The San Francisco call., 1896-08-16
BARRY FOR FREEDOM.
The Editor, With others, Expresses
Strong Condemnation of Any In
fringement of Free Speech.

The Editor, With Others, Expresses
Strong Condemnation of Any In
fringement of Free Speech.
A fine of $5 was imposed by Police Judge
Low yesterday morning on William Ediin,
the young socialist who was found guilty
by jury the day before yesterday of OBJ
structing the sidewalk by speech at
Sixth and Folsom streets on the evening
of August 2. He paid the fine and will go
out and make more speeches.
Edlin's attorney. Arnold w. Liechti, is
the nominee of the Socialist Labor party
for District Attorney of the City and
County of San Francisco. He said yes
terday that he believes in socialism, but
that there are some things in the platform
of the party which he does not indorse.
He said: 81 intended to take an appeal
from the verdict to the Superior Court and
if necessary to the Supreme Court to test
the principle, but find the court stem
ographer had not taken the testimony and
consequently I could get no transcript.
Doubtless there will be more arrests of
Socialist Labor party speakers, and an ap-
peal will then be taken to see whether free
speech still obtains in this country or
whether it does not"
When asked yesterday afternoon for his
opinion on the case of Edlin James II.
Barry said:
II am not IN sympathy with the views
of the Socialist Labor party, but l declare
it is outrageous TO deny the right OF a man
who is to speak and to arrest him. This
man appears to have been interfering with
nobody and was exercising his right under
the constitution, till the policeman came
along and took it away. Street takers can
erect stands in the streets and obstruct the
sidewalks, but when man mounts on a
chair and expresses his political views
views that are probably not in accord with
the political affiliations of the authorities
he is arrested and put in jail.
1.-THE right of free speech and OF free
press should be maintained. If it is
throttled the Republic is in danger. We
want none of the autocracy OF the Car OF
the Russias here. l think the arrest OF
this man was a wrong-more than that.
1 repeat 1t was outrageous. Make that
strong. He was interfering with nobody's
rights. An injury was done to him. and
when an injury is done to one of the body
polite there is an injury 20 all.
II am heartily in sympathy" concluded
Mr.. Barry, with the resolutions offered
at the Trades Council meeting last night
by the delegates of the defense associa-
ton and adopted by the Trades Council.
/ am mem ber of that association, and as
a member think some further and pub
lie action ohould be taken in regard to
the arrest of this man. Suppose | am a
poor man, and that is not altogether
supposition. l have no money to hire
hall. l believe in educating the people,
believe in teaching them as Jesus Christ
did, from the highways and the byways,
and from the housetops."
/. J. Truman said: 81 am certainly in
favor of free speech. The constitution
gives that right to every man. / think
public speeches ought to be made, and
could be made, so as not to interfere with
the rights of others. / am not opposed to
public meetings, put if you were business
man you would not want meetings to be
held so as to cause loss of $5 or $6. Let
public meetings be held, but let them be
conducted so as not to interfere with the
rights of others. l do not know whether
the speaker obstructed the sidewalk or
not"
C.B. Perkins said: 81 am for free speech
at any time and all times. That is a right
that is guaranteed by the constitution of
the United States, and, believe, by the
constitution of our own State, and every
man should be protected in this right,
whether he happens to be an orator of the
Socialist Labor party, the Republican
party, or the Democratic or Prohibition
party. But do not believe any man or
party has right to get upon chair. as
semble crowd and iniure the trade of
man who pays taxes. Let them select
places where business would not be inter
fered with. For instance, the place sug-
gested by Judge Low-at the statue near
the City Hall. But I am opposed to
abridging the right of any man 10 free
sDeAch ~