Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1917-09-02
Peoples Peace Council At
temptS to Hold Meeting in
Chicago but is Broken Up
by Order Of Governor Low
4 den.
NOMINATING COMMITTEE
HAS EXECUTIVE POWER
Afterthough of Secretary
Gives DisIoyaIty Nucleus for
Further Action, Is Announce
ment at Dispersal
rur MORNING IouRsAL SPECIAL LEASED w,ss,

tuT MORNING JOURNAL SPECIAL lEbbEn WlHb'
Chicago, Sept. 1.-The organizing
committee of the Peoples Council OF
America for Democracy and Terms OF
Peace disbanded here tonight LOUIS
p. Lochner, executive secretary, issued
the following statement:
I'VE have formed a permanent or
ganization which was our purpose,
and we are satisfied. This was done
before the police stopped the meeting
in the West side auditorium and we
are now disbanded.'
What the meeting accomplished be-
fore the advent of the police was to
appoint nominating committee. This
committee was said to have power to
act as an executive committee. The
members of the nominating commit
tee are Prof Robert NJ. Lovett, of Chi
cago; Victor Berger, OF Milwaukee,
James Salutsky, New York; Mary
Winsor, of Philadelphia: Emily Green
Balch, Wellesley college; FRANC Stev-
ems. Of Delaware: sarah Bard Field, Of
San Francisco. and l.. Maybrick, OF
san Antonio, Tex.
Summary Dispersal.
The summary dispersal by the po-
lice on the governors orders in the
meeting of the organization commit
tee of the Peoples Council of America
for Democracy and Terms of Peace
here late today added Illinois to the
forbidden states of Minnesota, Wiscon-
nA North no kntl SpNm0IIr
Steadman. local socialist leader and
chairman of the meeting, counselled
the delegates, who numbered about
200, to stay in Chicago, promising a
court order permitting the meeting
would be applied for Monday During
the afternoon there were a number OF
groups in conference, but darkness
fell without the tired advocates of
peace knowing what was to be re-
quired of them.
In Belligercnt Mood.
They were still belligerent, how
ever, and some who suggested leas-
ing an excursion boat and holding the
meeting on Lake Michigan, were
branded as lacking the courage Of
their convictions. The council is said
to have a large number of local chap
ters, but no national organization to
coordinate their efforts. 1t was to
form such a body that Louis P. Loeb
ner executive secretary, sought a
meeting place. 1t remains uniformed
for the police raid cut short the pro-
ceedngs before the credentials com
mittee had time to report, An arbi-
trary organization was later an
nounced.
Commerce Chamber Protests.
Governor Lowden's attention was
called to the meeting by the Chicago
chamber of commerce, which alleged
the gathering was avowedly antag-
onistic to our national purposes in the
present world crisis"
The governor first ordered that
troops take the situation in hand, then
changed his mind and got Chief of
Police Schuetler on the long distance
telephone. The latter sent w. H..
Westbrook, assistant chief with twen-
ty men in automobiles to the audi
torium where the meeting was in prog
ress The melting was dispersed
without disorder. The governor gave
out the following statement:
Governors Statement.
"The governor is charged with the
responsibility of preserving peace in
the state. If, in his judgment, dis
order and riot are likely to result
from this so-called peace meeting, it
is his duty, and he has the power, to
prevent the meeting. His understand
ing is that while the meeting purports
to be in the interests of peace really
it is intended to obstruct the govern
ment in the prosecution Of the war
and is calculated to produce disorder
and rioting in Illinois. He will not,
therefore, permit this meeting to be
held in Illinois"
Mayor Thompson did not see the
situation as did the governor. II
can do nothing to prevent them from
meeting in Chicago" he said. "Pacif-
lists are law-abidipg citizens" /"
Had the meeting proceeded with