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In the galleries of the convention hall sat avid observers, some of whom were accused by the Executive Committee of asking delegates out to meals, to private discus sion groups, to private prayer meetings, and otherwise lobbying to direct the conference along arbitrary and denominational lines. Such persons were discountenanced and frustrated. Freedom of speech was maintained, though an instructor from the University of Michigan, one Francis Onderdonk, with a world peace plan "simple as a flivver" (cinema films showing war's horrors) was thought to be an un necessary adjunct to the program and denied a hearing, even when he went on a hunger strike to get it.
Some delegates demonstrated their forceful tolerance by proposing to boycott a local cafeteria which had refused admittance to a Liberian colleague, C. G. Blooah. The proposal was voted down, but Mr. Blooah's friends walked across town "to eat at a nice Negro restaurant."
From a soapbox in front of the meeting hall, Thomas Q. ("Pat") Harrison, U. S. Captain in the War, delivered to a raccoon-coated street crowd a harangue on "The Sin of War," which he was barred from giving inside. Firebrand of Boston's last Armistice Day celebration, Mr. Harrison is sponsoring a revolt against war. He cried : "We fellows are going to band ourselves together under a vow of poverty. We'll not go hungry, but We'll get along with as little as we can so we'll know we're not taking from the Poor We'll work for small pay. We'll have to get alone with few children. Our wives will have to work. But nobody will own us and we'll keep our freedom to speak out for social justice!' , Within as the sessions drew to a close Dr. Fitch characterized the assembly as "distinctly religious and conservative."