The Wenatchee daily world. [volume] (Wenatchee, Wash.) 1905-1971, 1909-09-11


yelope to the postofiice Inspector with
the opinion that there was Ii" ground
for action. The inspector IN making
report to the department III Washing
ton marked the case "tlus;t lie
later explained to me that this meant
that so far as the district of Kansas
was concerned no further action would
be taken. But soon thereafter wurd
was received from Washington. 50 the
assistant district attorney ANNOUNCED
In the presence Of this court. that there
had been violation of the law and
that the case must be reopened and
vigorously prosecuted.
I'VE Are After the Appeal"
The district attorneys office ut To
peka, however. revised its decision
after hearing from Washington that
there was no ground for action against
me. One Of my attorneys journeyed
to Washington and laid before the de-
partment thousands of reward cards
similar to the Taylor reward which
had been mailed from nearly every
city in the Union. When my attorney
inquired why the Appeal was singled
out for prosecution on this fimsy
charge while all the senders Of these
other cards. who We're equally culpa-
bic, were not molested. the representa-
tive Of the government opened a
dra wer in his desk and produced an
armload Of marked copies of the APP
peal
Blue pencil marks designating GER
tain articles in the Appeal indicated
that this paper is pretty closely read
by high government officials. The gov
eminent official shrugged his shout
ders in reply to Darrow's question and
remarked. I'VE are after the Appeal"
This case has dragged its weary way
through this court for over two years,
continued from time to time at the in
stance of the government. I submit
from these facts that am not prose
cuted for having violated any federal
law, but purely because Of my political
opinions and my work in behalf OF the
working class Of this nation.
This prosecution is not unexpected
to us. AS plainly stated by the govern
ment official to whom our attorney
talked while in Washington. it is evil
dent that secret service agents Of the
government have been camping on the
trail Of the Appeal for. 10. these many
years.
Is it not pretty conclusive evidence
that we have observed religiously the
laws and regulations governing the
conduct of newspaper when after
ten years of effort the government is
able to find only this lone and paltry
alleged violation?
Personally | feel proud of this rec
ord. feel no sense of guilt. nor will
the world approve this conviction
when the truth prevails and the facts
are known.
Submitted Copy to Postmaster.
The governments witnesses testified
here on the stand that submitted to
them copy Of the matter I expected to
mail and asked whether in the post
masters judgment it constituted a vio-
lation Of the federal law. That official
after looking the matter up said it did
not. and ! want to say here that dur
ing the ten years of my connection
with the Appeal to Reason have had
frequent occasion to consult with the
postmaster at Girard on matters re-
lating to the postal laws, and in no in
stance was his Judgment ever at fault
He assured me that in his judgment
the matter / proposed mailing was
identical in character with the thou
sands Of postal cards mailed at his Of
fee by the sheriff. the marshal and
the officers Of the Anti Horse Thief as
ISOLATION.
In submitting to this court these
postal cards mailed by bankers it is
not my intention that the government
should proceed against these men on
the evidence furnished by me. know
these gentlemen are immune from
prosecution because they represent the
dominant class in society today. The
rewards which they offer are for men
who have committed crimes against
PROPERTY, anu III Tue pEcSdIliuss SOCldt
system the property Of tine rich is Of
vastly more consequence than the life
and liberty Of the poor.
10 Criticism q Crime?
On the other hand, the editor who
has espoused the cause Of the wage
slave today has in the eyes of the rul-
ing class committed a crime against
existing institutions for daring to Of
fer a reward for the apprehension Of
an influential member OF the dominant
political party.
l have also dared to criticise a deci-
sion Of the highest judicial tribunal in
the United States. Judge West, the as
sistant district attorney who assisted
In my prosecution. in his argument
year ago last November. after present
ing his reasons why the demurrer in
this action should be overruled. closed
his argument in burst Of passion
with the statement that las a matter
Of fact this literature was sent out for
the purpose of bringing into contempt
and discredit the supreme court of the