The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-08-31
Are Driven From Hudson, Wis.,,
Under Lynch Threat.
We're Taken to Train and Start
ed Toward Minneapolis.
FARGO THREW Them OUT
800 Delegates to Somewhere,
Anywhere in the West.
Special Ordered To Turn Back
at EIkhart-tO n. Y.


meetings under the auspices of the
Peoples Council of America for De-
mocracy and Peace will be permitted
in the national capital. The police
department made this announcement
today.
The authorities at the capitol prob
ably will permit no assembly in the
plaza there. Officials when asked for
an opinion referred to the dispersal
of Coxey's army when he attempted to
enter the capital several years ago.
This, they said, was good enough
precedent to govern the case.
Minneapolis. Mimi. Aug. 31.-The
Peoples council today was all
dressed up with no place to 60"
Buffeted thru three states, the
peace advocates thought they had
found a haven in Hudson. Wis, only
to be driven out of town last night
when they arrived to esta blish head
quarters.
Leaders of the Peoples Council of
America announced here today that
they would start for Washington, d.
c., tonight to put the question of their
right of holding a national peace con-
vention up to the federal authorities.
In case a hall cannot be obtained
there. it was suggested that the meet
ing might be held on the plaza in front
of the capitol
The decision to put the issue up to
official Washington was announced
by Louis p. Lochner. executive secre-
tary, after a morning of conferences
with eastern council leaders over the
long distance telephone. Earlier in
the day tentative plans had been made
for holding meeting in Milwaukee.
Officials to Washington.
Council officials now in Minneapolis
plan to leave tonight for Washington.
1t was announced here that the
peace specialT from New 7 ork bring
ing delegates to the meeting, will be
halted at Elkhart, Ind, and sent back
to New York.
Executive Secretary Lochner said
this afternoon that the attempt to hold
the meeting of the council at Wash
ington will be made next Sunday.
I'VE have done with temporizing,"
said Mr.. Lochner, 1--WE have been de-
MED our rights in Minnesota and the
mayor of Hudson, Wis, has thrown
us out without even a hearing. There
must be an immediate accounting"
Western bound delegates have been
advised to proceed to Washington.
Following is the organizing commit
tees statement:
Council Evidently Peeved.
1.-The Peoples council has been de-
MED it's right of lawful assembly un-
der the United States constitution by
an un-American governor of Mime
sofa. There is no time to enforce this
right in the courts. Constitutional
rights of the people are being simii-
larly denied in every state in the un-
ion. One of the chief purposes of the
peoples council is to resist this ten
dency toward Prussianism and to up
hold the constitutional liberties and
rights of the peoples of the Ameri-
can republic.
Therefore, the executive commit
tee has decided to transfer its meet
ing place from Minneapolis direct to
the national capital The government
of the District of Columbia is in the
control of congress, and if our rights
are denied us in Washington they will
be denied US by the United States gov
ernment and not by the unpatriotic
caprice of any local official.
mo Further Temporizing."
I'VE have telegraphed our delegates
to go to Washington and we will meet
and organize our league for democ-
racy and a democratic settlement of
the peace terms in that city. If we
cannot find a suitable building we will
assemble on the plaza in front of the
capitol. There will be no further tenn
porizing. Either the people of the
United States have the right peaceably
to assemble and to speak their
thoughts lawfully and to petition their
government or they have not. This
question will be shortly and finally de-
cided in Washington in the next three
days"
Meanwhile. the special train car
rying 900 delegates was on its way
from New York to somewhere in the
west"
Louis P. Lochner executive sec
retary, had given up the idea of
trying to hold the meeting in Hudson,
Wis. He and lis staff were at hotel
there after a strenuous night.
/, Cries of '-Get Rope"
Citizens OF Hudson listened to pub
lie officials berate the Peoples coun-
ell last night. Then with cries of
get a rope" they ran to the hotel
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