The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1896-08-31

structions. Just what instructions were
given is not known, but the officer went
directly to the Hammam Baths and, it is
claimed, begged authority to arrest the
speakers. The stand, by the way, had
been placed directly in front of this insti-
tuition, hence it was necessary for the
management to protest in order to make
arrests legal. 1t so happened that the pro-
prietor was absent and no one present APP
peared willing to authorize the arrest of
the alleged offenders. A colored clerk
finally told the officer to clear off the steps,
but not to adopt violent measures. Police
man Heard had his authority. Without
stopping to clear the steps as authorized,
he pushed roughly through the crowd and
informed Speaker Speed that he must stop
instantly.
~ have only one more word to say--I
am nearly DONE" protested Speed.
THAT is all right" replied Heard as he
placed his hand on the speaker. .sYou
must stop now or / will arrest you."
Without another word the Socialist
stepped from the stand, and then some one
suggested that it be moved to the oppo-
site side of the street. This was done, and
for more than an hour the speakers, un-
interrupted, harangued an audience of
more than thousand on the needs of the
hour from a socialistic standpoint.
and cast into prison for holding silence
meeting" said G. H. Davies. To-day we
hold another public meeting, this time
giving utterance to our sentiments, and
We are simply required to move from one
side OF the street to the other. This shows
conclusively that it is a matter of police
persecution and not legitimate prosecu-
ton. We have rights and we propose to
exercise them. though we are practically
satisfied that justice is not to be had in
the police courts. The juries there are
pledged to conviction, but thank God,
there are higher tribunals, and we feel
confident they will interpret the law Justly
and honestly.
The men arrested Saturday night are in
dignant over the action of the authorities.
II consider that they exceeded their au-
thority." said Oliver Everett, Socialist
candidate for Mayor, yesterday. sour
desire last night was to test the sincerity
OF the Odd Fellows, who had protested
against noisy demonstrations We think
the result shows that they were not
honest in their position. We don't pro-
pose in future 10 be muzzied. We will
maintain the right of free speech at all
hazards. do not see how an intelligent
jury can possibly convict US. Heretofore
juries have been against us, though
whether through ignorance or prejudice
l am not prepared to say. There will De
different ending this time, for there are
higher courts in California"
T. F. Burns, president of the Labor
Council, was among those arrested Satur-
day night. In explaining the occurrences
he said yesterday:
II was not speaking, neither was at
tempting to speak. ] was standing on the
east side of Seventh street and there were
perhaps 100 people in that immediate vi
entity. Suddenly the crowd shifted to the
west side of the street. / went over and
saw policeman endeavoring to make two
ladies get out of the street. The officer
failed to intimidate the ladies. was prob
ably seven or eight feet away when the po-
liceman turned to me and ordered me to
move on. l started to move on, but
didn't happen to move as fast as he
thought | should, whereupon he ordered
me to move faster. ] replied that was
perhaps the best Judge as to how fast
wanted to move. TheielIow then grabbed
me by the shoulder, and, drawing his club,
said, '"- you; / will knock your
brains out replied that knew he was
anxious to use his club on me. | was
then carried to the station and charged
with obstructing the street. | have no
particular comment to make at this time
except 10 say that it was an outrageous,
high-handed proceeding. We have the
law on our side and am sure that an hon.
est court will SO decide"