The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1896-09-04
SOCIALISTS ARE ANGRY.

Determined to Test the Right of
Free Speech in a Higher Court.
At meeting of the campaign commit
tee OF the Socialist Labor party held
Wednesday night the following resolu-
ton was unanimously adopted:
WHEREAS There exists q serious difference
OF opinion between the San Francisco section
of the Socialist Labor party and the police de-
partment of San Francisco as to the right OF
free American citizens to peacefully assemble
In public meetings on the City streets for the
purpose OF quietly discussing the political and
economic questions of the day, in order to ar
rive at Just, intelligent and equitable solu-
ton OF the social problems that now confront
the civilization of the nineteenth century
which questions now vex and disturb the
peace and prosperity of the land and threaten TO
seriously retard the future progress and deyel-
opment of the State ana Nation; and whereas
on the 18th ult. eight members of the
Socialist LABOR party were arrested on
Seventh and Market streets on COM
plant of a secret society on charges OF OBJ
structing the street and disturbing the peace
and on the trial of one OF them on the latter
charge only the result was police conviction I;
and whereas, the Socialist Labor party (Wish-
ing 10 test the sincerity OF the claim of the
said secret society that they mad no objection
TO the principles advocated by the speakers Of
the Socialist Labor party, but merely objected
10 the loud tone of voice which a street
speaker is necessarily forced to use in address,
ing an outdoor gathering) advertised aud at
tempted to hold "silent meeting" on the
same corner two weeks later, at which no
word should be spoken, and which meeting
was nevertheless also broken up by the police
and four of the participants arrested and
booked at the police station for dis
turbtng the peace, although no noise whatso-
ever had been made; and whereas, the inter
probation of the law and of the constitution
of the State of California, as sought to be en-
forced by the police and the Police Court in
which the case was tried, is in the opinion OF
the Socialist Labor party nothing more nor
less than q barefaced aud cowardly attempt on
the part of the said authorities to override the
plain provisions of the statutes, and substi-
tute an unjust and autocratic authority in
place OF the wise and beneficent provisions
made for the maintenance of that absolute
freedom of thought, speech and action which
it has been the boast of all American citizens
to maintain in its pristine purity; now, there
fore, be it
Resolved, By the campaign committee of the
Socialist Labor party that, pending decision
By the Supreme Court Or the legality OF the
conviction obtained in the trial court, and to
prove to the pu bic OF San Francisco that we
have nothing in common with the absurd and
visionary schemes OF the anarchists (whose
impracticable ideas are nothing more than
the dreams of idle Missionaries and only worthy
the contempt of thinking persons). the weekly
public meetings on the corner of Market and
Seventh streets be suspended and another
meeting place selected, of which due notice
will be given through the daily press.
Campaign Committee Socialist Labor party
by Oliver Everett.