Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1905-1919, 1906-09-15
ART LEAGUE CASE UP AGAIN
Anthony Comstock, Most Hated Man
in America, in the Limelight

New York, Sept, li,-The case Of
Anthony Comstock against the Art
Students League will come up for
hearing today before Magistrate
Mayo in the Essex Market police
court The officials of the league as
well ne Miss Anna Robinson, the
bookkeeper whom the vice crusader
arrested, will appear in court The
charge against the defendants Is the
circulation of catalogue containing
reproductions of studies in the nude,
and is described in the complaint as
ga certain obscene, lewd, indecent
filthy and disgusting book ~
The seizurv of the catalogue OF the
Art Students League, which con
duets one of the oldest and best
known art schools in the country, oc-
casioned wide comment and was al
most universally condemned by the
press. Only one New York paper,
Heorst's Evening journal, attempted
n defense of the Vice society and ITS
super-ocnscicntious worker for pub
lie morals, Anthony Comstock.
Comstock, who is United States
postollce Inspector is perhaps the
most universally detested and despis-
ed man in New York, In Bohemian
circles il is a serious breach of ettl-
ouette to refer to the anti-vlce cru
sader otherwise than as Tony Com
stock. If Comstock has a friend
among the newspaper men of the me
tropolis, he has never declared HIM
self. Members of the medical, Legal
and other learned professions loob
upon Comstock with amused denslon
DESPITE these facts, Comstock Is, III
many respects the most powerful man
'''''I
in the nation, welding a censorship
of literature and art almost as ahso
lutte as that of Russia.
If many doubt the intelligence
there are few who doubt the sincerity
of this self appointed conservator OF
national morals Religious to thu
point of fanaticism, he has often al
lowed his piety to outweigh his judg
ment and has prosecuted unbehever
with all the venom of an ancient IN
ouisitor. The late Charles c. Moore
an erratic but brillian kentucklal
who published a paper devoted to tn
PRONUNCIATION of prohibition and IN
fidelity, was sent to the penitentiar
by Comstock because of his irrell
cions beliefs, but was almost imme
diately pardoned by President Nc
Kinley. Miss Ida Craddock, a punt
worker of Philadelphia, was repeated
" arrested by Comstock and havln
finally been convicted of writing a
obscene book, committed suicide
Many prominent clergymen' Jurls'
and physicians testified that the hoo
in question was not obscene, but q
the contrary contained informatio
vitally necessary to the welfare
the race. DIR. u. NJ. Bennett, for man
vears the editor of New York fire.
thought paper, was arrested immune
able times by Comstock, and was III
ally convicted and sent to the pen
Tertiary, his crime consisting OF u
sale of an alleged obscene book whl'
was at the same time being sold
nearly every book shop and depar
ment store in the city. II is IN We
of such eases as these that the en-
mics of Comstock declare that I
almost unlimited power given HIM
but a club with which to hammer t
unconventional and morthodox.
In carrying out what he consldC
his duties, Comstock has been MA
times the subject of physical attacI
During a hearing before United Stat
Commissioner Shields last Mar,
Comstock called Hugh Gorden Mill
young Virginia attorney, liar, a
was promptly knocked down. Not
L. did the commissioner and the d
trct attorney refuse to cause Mile
arrest, but they told Comstock Il
he had "got what was coming
him -