Los Angeles herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1900-1911, 1908-02-06
SOCIALISTS MAKE
APPEAL TO MAYOR
ASK THAT FREE SPEECH BE PER.
MITTED THEM
official Letter Signed by Leaders Sent
to Harper as "First and Last
archaeological Rights
Asked

Following the unanimous adoption by
the police commissioners Tuesday or
Chief Edward Kern's report advising
the refusal of street meeting permits to
the Socialists significant action is fore
Swallowed in an official letter which is
to be sent to Mayor A. C. Harper.
The locations sought cover half
dozen downtown points for noon and
night gatherings, and contain pro-
viso that the general public will be
hampered as little as possible.
Caude Riddle and other speakers told
the commissioners, in leaving Tuesday,
that they purpose to assert their con-
stitutional rights to free speech; and
now a formal statement of the case
has been sent to the mayor as follows:
ITO the Honorable, the Mayor OF the
City of Los Angeles:
Strive, the undersigned, commit
tee appointed by the Socialist party of
Los Angeles county, appeal to you 10
do all in your power to induce the
board of police commissioners to recon-
slider it's action of Tuesday, February
4, when it refused to grant us permits
| to address public meetings in the
streets of this city.
by that action the constitutional
right of free speech has been denied,
LOT lDeI6 WIS llO PlCbCioS - -
that the granting of the permits asked
for might result III impeding traffic IN
the streets, and permits are freely
granted to religious organizations 10
hold meetings In far more populous
| thoroughfares than those we named IN
| our petition.
Have Been Patient
I'm the past the Socialist party has
been patient under manifest injustice
| in the matter of street speaking priv
ileges, when the Democrats, Republl-
cans and representatives of various
hybrid parties have been allowed to ad-
dress the public, without any interior
ence whatsoever, even on Such hlgh-
ways of traffic as Spring street ana
Broadway, while we were granted moth
| ing but the wretched privilege OF
speaking in the dark at the corner OIL
| Second and Los Angeles streets or at
Seventh and Main streets. And even
| these permits have been revoked now
when an ever increasing body of the
public is ready to listen to the message
of relief from panic and oppression
which Socialism brings.
confident that ninety out of 100 res
idents of this city q. e., all those in
whose minds the spirit of justice and
| fair play is stronger than prejudice
| whatever their present attitude toward
questions economic and political may
bel will extend. to us their sympathy
and approval in our efforts to exercise
our constitutional right of free speech
within such limits as the convenience
| of the public demandj and other polltl'
| cal and religious organizations are
comrelled to adhere to, we, the com,
mittee. together with more than lOl
j volunteers, acting with the authority
of local Los Angeles county Socialist
party. have pledged ourselves to use
all legitimate means to open the streets
of Los Angeles city to Socialist
Appeal to Sentiment
1--WE can make strong appeal to sen
timent If the appeal to justice alon'
will not suffice. The money winch ma
been paid for hall rent in the past o.
the Socialist party in this city has beer
donated from the slender earnings o.
| working men and women, who, rightly
or wrongly believe that in the Socialis
movement alone lies the welfare of the
workers and the hope of the world.
Meanwhile, other political and re-
| ligious organizations, plentifully sup
piled with funds by admirers who made
no sacrifice of material comfort ano
| welfare in contributing, have been al
lowed large degree of freedom OF thj
streets to present their claims to public
confidence.
| I'VE have message 10 ueilNeI' espo'
cially in these hard times, which every
we'll read Socialist foresaw and prophe'
sled. and we demand the recognition OF
our right to deliver 1t.
1--WE have been patient under what
we can only consider has been marked
injustice. We have urged our claims
and our claims have been ignored. Thi'
is our first appeal to you as mayor o.
this city. 1t is our last appeal to the
city government of Los Angeles. VIZ
venture to hope that our patience may
be rewarded; that we may receive a.
your hands the justice long delayed
and that we shall not be compelled t.
carry our appeal to the source of the
power which is vested in you.
"CLOUDESLEY JOHNS.
Secretary Local Los Angeles County
"A. LEVIN,
CLAUDE RIDDLE,
"a. F. LINDWALL.
!