The Idaho Republican. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1904-1932, 1908-10-30
FATHER OF FREE LOVE IS %.


Los ANGELES. CAL, Oct ~
i believe that human beings are a,
important as pigs, potatoes and pups
and that We should know as mucl
about ourselves as we know abou
fishes, flowers and frogs hold tha
the institution of monogamic mar
rage Is the greatest curse now af
netting the world and that it must
be abolished, root and branch, before
the race can make any further ad.
vance toward the goal of perfection. .
So declared Oily white-haired Moses
Hartman, ex-contict, father of free
love and leader of the free affinity
movement, who is today celebrating
his 18th birthday at his home, 649
South Main street, in this city. Har-
man was born October IL, 1880, and
his career since he reached manhood
has been almost entirely devoted to
what he terms sex radicalism, mo-
therhood in freedom and the right
OF children to be well born" De-
spite the fact that he has served four
terms In prison for propagation of
these ideas, he continues to circul
ate his doctrines through the medi-
umship OF a magazine now published
In this city. Throughout the world,
devoted admirers look upon the de-
fant old man as a martyr, and in this
city devoted clan of radical think
ers Is gathered about his banner and
supplies the "sinews of war; for his
onslaughts on what he terms the
marriage superstition
1t was In 1880 that this modern
Don Quix0te first Jared forth to de-
molish the venerable institution of
legal marriage. The village of Val
ley Falls, Kans., was the scene of
the onslaught, and weekly peri
odical called 'Lucifer" the vehicle
OF expression for Harmans radical
notions. In this crusade Hartman had
the assistance of his daughter, Lillian
Harman. who now resides with her
children in Chicago, and Edwin C.
Walker, now New York bookseller
and publisher. 1t was during these
early days that Lillian Hartman, now
as always in sympathy with her ia
Tiers peculiar views, and Walker. 1
then a young man were arrested,
charged with maintaining the rela-
lions of marriage without asking
leave or state or church. Rather
IMAM submit to legal marriage, Miss
Hartman and Walker went to JAIL I
At Topeka, Kans., in 1890 Har-
man was brought to trial on charge
OF sending obscene matter through c
the mails, and was sentenced to five !
years in prison. The late David Ov- K
ermeyer. one of the best known of t
Kansas attorneys, defended Hartman
1t is alleged that the free love advo- 7
cate maintained an attitude of def n
ance throughout the trial, and it was II
this that caused Judge Foster to re- S
marx Il have seen circus perform II
srs stick their heads into the lions p
mouths, but ! have never seen them
AVE the temerity to twist the beasts A
ais or kick them in the ribs while
performing the risky act. ID
Immediately upon the incarcera-
ION OF Hartman in Lansing prison.
communications began to pour in up +.
N President Harrison and other
Washington officials, asking his re-
ease, and after four months behind
he bars he was discharged on le-
al technicality. The disciple of free vo
om did not longer remain at liberty co
owever. In 1892 he again appeared DO
che Lansing penitentiary as a is
uest, and served eight months of tn,
ne year sentence.
The Imprisonment of Hartman on me
lese two occasions was due to the fol
lblication In his journal of letters prt
ON physicians relating to the al ito
ged brutality of marriage, and an,
ting specific instances in language the
cleared by the courts to be too frank pre-
pass through the mails. uni
In 1895 Hartman was again con- ere
cted of sending obscene matter cou
rough the mails, and was sentenced the
Kansas City court to one year at tac]
rd labor. This time Hartman took low
lodgings at the United States mi COLI
airy prison at Fort Leavenworth Bla
'm which place he was discharged A
April 4. 1896. He then decided pro,
at the climate of Kansas was de- feet
lediy unhealthy, and the attentions orm
the local officials too persistent pose
d took up his residence in Chicago. Und