New York Times
CHICAGO PARTY UNDECIDED
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Meeting Place in Doubt, but Minneapolis Contingent Entrains
Special to the New York Times
CHICAGO, Aug. 31.—A special train bearing 100 delegates of the People's Council of America for Democracy and Peace arrived in Chicago tonight, its occupants shy of funds and depressed in spirits and the destination unknown. Barred from Minnesota by Governor Burnquist, driven out of Hudson, Wisconsin and prevented from meeting in Fargo, N.D., they are without a home. Declarations that they would meet in the shadow of the Capital at Washington met with a quick response that the police would treat them as they did Coxey's army.
The delegates' arrival was followed by a babel of indecision which drove passenger agents in the La Salle Street Station to distraction. Then they adjourned to the Fort Dearborn Hotel. There an equally wordy discussion occupied some three hours of time. The upshot of all was a wire from Louis P. Lochner, Executive Secretary and all around bellweather of the organization, stating that the Minneapolis contingent, also in search of a home, was embarking for Chicago and would arrive early tomorrow.
The first official act in Chicago was to organize a meeting in the reception room of the Fort Dearborn Hotel, "for the discussion of means of bringing our work before the people" for the members of the delegation. The Organizing Committee met in another room to decide just what course to take.
In attendance at the closed committee meeting were Miss Emily G. Balch, Professor H. W. Longfellow Dana, Miss Crystal Eastman, Professor Lindley M. Keasby, Algernon Lee, Charles H. Maurier, Jacob Pankin, leader of the delegation; A. W. Ricker, Winter Russell, J. Schlossberg, M. Pine, Mrs. H. P. Thomas, the Rev. Lindley Gordon, Seymour Stedman, Robert H. Howe, leader of the Chicago Committee which welcomed the delegates, and J. B. Salutsky.
Miss Crystal Eastman and A. W. Ricker stated that they hoped the final vote, which will be taken here tomorrow by a special committee, would still be in favor of going to Minneapolis. Miss Eastman pointed out that Mr. Hillquit was only one member of the committee. When the special committee arrived from Minneapolis tonight they chose Mrs. Julia S. Poyntz as Chairman, and after several suggestions as to the future course adjourned for something to eat.
On the train a petition was circulated to go to Minneapolis regardless of the opposition of the Minnesota Governor. It obtained a few signatures and disappeared somewhere. Those back of the petition asserted that their courage had been challenged. It was somewhere in the discussion that the petition disappeared.
Sara Bard Field was quoted as having said, in commenting on the various changes as to a meeting place.
