PAX SPECIAL
Is Received Quietly.
Party Carefully Protected While in Cincinnati.
Speakers at Luncheon Urge International Understanding -- Amy Woods Assails Critics.
Quiet and absence of demonstrations of any kind marked the visit to Cincinnati yesterday of the Pax Special, carrying 24 foreign women who came to the city as the guests of Mrs. Simon Kuhn. In order to avert the possibility of any unpleasant reception of the delegates on the part of those who opposed their coming, the time of the arrival of the delegates and plans for their entertainment were kept secret until shortly before their arrival.
The travelers on the Pax Special were met at the railway station at Winton Place yesterday morning by Mrs. Simon Kuhn, her daughter, Mrs. Leonard Minster, and a group of women with automobiles. After a breakfast at the home of Mrs. Kuhn, [3668] Washington Avenue, Avondale, groups of the women visited various places of interest in the city. In one group visiting Rookwood Pottery were [Matilda] Widegren, of Sweden, and Marcelle Capy and Andrée Jouve, the two French delegates. Dr. Ethel Williams, of England, and Dr. T. Budzińska-Tylicka, of Poland, visited the General Hospital.
The delegates then attended a luncheon at the Hotel Alms at 1 o'clock, which was attended by 200 citizens of Cincinnati, both men and women.
Detectives Are Present.
Plans for the luncheon were kept secret until a late hour and every possible precaution was taken to protect the foreign visitors, private detectives being present in the group which assembled for luncheon.
Dr. Ethel Williams, one of the three English delegates, presided at the luncheon, at which each of the delegates spoke.
The need for international love and understanding was the keynote of the short addresses made by the foreign delegates. Only once during the course of the luncheon did any of the speakers tend to become violent in her speech. Miss Amy [Woods], National Secretary of the Women's International League for Peace and Freedom, severely condemned the forces which resulted in the agitation in Cincinnati previous to the coming of the Pax Special. Miss [Woods'] attack upon newspapers and certain groups was checked by Mrs. Simon Kuhn, who interrupted her with the request that she refrain from making any remarks about the Cincinnati situation.
Miss [Woods], after the luncheon, assailed the Cincinnati Kiwanis Club and certain members of the American Legion who opposed the coming of the Pax Special to Cincinnati. They were laboring under a misunderstanding of the real purposes of the Women's International League for Peace and Freedom in the charges, she said. Cincinnati and Wheeling, W. Va. were the only cities where public demonstrations in honor of the delegates were not held. The Cincinnati Kiwanis Club was responsible for the action of the Wheeling Kiwanis Club in opposing their coming, she declared.
Opposed to Training.
"It is not fair to condemn the American Legion for the misguided action of a group of members of this organization, who believe the untrue propaganda issued against the Woman's International League for Peace and Freedom," [Miss Woods] said. She said the league was working with the Youth Movement throughout the country. She declared herself opposed to military training in the colleges and also in the military camps where young men receive training.
Approximately 200 men and women were present on invitation last night at the home of Mrs. Simon Kuhn, 3668 Washington Avenue, to meet members of the Pax Special.
In addresses delivered by 13 of the visitors before the gathering, the keynote of [cooperation] among the mothers of nations to inculcate ideals of peace in coming generations was stressed. Speakers pointed out that mothers, who are most affected in case of war, are most able to work toward its prevention.
Miss [Woods] called attention to the efforts being made in the United States to develop forms of chemical warfare. Although this method, when introduced, was considered barbarous by the United States, American scientists now are devoting their energies toward its development, she said. She asked the audience whether these scientists could not be more valuably employed in improving the implements of peace.
Conditions in the various European countries were described by delegates from those countries. The speaking program was followed by a reception during which the citizen guests were introduced to the Pax Special members.
Delegates Express Thanks.
At the close of the evening the delegates expressed their thanks to the small group of Cincinnatians who had afforded them "exceptionally cordial treatment and kindness." In spite of the fact that they had not held a big demonstration, they said, they felt they had reached the hearts of a few in their mission for peace.
In the Pax Special party were Lady Claire [Annesley], Dorothy Evans and Dr. Ethel Williams, of England; Lotta Heller, Austria; Lucie Dejardin, Belgium; Catherine [Karavelowa], Bulgaria; Lucy Woodsworth, Canada; [Milena] Illova, [Czechoslovakia]; Mme. M. Hong, China; Marcelle Capy, Andrée Jouve, France; [Gertrud] Baer, Germany; Mme. [Ramondt Hirschmann], Holland; Eugénie Meller, Hungary; Marie Johnson, Ireland; [Lilian] Holby, Norway; Dr. T. Budzińska-Tylicka, Poland; Mme. [Matilda Widegren], Sweden; [Gertrud] Woker, Switzerland; Mme. [Epaish] Youssouff, Turkey; Dr. [Nadija Surowzowa], Ukraine; Miss Amy Woods and Miss Martha Trimble, United States.
Among the Cincinnati women who were active in bringing the Pax Special to Cincinnati and who had a share in the entertainment of the party while here were Mrs. Leonard Minster, Mrs. Charles Kuhn, Mrs. Max Senior, Mrs. Henry W. Backus, Mrs. J. W. Risser, Mrs. Samuel W. [Sturm], Mrs. A. F. Halsey, Mrs. Carl Pritz, Mrs. William H. Fennell, Miss Abigail Halsey, Mrs. Ada Males, Mrs. A. L. Stix and Mrs. Simon Kuhn.
Fifteen students of the University of Cincinnati attended the luncheon yesterday.
The delegates left last night for Dayton, Ohio.
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