THE PEACE CRUSADE IN OLDHAM - NEWSPAPER LETTERS

OLDHAM CHRONICLE
9th August 1917 (Thursday)
THE PEACE MEETING

Sir, Your report of the attack on the promoters of the peace meeting on Monday evening and the consequent disgraceful riotous proceeding was substantially correct, but there seemed to be a half apologetic tone running through, as though one must be careful not to hurt the feelings of the New Zealanders who took such a prominent part therein. One would have thought that for the sake of our boasted love of fair play and for the honour of the town, that the affair should have been fairly and squarely denounced, not seek to palliate the disgrace by hinting at 'injudicious' and 'foolish' remarks of the victims' friends, and the quoting by one of those isolated remarks. It is merely drawing a red herring across the p [?] but to all fair-minded people the question will arise as to why, so far, there is no talk about punishment for those who who maltreated citizens of this town, who were about to hold a perfectly legal meeting culminating in the cowardly and dastardly attack on a defenceless and inoffensive man who had no part or responsibility whatever in connection with the said meeting. What a noble and inspiring sight it would be to the onlookers to see the seven or eight brave heroes dragging their brave and bleeding victim along Union Street. What hope and promise it would give for the hope and fulfilment of the noble aims of the Allies when these men go out to fight for freedom and the rights of the weak against the strong! [??] there is a mistake somewhere - these things should only happen in Germany.
A. [?]