Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1917-04-02
CRIES FOR PEACE
AND WAR RESOUND
IN WASHINGTON
BY Associated Press


anti-pacifist pilgrims besieged official
washington to-day in an eleventh
hour effort to influence Congress to-
ward their respective views of impend-
ing war with Germany. Street parad-
ing was denied both by police orders.
but the program of each called for un-
organized sidewalk professions to the
capitol, where Senators and Repre-
sentatives might be canvassed for their
peace or war ideas.
simultaneously thousands of tele-
grams from all parts of the country
poured in upon the Capitol and White
House either praying for peace or urg-
ing drastic action to uphold American
rights and honor.
Flags fioated from nearly every win
dow In downtown Washington, from
houses in the residential sections and
all automobiles carried red, white and
blue banners. Men and women wore
flags on their coats and children car
ried them to school. The day was
marked by show of patriotic fervor
seldom equaled in Washington, even
on Independence Day.
Pacifists Meet
Most pacifsts came here from New
York and other cities under the direc-
ton of the Emergency Peace Fedora
tion. They arranged a meeting this
afternoon to act on resolutions and
petitions and mass meeting for to-
night. The anti-pacifists, calling
themselves pilgrims of patriotism"
came from number of Eastern cities,
marshalled by New York citizens
committee to neutralize the effect of
the anti-war forces.
The delegations of pacifists as
sembled at headquarters of the Emerg-
ency Peace Federation and were fur
nished with white arm bands bearing
in large black letters the inscription
Keep Out of War"
They were supplied also with cards
TO admit them to the business and
mass meetings and the city addresses
of their Senators and Representatives.
The delegates were instructed to spend
the morning calling upon their legisla-
tive representatives and urging them
to take no action that would lead to
hostilities.
Militants Active
Anti -pacifists said they too would be
at the Capitol whenever the pacifists
planned to be there. They had instruc-
tions similar to those OF the pacifists
and long before the time set for the
opening of Congress the telephone
bells of Senators and Representatives
were tinkling with calls from both fac
tions.
Louis p. Lockner was directing the
activities of the pacifists.
IF we should fail to prevent war"
he said. I'VE will continue to work for
peace just as certain people on land
have done all during this war in
Europe"
David Starr Jordan, president of Le-
land Stanford University and one of
the leading paeifists. made an effort
to see President Wilson this morning
but the President was busy.
About 1 900 of the pacifists assemb-
led on the steps of the main entrance
at the Capitol and became so active
that squads of police drove them to
the broad plaza while small delega-
tons of the pilgrims jeered and hoot-
ed. The pacifists shouted replies and
there was no mistaking foreign ac-
counts in the words of some of the
shouters. There were a few clashes
between the two parties but nothing
in the nature of serious fighting or dis
order.
Pacifsts Are UnruIy
Some of those in the crowd persist
ed in breaking through the police lines
and mounting the steps. Police re-
serves were called and the pacifsts
were forced back a considerable dis
tance on the plaza. Then some of
them began to leave. One or two
were seen to remove their arm bands
and I'VE want peace-Pennsylvani
sashes and stuff them in their pockets
before departing. Four or FIVE hum
dred, however. remained The police
in the Capitol grounds kept all per-
sons wearing pacifist insignia on the
move.
Delegations of pacifists held "war
protest" meetings in their respective
senator's offices.
One such delegation was rebuked
by Senator Wadsworth when one of
several speakers said America had
been a false friend to Germany.
That's calling my country a pretty
harsh name; l don't care to hear any
more of It," asid Wadsworth in ter
the interview.
Senator Pomerene, of Ohio, indig-
nant over arguments of an Ohio paci-
fist delegation visiting him. told them:
You are the best allies the kaiser
has"