Evening star., 1939-04-16
Woman Interrupts
Peace Conference
Of One Hundred
Charges Organization
Is 'RoiIrooding Us
Into War

Interrupted momentarily by a
woman who charged they were
"railroading us into war;" the Con-
ference of One Hundred last night
expressed near-unanimous support
for the proposed Thomas ammend-
ment to the Neutrality Act as a
means of avoiding war by economic
pressure on treaty breaking nations.
Though no vote was taken at the
evening session, the group of col
lege professors, editors, lawyers and
civic leaders meeting for a two-day
session at the Shoreham Hotel, re-
vealed in the discussion that fol-
lowed an address by Senator
Thomas of Utah that they were
strongly in favor of his amendment.
Confusion caused by the unidenJi-
fled woman who suddenly demanded
to be heard was quickly quelled.
While the woman charged the
meeting was packed with lobby
ists," the conferees sat in an almost
shocked silence. Finally, one of the
members arose to ask a question of
DR.. Charles G.. Fenwick and the
woman retired.
Thomas Answers Critics.
Senator Thomas devoted his talk
to answers to the criticisms he had
heard of his proposed amendment.
He denied that what he termed re-
strietion of American citizens from
trade with aggressor nations was
an unfriendly act to foreign ma
ton, as he said had been charged,
and pointed out that to the best
of his knowledge no wars had been
fought because a nation was carry
ing out a policy of restricting its
own citizens.
Ethiopia, however," he added,
"might as well have declared war on
US. We were just as much an ahy
of Italy as if we had actually come
out and said we Were."
DR.. Fenwick, reviewing the his
tory of American neutrality, claimed
that maintaining a neutrality policy
failed to keep the United States out
Of the World War.
Citing the present Neutrality Act
as failure, DR.. Fenwick said the
Thomas amendment would make it
strong instrument both from
defense standpoint and from that Of
preventing wars elsewhere.
Geyer Addresses Meeting.
Representative Lee Geyer of Cali
fornia, who arose from a sick bed to
speak briefly at the meeting, said
he didn't believe there is such
thing as neutrality once war breaks
out.
IF we are going to keep out of
war" he declared, eve must keep
war out of the world
He said Congress needed instruc-
tions from the people to proceed
further on the question of foreign
policy and pointed out that If Great
Britain went to war, Canada would
be attacked by Germany.
The Afternoon session was devoted
to a discussion of the types of meth
ods to be used in setting forth the
world situation to service clubs, the
rural community, the stage, youth.
business, women, the church, the
schools and adult education groups.
Radio Forum Today.
The Conference of One Hundred
will climax its study of the possibili-
ties of peace and ways of mobilizing
the people behind a firm foreign
policy opposed to aggression with a
radio forum and dramatic broadcast
this afternoon.
Earlier in the day, the conference
will split up into five committees to
consider opposing aggression, eco
nomic justice between nations, ade-
quate peace machinery, organization
and activities.
Principal speakers at the breakfast
shortly after noon will be Oscar
Chapman, Assistant Secretary of the
Interior, who will preside; Assistant
Secretary of State George S. Messer-
smith and Speaker Claude Pepper
Of Florida.
Participants in the broadcast, to
be heard at 2:30 pm. over the
Mutual network, will include Orson
Welles, President Ernest wilkins of
Oberlin College, James B. Carey
secretary Of the Congress of Indus
trial Organizations; Tamara, Fran
chot Tone. Clark M. Eichelberger,
James T. Shotwell and Harry Ter,
rell. Following the broadcasts the
conference members will hear the
reports of the committees.
Federal Bar Votes