PACIFISTS IN UPROAR.

Taihape Daily Times, Volume 8, Issue 6, 8 January 1916, Page 8

PACIFISTS IN UPROAR.

UNION JACK POSTER TORN UP,

There were violent scenes at an anti-conscription meeting at the Memorail Hall, Farringdon Street, London, recently, says the Daily Express.

“You cannot light devils with devils,” Mr. Lansbury roared, illustrating what he styled his pacifist attitude to a large audience assembled under the auspices of the Independent Labour Party. The audience yelled with enthusiasm and threatened a soldier in khaki who protested wim various forms of violent treatment.

“Let the war be won by free men,” a speaker shouted, and the audience cheered wildly. “But lam not here to ask any man to go and kil his fellow man,” the speaker went, on. The pacifists roared again in thankfulness for several minutes. A man jumped up in the body ’ of the hall and displayed a largo poster on which was a Union Jack. THE INTRUSIVE PATRIOT.

Immediately it was snatched from his hands and torn up. When the man continued to wave a crumbl'ed fragment above his head a neighbouringpacifist threatened -him with a walk-ing-stick, while* others yelled at him. The farther the pacifists were from the obstructor the more courageously they shouted, "Throw him out, the cur.” When the man proceeded tremove his overcoat the pacifists immediately subsided, calling - to each other to be calm.

"My friend, I wish you would go to the front,” shouted Mr. Outhwaite, M.P., from the platform later on; "your face would frighten a Ger-

man.” This offensive thrust appeared to make the othdr occupants of the front seats on % the platform a trifle bashful for a moment. But Mr. Outhwaite pursued his advantage, urging in a tearful voice that recallied the' Land Song that those who own the land should pay for the war. He appealed to interrupters to wait and put their questions later. (When a questioner rose afterwards Mr. Oothwaite - had left).

"W-heu the Government gets control of men it makes them veritable slaves, ” Mr. Outhwaite said so solemnly that a woman pacifist at the back of the hall screamed by mistake and was suppressed. —"On what grounds should we follow the armies that have led us to Antwerp and the Dardanelles” was a question which brought half-a-doz-cn pacifists to their feet. When a tall-young soldier, unable to suffer the speeches any longer, walked slowly and silently down the hall and out with his head in the air, almost the whole gathering booed him until lie finally disappeared. A PACIFIST’S COURAGE.

At the door a pacifist slioutcd something. The soldier turned and asked what ■ was. said. "I was speaking to another man, not you,” said the pacifist quickly. As the soldier went downstairs the pacifist threatened "to take him on,” but when the soldier replied, "Right O, ” over his shoulder the pacifist was called away. The chairman called for "Order ami struck Ids bell. People glared at •each other and shouted. Women made shrill interruptions alii the tuns hi their efforts -to sell literature along the gangways. At the close an. aljuoso unanimous vote of t pro t esc against conscription was earned with enthusiasm, all the objectors having left the hail.