The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1907-10-11
THE STARS ANSWER TO THE SOCIALISTS

During the past dew days The has receivea6 large
number Of postal cards with the following mater printed
thereon:
"To tho Editor-wT you kindly tell you readers your
opinion of these faets9
"The police administration of this city orbds Socialist
speakers the the when they careful to obstruet
but allows other speakers conduct meetings that do
obstruet travel
"The blind socialist speaker Osborne has been arrested
four times refused cash bail kept night in foul cells the
last time brutality transferred solitary confinement in
dark Shiny stone dungeon no ieay bucket
up IS hours while awaiting his trial"
The Star willingly complies with the request that express
its opinion regarding these conditions In doing is not
necessary that enter into discussion Of the principles OF
socialism The Star exponent OF the sooialistic
idea than the doctrines advanced by the republicans
or democrats o. any other political party.
But The Star does believe in absolute fair play ALL
what their political opinions We believe in allowing
the broadest range action and speech that is consistent with
patriotism and good Only when the exercise OF
individual liberty cncroachcs the welfare OF the community
do believe in the exercise OF the power OF municipal state
national government curb the socaed liberties OF the
individual
These the questions involved the between tho
police department and the socialists:
Do meetings of the socialists really interfere
in any direct way with the rights and welfare Of the public
larger
Are the police justified preventing meetings in which
sedidon is spoken violence is urged2
The ground upon which the police have broken up the
open air socialist meetings and arrested the speakers that
the assembling OF people the nteeres with traffic
The police empowered by city ordinance prevent all
such interruptions Of traffic
But the socialists argue with force that this power is
being arbitrarily used because the Salvation Army exempted
from interference under the ordnance thus establishing dis
elimination which has place the the enforcement
Of any law for the protection Of the public.
There denying the fact that the ordinance quoted
being used legal subterfuge prevent the open air
socialist meetings The real for suppcssing the
ings prevent the oi socialism streets
Socialist speakers have been arrested while occupying
that because Of the regarding Of Third could possibly
have been used thoroughiares and these speakers
afterwards arragncd charged with intcruptng traffic
a public thoroughfare
On the nights that these made the
Salvation Army held meetings Second av- Uni-
versity and Pike and the knowledge OF
this article blocked the sidewalk that people who did not
be crowded compelled walk into the middle
OF the street Is any wonder then that the socialists
plain that they being Disseminated against
There is law in the land prevent the public
sion Of socialism political theory There is justice in
treating socialist arrested for any alleged inaction
of the law with less consideration than any other prisoner
While the power to give bail optional one there mol
Of bail against prisoners OF their political CON
victions.
When political considerations allowed to enter into
the enforcement Of law and the prisoners spirit
OF constitution is violated