil war. when copperhead
ened to overthrow President Lincoln be-
fore his work was completed.
Propagandists at Work.
Whatever may be the motives of such
men as Senator La Toilette. there can be
no doubt of the hearty Endorsement his
attitude will receive from those back of
German propaganda in this country. Their
yearning is for peace
Aiming in the same general direction
of premature peace are such organizations
as the Peoples Council of America. the
American Union Against Militarism,
/. w. w. agitators. the American Peace
Society, the reorganized American En-
barge Peace Conference and fictitious
workingmen's councils. Aiding these are
various organizations which have been
called into existence through opposition
to the draft. remnants of the Bryan
group and the radical socialist element
under the leadership Of Morris Hilquitt-