Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1941-05-31
Anti-War Talks
Heard by2,5OO
AtPar|eyH Here
ST, 500 Is Pledged
At Opening Session
To Fight for Peace

thusiastis mass meeting at which
$500 participants cheered demands
for isolation and contributed $500
to carry on the fight to keep Amer
lea out of the war, the National
Anti-War Congress turned today to
further discussion of ways to peace
at a series of round sessions
that were to be climaxed with an
other night meeting.
The three-day conference, snon-
sored by the Keep America Out Of
War Congress, got under way at
Turner's Arena, with Senator
Wheeler, Democrat, of Montana and
Mrs. Robert A. Taft, wife of the
Ohio Senator, heading the list of
speakers, and notable group of
platform guests, who included Mrs.
Alice Roosevelt LongWorth, widow of
the former Speaker of the House,
and Mrs. Bennett Champ Clark, wife
of the Missouri Senator, both of
whom took bows.
We're not in the war yet, and if
the American people have the cour-
age-to use a Western expression.
the guts-to stand up, we won't get
into the war" Senator Wheeler
shouted.
introduced by Thomas.
mo President Of the United States
will dare to take us into the war if
IS or 80 per cent of the people make
it clear that they won't stand for
his taking us into the wal" con-
tinued the Montanan, one of the
leaders of the congressional iSola-
zionist bloc.
Senator Wheeler was introduced
by Norman Thomas, Socialist leader,
who asked the audience for contri-
buttons to carry on the work of the
organizations affiliated with the
congress, and drew ready response
in cash and pledges after Mrs. E. E.
Norris of 2204 Wyoming avenue,
wife of the president of the South
ern Railway, had started the ball
rolling with 500 bill.
During a lull in the speaking.
while the arrival of Senator Wheeler
was awaited, John T. Flynn, the
chairman, introduced several re-
cordings of selections from speeches
in which President Roosevelt has
condemned war and promised not to
send American forces abroad.
Silent Reception Asked.
Admonished by Mr. Flynn against
expressions either of approval or
disapproval of the Chief Executives
words, the audience, fairly equally
divided between youth and age, for
the most part, needed the injunc-
tion-but drawing a ready infer
ence. snickered appreciatively.
When the name of Charles A.
Lindbergh bobbed up in the remarks
of speakers, it was greeted with ap-
plause, and mention of William c.
Bullitt, former Ambassador to
France. and Mayor La Guardia of
New York, who have been speaking
on behalf of the Presidents policies,
drew corresponding boos.
At the outset of his speech, Sena-
tor Wheeler expressed surprise"
that so many people would come
to a meeting of this kind in Wash
ton"
After the Presidents speech in
which he said, of course. that while
Lindbergh, or myself, or Norman
Thomas might be sincere. but that
the crowds that came out to hear
us were either Bundists or Commu-
nists, or something else, I am sur
prised that any one dares to come to
meeting" he continued. 1T does
take great courage"
Charges Preaching of Fear.
Senator Wheeler accused the
President of trying to create a
psychology of fear" and recalling
| that the Chief Executive had said
in his latest speech that "the only
thing we have to fear is fear" added
that mo person has preached more
fear to the American people than
the President of the United States"
The speaker declared that lin try
| ing to lead this country into war"
the President lis playing the game
of the Morgans and the Rockefel-
lers," and that while "95 per cent
of the people" oppose involvement
of this country, they are afraid to
say so.
He scoffed at arguments that de-
feat of the Axis powers is necessary
to protect this country economically
in the Latin American markets, de-
claring that labor, farmers and
manufacturers in the United States
would not permit the import of goods
from the other Americas that would
undercut their own products.
Senator Wheeler also belittled
President Roosevelt's warnings
against the possibility of armed in
vasion of this country by the Ger
mans, declaring that "you won't find
any Army or Navy expert on active
service" who will admit that the
Germans or any Axis combination
could land troops in this country,
and they haven't got bombers that
could carry bombs over here"
Economic Argument Hit.
MIS-. 1a1C also nit at the trade
argument, describing it as 'illogi-
cal as well as immoral-for it places
material benefits above human vel.
fare"
IF we really concentrate on the
defense of America. we can present
a front which will make it very
unlikely that any one nation would
risk attack on u.s." she said. Mrs.
Longworth reached over and patted
her arm approvingly as she sat
down.
Mr.. Thomas received a rousing
ovation when he told the audience
that ut is now time that we began
to look for new leadership"
He urged passage of war referen-
dunn legislation, and asserted that
I'VE shall carry on for an early
negotiated peace"
IF you let America go into the
war. you will never see democracy
return to this country" he warned.
Mr.. Flynn declared that "by a
series of blunders we have been led
to the very edge of the precipice
where we cannot possibly make one