Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1917-06-01
Government Criticized

Several speakers severely criticized
the government, one declaring that
within the last 60 days VIC have COM
pletely transformed our government
and the people have had nothing to
say about it, so far have they been
removed from control of their govern
ment." The same speaker, Gilbert f..
Roe, president of the Free Speech
League of America, added that some
where along the line the voters of this
country must have q chance to express
themselves"
Resolutions Passed
Resolutions declaring that IAN oppor-
tunity has been created for bringing the
war to an end in the manner most ia
vorable TO the people in all lands" and
calling upon the government of the Unit
ed States to issue "a definite and con-
crete statement of its war aims and its
terms of peace" were PASSED at the scs-
sion tonight of the so-callcd First Amer
lean Conference on Democracy and Terms
Of Peace.
Thousands Turned Away
Thousands Of persons were turned away
from the meeting at Madison Square
Garden after that great ampitheatre had
been filled and the fire department d.
rected tina. no more be allowed inside
Several hundred extra policemen were on
duty in the vicinity and two fire engines
with fires banked and hose attached. were
order. The meeting, however. was entire
~ free Of any signs Of violence.
Worse Than Slavery"
Norman L. Thomas, addressing the
meeting on Transcription and the Con
scientious DIRECTORS" charged that 1.-THE
attempt to force man to fight is worse
than the imposition Of chattel slavery"
The report of the committee on Amerl-
can liberties, of which the Rev. Richard
IIogue, director of the Civic Forum Of
Baltimore, is chairman, urged abolish
ment of secret diplomacy and demand-
ed a referendum on questions of war ana
CONSUMPTION.
I'VE also declare the report added
that all Americans are entitled to pass
ports to neutral countries. Legislation
now pending in Congress if passed will
make this country more autocratic than
Russia under the rule Of the Gar"
Kiefer's Denunciation
The CONSUMPTION act We characterized
today as both immoral and unconstitu-
tional by Daniel kiefer of Cincinnati, who
was introduced after DR.. Judah l.. Mag
mes, one of the organizer. Of the confer
had 70 otr1l-
es from Washington telling Of the pur-
pose of the department Of justice to take
stenographic. notes at peace meetings ana
prosecute those who infringe the law;
kiefer in his address advised appeal to
courts ".as the first duty Of a patriotic
citizen who had been drafted"
THE CONSUMPTION act" he said, lis
both immoral and unconstitutional 1t
violates the prohibition against invol-
untary servitude. Not even the hair
splitting plea can be urged in the pres
ent case that the 18th amendment does
not forbid national defense. Sending
conscripts to Europe is not national
defense but mixing in the quarrels of
outside nations and if, as is suggested.
conscripts can be compelled to work. as
farm hands. factory hands or in other
forms of civil service, the 18th amend
ment is not worth the paper it is writ
ten on
Kiefer said it was not question Of
a citizens duty to defend the country;
that such d situation does not con-
front us" He declared the United
States was at war because certain
persons with authority wish to have
us at war regardless of necessity or of
poupar wishes; otherwise there would
have been referendum on war and
Consumption.
I'VE have been told that this is a war
for democracy" he continued We'll, any
people that are determined to have de-
can have it without war. When
Russia definitely decided TO send the Car
a packing she did not need to wait for
victory over Germany to do SO. She
simply sent him away. We can have
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