Evening star., 1917-03-04
ASKS REFERENDUM
|. ON 'WAR0 NO WAR
American League of Peace
Advocates Condemns Arm
ing of Merchant Ships.
SENDS PLEA TO CONGRESS

The American Anti-War League held
it's first annual convention in the Meet
ing House of the Friends at 18TH ana
/ streets yesterday afternoon, prompt
ly perfected it's organization and got
down to business by sending resolu-
ton to Congress urging that the mer-
chantmen of the country be not armed.
Representatives from New YORK,
Maryland and Virginia presented their
credentials and obtained recognition
All announced the same motive for
their coming. the desire to keep the
country out of war, and to have perma-
nent peace throughout the world
After the usual formalties of organ
iZation, with Burns c. Downey of wash
ington in the chair. the delegates 10
the number of two score were wei
coined by the secretary, William ".
Makoney of Washington, who put the
situation tersely by saying Aitnough
our numbers are so small, our aim IS
high. and we have great strength
otherwise"
Appeals Made for Peace.
Rev f. w. Parkinson made an appeal
for peace as a duty of those who pro-
fess Christianity. He quoted William
]. Bryan as saying that there can be
no double standard of morals. one for
the individuals and another for their
nation; that an individual may not take
private vengeance on his enemy, ana
nations should be compelled to keep
out of war.
War is systematized. popularized and
commercialized murder" Numbered John
G. Kemp amid applause. 1t was. he
claimed. self-evident that the war specu-
lators control the press; that there was
not a paper published east of the Blue
Ridge mountains that would tell the truth
to the masses. and that the munition
makers to a fearful extent also controlled
the pulpit in its expressions on war
Constitution Adopted.
In framing the constitution it was
decided to admit to membership all who
favored peace without regard to the
citizenship or nationality of the appli-
cant. One of the proposed provisions
was to use all legitimate means to
maintain peace. but on motion of Mrs.
Nathalie B. ELS of Baltimore the word
Legitimate" was stricken out. The
constitution was adopted.
A committee was appointed to pre-
pare a platform or declaration of prin-
cipleS.
Oppose Armed Merchantmen.
The resolution against arming mer-
chantmen was UNANIMOUSLY adopted. 1t
declares that 1.-The proposed arming of
American merchant ships at this crisis
in our foreign affairs would tend to
invite attack and thus precipitate con-
flict which would lead to general hos
tilities and plunge the United States
into an unnecessary war;" and that
the American Anti-War League pro-
tests against such virtual act of bel
ligerency on the part of the United
states at a time when everything pos
sible should be done to allay i'll feeling
and preserve Amerfcon peace"
Election of Officers.
Henry B. Martin of Washington was
elected president. and Mrs. Nathalie B.
Ellis Of Baltimore, Nine. Lucy Thou
maian of Washington and Frank Man
ming of Cherrydale. Va, vice presi-
dents. William V. Mahoney was elect
ed secretary.
Letters of encouragement and con-
tanning promises of support were re-
ceived from many parts of the country,
it was announced.
The expression of the convention was
decidedly opposed to compulsory mill
tary training and to conscription in
any form. 1t also insists upon a ref
war before war can be declared.