The San Francisco call., 1896-07-03
A SOCIALIST
UNDER ARREST.
His 0ffense Was Lecturing
on the Public
Streets.
WAS RELEASED ON BAIL
The Gathering Disturbed the
Secret Meeting of the Odd
Fellows.
PREPARING FOR THE FOURTH
The Local Section and Delegates From
Many Other Bodies Will Be
in the Parade.
PREPARING FOR THE FOURTH

The police have again undertaken to in
terfere with the socialists open-air meet
ings on Seventh and Market streets. Last
night one of the speakers, William Costley,
was arrested and taken to the Southern
Police station, where he was charged with
obstructing the street. This interference
will be bitterly contested in the courts by
the socialists, and if they do not possess
sufficient money to maintain their rights
of free speech they will appeal for assist
ance to the association organized for the
preservation of free speech and freedom of
the press.
The trouble came about in this way:
The socialists held three open-air meet
ings last evening for the purpose of arous-
ing interest in their movement and in
their parade that will be held tomorrow.
The first gathering was on the Mint steps
and George Aspden, Theodore Lynch and
William Costley were the speakers. A
little later the same speakers spoke on the
street in front of the Odd Fellows build
ing. A police officer demanded that the
crowd disperse and that Costley, the
chairman, cease in his address.
Upon his refusing 10 do so he was ar
rested and taken to Jail, but was at once
released on bail.
However, the meeting continued and
Lynch and Aspden took up CostIey's re-
m arks. a second policeman demanded
that Aspden cease speaking. The officer
stated that the people in the Odd Fellows
building were disturbed By these meetings
and that the Salvation Army gatherings
had been abandoned in consequence at
that point.
The socialists inquired at the Odd Eel
lows Hall Office and found that the officer
was correct so far as the com plant was
concerned. However, they do not con-
slider that the Odd Fellows have control
over the public streets to the extent that
they can shut off all open-air meetings IN
the vicinity OF the building, even If they
have the police to back up their demands.
AS stated, the point involved will be con-
tested to the bitter end.
Pending judicial decision the meeting
adjourned and met again on the Mint
steps, where the discourses lasted until
11:30 P. NJ.
The Socialist Labor Party is completing
its arrangem nts for very ambitious dis
! play on the Fourth.
| Their committee met last night and Sc
lected six aids 10 the chief marshal, H.
Sahlender. They also engaged a fife and
drum corps to head the column. The tall
est men in the San Francisco section will
be color and many of those repre-
sented i'll the ranks of the socialist Sc
cieties participating will be ladies.
Delegations will also be in line from
Oakland, Los Gatos and San Jose. and
| letters have been received from Sacra-
mento ard Los Angeles stating that they
would be represented in the line OF march
| by con- rades.
About 500 people were present at the
meeting on Wednesday night of Liberty
Branch, Socialist Labor party, in the
Turk-street Temple to hear lecture by
Forces That Work for Socialism" The
| meeting opened with a reading from the
People, the socialist National organ, by
| Theodore Lynch. Reynolds followed in
a very interesting address in which he re-
viewed the different moral and economic
! forces that are advancing and promoting
| the socialist movement throughout the
world. The speaker quoted from a recent
publication called "Catholic Socialism"
! This little diversion from the usual me-
| lange of socialist lectures ruffled the war
| feathers OF one OF Ingersolr s adherents, who
| claimed that the church had deviated
| from the traditions of the gentle Naza-
| rene. A rejoinder followed 10 the pro-
tests of the skeptic by Rev. J. Z. Scott,
| who was in the body of the hall. The doc
| tor poured oil upon the troubled sea by
reading an article written by a minister
| in support of socialism.
Short speeches in favor of the principles
| of socialism followed by Mr. Simpson,
| Mrs. Squires, Leo Gasser P. Ross Martin,
George Aspden and Theodore Lynch.
AT the close of the meeting quite num-
! ber OF persons ioined the party.