The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1917-09-02
PEOPLES COUNCIL
MEETING BROKEN UP
They attempt IN Defy ordor of I'LL
aois Governor Prohibiting Their
Gathering.
TALK OF cHARTERINo SHIP.
Orders 10 Chicago Police TO Break Up
Convention II Held There Issued
Over Head of Mayor Thompson.

J Chicago. September 1.-The Peo-
pies Council for Democracy and Terms
for Peace deled tonight Governor
1-e.E4.-e94,s order prohibiting THAR meet
! 3rgs IN Chicago. held a conference
and laid plans by which the prohibit
tory order may be evuded tomorrow
mud fhn object Of their gathering
( the election OF officers and the rati-
dcaf!on Of an already existing tempo
rarg organi2ation--m he accom-
: TT fft+-&4@
Delegates in Minnesota under the
leadership Of Prof Dana. of Colum-
I lvta university. were ordered TO leave
there for Chicago tonight and assist
8n carrying ont the plans TO morrow.
The plans provide for secret meet
ines ny the delegates from each state
who are TO elect one delegate from
, their number. who in turn will at
tend another secret meeting. at which
the orcanizatlon will be perfected.
rf7fz-77 1uvr fails through the
watchfuluess Of the police. It was
said. q ship will be chartered which
Will take fifty or more delegates TO
Riga, Russia. for n meeting.
The decision 10 attempt what
amounts to Il defiance OF Governor
I.owaens order was reached by the
delegates this afternoon after the
police had broken up a meeting they
had started on the West Side.
Twelve policemen. under first Dep
1lfty Chief of Police Westbrook. forced
their way into the hall and demanded
that the meeting dispense at once.
Go quietly and we are your
friends: II not we must arrest you"
the delegates were warned.
Demanded TO i've Arrested.
Scores demanded that they be plao-
"a under arrest
'Tf they do not let us bold meet
tnrs publicly We. will he forced TO
hold them secretly in cellars. as they
ala fa Russia" ehouted Seymour
Stedman. Chicago Socialist loader
who was chairman NJ the meeting.
ps~recr Wanted To Get In Too.
He was placed under arrest, Got
room for me-" demanded Victor
berger. of milwaukee,. showing his
large hulk alongside Stedmap. He
! also was placed under arrest The
two were walked to thp street and
! then were released.
At the Fort Dearborn hotel where
jthe delegates are making their head
quarters. a score os detectives and
police In plain clothes were station
/ ed Every gathering Of the paci-
/ Hets in one Of the rooms was broken
-sl4l-anA- finally the members Of the
! nominating committee were forced to
alsp out. one bv one. to the secret
place, where their plans for defying
tho governor were laid
Senator Works Of California, IN ex-
i rectod TO arrive in The city tomor-
row, but whether he will take part
I'm any Of the state conferences or IN
the final mee'ing of the delegates
elected at these conferences Ia not
known.
Plans also were lafd tonight for n
number Of public meetings tomor-
row. Mt which the cause OF the cour-
ell will he presented to the public.
Governor Lowden'e order TO stop
The meetings was issued ovhr the head
~ Mayor Thompson and direct to
Chief Of Police Schuettler. It follow
cd an appeal TO the governor by nm
pfflcor of the Security League of
America.
Ut Ia my desire that the meetin gs
NJ tho Peoples Council for Democra-
cw and Peaca Terms he not permitted
IN the city of Chicago or the state
and ! ask you 70 use your police to
gee fhat they are prevented from
meeting" the order read. II precipi-
tated n clash between the governor.
"A Republican executive. and Mayor
Thompson who is Republican national
4 committeeman for Illinois.
Governors Authority Questioned
Il question the governors authority
IN give orders TO the police OF chi
cago and ] intend 10 investigate tho
matter" the mayor declared. Il DO
not believe I'm interfering with the
! within Of any faction or persons and 80
long as factions. societies or orRant-
nations Of any KIND want to hold meet =
4 inRs in Chicago without violating the
! laws Of the nation, state or city,
| shall take no means TO stop them.
: A uumher Of the delegates tonight
found themselves RUNNING out OF
money and prepared to go home,