Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1917-04-03

locked up charged with assault. Later
ne was released on $1,000 cash bail for
his appearance tomorrow morning in
police court
Bannwart tonight denied emphati-
cally that he had hit Senator Lodge
first.
Excitement over the fight in the Cap
itol had just died down little when
about a thousand of the peace cham
pions, wearing white arm bands and
banners bearing such inscriptions as
keep out of war" and I'VE want peace
began to assemble on the east entrance
steps to the Capitol for a demonstra-
ton
German Words Heard
1t was remarked that foreign ac-
cents were to be heard frequently ana
sentences in German were spoken more
than once.
The police started to clear the broad
steps before the demonstration was
fairly begun. About this time Pilgrims
of Patriotism" and other anti-pacihsts
made their appearance on the piazza
and mingled with the crowd.
| More Fights
Heated arguments started lmmedl-
ately and at least two fist fights were
launched The bellgerents were quick
| ~ separated. When the anti-paclhstS
grouped themselves about the crowd
and ieered and hooted.
After an hour the pacifists assembled
at Convention hall for a business meet
Iintt1 n.
tional guards armory and guardsmen
booed hooted and jeered as the pacltlstS
passed Police arrived in time to pre-
vent hostilities.
The plans of the pacltists WHr" SO &c
layed that their mass meeting was not
in progress until just before the Presl-
dent went to the Capitol. Several
thousand persons gathered in the hall.
Disorder threatened on several occa-
sions but the police reinforced by
armed national guardsmen managed to
hold the jeering crowd in check.
After several of the addresses had
been delivered the meeting adopted
set of resolutions protesting vigorously
! against war on the ground that hostlll-
ties would fasten on the country a
militaristic imperialism" and urging the
appointment of joint high commission
to settle the issues with Germany.
! portion of the crowd discouraged at
convention hall by the police, nlafched
to the headquarters of the Emergency
| Peace Federation later in the night and
after threatening to wreck the place II
signs that offended them were not re-
| moved started free for all hght. II
was quickly stopped by the police.
ward!"-"Liar!" Bling!
! Bannwart with the Rev. Paul Harris
Drake of Christ church. Dorchester
Mass. and several other men and women
of pacifist delegations, called Senator
Lodge to the door Of his committee room
and asked him to vote against decl1-
ration of war with Germany. Senate"
Lodge replied that if President Wilson
asked for such a declaration he certain
ly would support it.
."That is cowardice," retorted one OF
the group.
National degeneracy is worse than
cowardice," replied the Massachusetts
senator.
; you are a coward" said Bannwart,
"you are liar. retortcd Senator
Lodge.
! Bannwart advanced and struck the
senator. who then despite his 6h-odd
vears launched a blow that sent Bann-
vart snravling on the hard tiles of the
corridor.
Bannwart and several of his friends
we're taken in charge by the Can'tol po-
lice
/ Lodges Statement
7 Senator Lodges formal statement or
/ the encounter was as follows;
az was irving to get away from them.
Tbev we're very violent | said. Wei.
we must agree to differ
Then this man. whom I afterward
learned was Bannwart. said You are
damn coward addressing me person
allv. I went forward, close up to nm
and said You are liar. He struck
me and I struck him, Then the whole
party rushed at me and pushed me
against the wall.
t "A Young man from Arizona who was
in the corridor. my secretaries and Sen
stor Stones messenger interviewed LOT
NV protection and drove them Off.
statement about the affair which in part
was as follows:
"A group of Massachusetts delegates
to the peace gathering were received BY
Senator Lodge. A plea for peace was
presented and replied to by Senator
Lodge. On some further talk by Alex
ander Bannwart of Boston. an American.
and said to be of Swiss descent. the
Senator suddenly called: You arc
damned liar
THE Massachusetts, Senator replied:
Then I must call you one or words to
that effect.
ION this. Senator Lodge struck Bann-
wart in the face. The Boston man
struck back. knocking the Senator down
Thereupon a couple of young men came
out of the Senator's office and began Sc
yerely to pummel and beat BannWart
striking also whether or not accident
ally. a young lady among the delegates
who was trying to explain.
RONNWART is AL