The San Francisco call., 1896-07-06
Eminent Legal Talent Will
Plead in Court for Him
To-Day.
NOT A QUESTION OF DOCTRINE
Captain Spillane Says the Speaker
Was Arrested for 0bstruct-
ing the Street.


ist orator who was arrested last Thursday
night on Seventh street for obstructing the
street, will come up in court for trial
to-day.
The socialists believe that discrimina-
tion is being shown against them simply
on account of the nature of their utter
ances, and they intend to fight the case to
the bitter end. With this motive in view
they have behind them the full support Of
all organized labor in the City. Eminent
legal talent has already been consulted,
and the socialists feel almost certain that
Costley will be acquitted as were other
socialist speakers similarly charged about
a year ago.
Theodore Lynch, one of the prominent
speakers among the socialists and secre-
tary of the Central Trade and Labor Alli-
ance, said last evening: 1.-THE next night
after Costley was arrested we continued
the meetings on the steps OF the Mint
building. A large crowd congregated to
listen to US, but the police did not inter-
| fere.
Nothing of this kind is new to the So
| cialists," continued Mr.. Lynch. 1T is
| the same in Russia. A speaker is arrested
| and is never again heard of there, unless
some one happens to be passing through
| Siberia.
"As soon as the news of Costley's arrest
was known we said we would rally again,
| and considered it Our duty to do so.
Despite this kind of persecution and ar
| rest, socialism has progressed wonder
| fully. Men know that socialism is bless
| ing in disguise.
"The party is by no means deferred
from continuing its open-air meetings,
which are feature OF its propaganda. The
various branches have developed corps
of intelligent speakers, who will be heard
| from on the stump in the coming cam
paign.
1.-The socialists regard this interruption
in philosophic light and believe it will
rebound TO the interest of the rights of
every citizen. This interference menaces
the rights of every editor in the public
expression of his opinions. 1t is indi-
rectly aimed at the right of free press and
free speech. While the leaders of the
! socialist party do not look for any daZ-
| zling success politically in the near future,
still they are active in the preservation of
| their rights as free citizens, and Judging
| from the past history of their movements
elsewhere they have bright future.
"Tne party has consulted with eminent
| lawyers to assist it in this present case.
Should the court decide adversely we will
fight the matter vigorously.
! 1.-THE right of free speech, which has
been interfered with in this instance, is in
defiance to the constitution of the United
States and the socialists look upon the
matter seriously. These occasional inter-
ruptions of peaceably and quietly con-
| Quoted meetings are hard to account for
in any other light than as blow aimed at
| the free expression of mans thoughts.
Socialists have ever regarded any at
| tack or interferences on their speeches as
light to additional propaganda; and
| such arrests have almost invariably led to
| the conversion of both Judge and jury. L
| consulted Taylor Rogers on this arrest and
| he expressed himself as being unquali-
| hedly against such interference"
J ]. w. Rose, ex-secretary of the Building
| Trades Council, said: "It is the sentiment
| of all the unions that this interference was
uncalled for and illegal, and something
that they will fight to the bitter end. We
will sustain the socialists in this propo-
sition morally and financially. The so
| cialists can always count on organized
/ labor when any such question as this is at
ISSUE"
Captain Spillane said: "WiIIiam Costley,
! or Casterly, was arrested last Thursday
| night on Seventh street at 9 o'clock SIM
| ply for drawing q crowd that obstructed
| the street. We do not care what the man
says, but no matter who he may be, if he
obstructs the streets he must be arrested.
| OF course, if q speaker saws things that
may inciIe riot we would have to arrest
him. We do not arrest the speakers on
the Mint steps for the reason that they are
| out of the way. Still, if they were guilty
OF obstructing the streets we should GER
tainly arrest them. Sentiments have
nothing whatever to do with it. 1t is SIM
| ply matter of street obstruction"
| l.. M. Manner, corresponding secretary
| of the Free Press Association, expressed
| himself wholly against police interference
in special cases If the case does not trans
gress City ordinance.
|
Branch Republican Club.