The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1910-01-05
WRITES ST|MGlNG
LETTER TO cR0Ul
DR.. Reitman Protests Against Police
Commissioners Refusal To Let
Emma Goldman Speak Here.

sentative for Emma Goldman. anai
chist. has sent a singing letter I
Police Commissioner Croul, who tol
Reitman Monday that Miss Goidma
would not be permitted to speak 1
Detroit next Sunday. Dr. Re:tman
now trying 10 persuade prominent cit
zens TO call on the Commissioner an
urge him To change his decision. Mis-
Goldman VIII come to Detroit notwiti
standing the commissioner attitude
Reitman says. and will hold herself i
readiness TO fill the engagement. bu
there Will be no open defiance OF tn
police.
"Of course. II they fill the hall wit
policemen Miss Goldman will not TAX
the platform" said he. But We al
still In hopes that Mr.. Croul will Sc
fit to respect the wishes OF q iarg
OF citizens who wish to hea
her"
The letter follows:
Temporary Headquarters,
Randolph Hotel.
Detroit. Jan. 4, 10.
Commissioner OF Police Frank II.
Croul. Detroit. Mich.
Dear Sit:
You informed me that you will
not permit Emma Goldman TO
speak because OF her record.
Permit me to call your attention
to Emma Goldlnan's police record.
Her first and last conviction by
the police occurred eighteen years
ago. when she was arrested In
Philadelphia on warrant for hav-
ing incited to riot at an unem-
ployed meeting In New York.
where Miss Goldman spoke In Ger
man. She was convicted of in
citing tn riot. although no riot
occurred, and sentenced to one
year in the penitentiary. Emma
Goldman was arrested at the time
President Mckinley was assassin
atcd. Although the u. s. govern
mcnt spcat 100000. and the Chi
caao police department devoted
weeks TO the case. Miss Goldman
was not held for trial because of
the lack of evidence
In passing, permit me TO call
your attention TO the fact that
Leon CZolgosz did not make the
statement that he was inspired by
Emma Goldman. as is the prevail.
ing idea. | should he glad to show
you authentic proof OF this state
ment
The only other time that Emma
Goldman was held for trial Oc-
cured in Jan, 1909. in San Fran
cisco. where she was charged on
warrant with preaching anar-
chism and denouncing the govern
INT as unnecessary The courts
decided that 1t was not crime to
preach or denounce the govern
ment as Unnecessary. and Miss
Goldman was discharged.
Miss Goldman has been arrest
cd about five times during the last
eighteen years, but never held for
trial.
The police record. which take
IL for granted. you and the public
have In mind Is based upon what
you frequently read In the papers.
that Emma Goldmans meetings
were stopped by the police. This is
the most interesting part OF
Emma Goldmans police record.
and If there was justice in
America. there would be a good
many police officials in jail on the
strength of Emma Goldman's
police record.
Miss Goldman's police record
is due largely TO the action of men
like yourself. who illegally sup
mil f,,l
intimidate hall keepers. Nearly
all her. trouble with the police de-
patinent has occurred before the
police have seen or heard her
speak. Miss Goldman has been
lecturing for more than eighteen
years and never once has there
been any disturbance at her meet
ings.
All of Miss Goldmans lectures
have been published in heI maya
zine Mother Earth" and in PAM
phlet fern
There are hundreds of Detroit
citizens who have heard Emma
Goldman speak. and who want to
hear her again. and ! call your
attention to the fact that while
you are suppressing her. you are
at the same time suppressing the
right of citizens of Detroit TO hear
human being. and IL l am not
mistaken. you have not consulted
the people as to their wishes.
Let me assure you at this time
that IL is not the intention OF the
Free Speech committee to bluff
or test your strength. We believe
that Emma Goldman has law
full and constitutional right to be
heard and II the people of Detroit
demand free speech and the city
officials will give us fair play,
Emma Goldman will be heard.
Respectfully yours,