BEDLAM-NEARLY.

Taranaki Daily News, 24 January 1916, Page 8

BEDLAM-NEARLY.

FORD PEACE ARGOSY, FIERCE DISSENSION AMONG DELEGATES. tiieii: '.'.klcome AT CHRISTIANA. Christiana, December 19. It is stilted that Henry Ford is not hopeful regarding his peace mission. Asked whether the expedition would stay at The Hague until peace was arranged, he replied: '■That is impossible, because the war perhaps may last 10 years. We will only stay for a lew days at Copenhagen and The Hague." The steamer Oscar 11. arrived at Christiauia at a o'clock this (Sunday) morning. The pilgrims, found the city covered with snow and the temperature at 10 degrees below zero. A small crowd, including students and newspaper men, was at the pier to greet the pilgrims. The Norwegian. Government refuses to recognise the mission officially, and will have no share in its entertainment. ■However, arrangements are being made for an audience with King Haakon on behalf of Mr. Ford himself. The correspondent of the Daily Mail aboard the peace ship telegraphs the following to London:— "Dissensions among the members of the peace party are as widespread and bitter as they were on the day following the mutiny, caused by an attempt to coerce the delegates into signing a declaration censuring President Wilson for his preparedness plan. There is no disguising the fact that a majority of the pilgrims now realise that they are on a fool's errand. " WE HAVE JUMPED A SWITCH." "As an insurgent American in the party expressed it: > " 'We have jumped a switch. We are busted. We have as much chance of getting away with this stunt as a snowball has in hell.' '"There is an overwhelming feeling of depression in the party. At least a dozen delegates intend to desert before they make themselves ridiculous. '"Eight Norwegian and Swedish reporters came aboard at" Christiansand and were immediately received by Ford and Louis P. Lochner. secretary of the International Peace Society. "Afterward the stage was set in the second-class saloon to hoodwinking the Scandinavian newspaper reporters into tlie belief that there was a harmonious crowd of innocent inei'ry-makers aboard. A resolution was unanimously adopted pledging the party to all,efforts to end the war. This was the first motion passed without a dissenting voice since the Oscar 11. sailed from New York. HARMONY? HERE IT IS.

"The Scandinavian correspondents seemed puzzled as to where was the reported lack of harmony. "They were soon enlightened. Up sprang S. S. MeCUire. He said lie had heard rumors that seven New York reporters were to be expelled from the party for 'unprofessional conduct,' and that a committee at that moment was secretly 'framing up' these men.

" "Beware.' said MeChire, 'if such a terrible and serious mistake is consummated so much world-wide disapproval will assail us that Ford's great life work will 'be irretrievably wrecked.'

"In explanation it should be stated that there is undeniable proof that all press messages from the ship are first read by some of Mr. Ford's henchmen. The accused reporters presumably have been writing things distasteful to Lochner, Mme. Rosika Schwimrner and others.

" 'We are divided,' blurted out McClure. 'No words can change that fact.'

"Everybody squirmed, and attempts were made to squelch further exposure. "Hiram Jackson said he thought the question was irrelevant, and that there need be no more discussions. Mrs. Inez Milhollnnd Boissevain ran to the Colonel's side, waving her hands, and shouting wil#ly: 'lf we are going to mediate Europe's troubles, we must first learn to mediate among ourselves. There must be no militaristic settlement in this.'

"Then half-a-dozen delegates commenced to speak simultaneously. Somebody suggested national songs, and above the embarrassing din we heard the voice of the Rev Dr. Aked in 'My Country 'Tis of Thee.'

"All this was going on while the party was waiting for Mme. Schwimmer, who had been in mysterious seclusion for three days. Wild cheers greeted her belated appearance. THE SPIRIT OF THE DEVIL. "In tragic tones Mme. Schwimmer besought the Americans to rescue Europe from complete destruction. Her appeal ended, the row about the reporters was resumed. Governor L. B. Hanna of North Dakota wanted a committee of three to go to Lochner and ask liovf matters stood. Hiram Wheeler, of the Quincy (111.) Journal, warned the company that, a conspiracy of silence would never win. McClure, shaking his fist, said that he was but trying to 'lift the pilgrimage from the slough of suspicion, back-biting and tattling,' into which it had fallen. " 'Let us settle this in the spirit of tile Lord,' pleaded McClure. " 'The spirit of the devil is in this company,' sagely observed an obscure delegate, and a dozen voices yelled, 'Shame!' " The meeting is irregular and improper,' shouted R. W. Huebach, and Senator Helen Ring Robinson demanded that the meeting be adjourned. The motion was carried. Attempts were made to call a special meeting, but the party broke up in disorder. "Thus were the representatives of the Scandinavian newspapers acquainted of the freight of the, wonderful ark."