New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-11-16
LUNN, IN JAIL, SENDS
PROTEST TO TRIBUNE
81 Will Not Compromise with Judge Collins
or with City Officials One Iota,'
Socialist Mayor Declares.


Jail at Herkimer. y. Y, as a conse-
quence of his refusal to pay fine of
$50 imposed on him in the recorders
court at Little Falls for violating
city ordinance. telegraphed statement
of his position to The Tribune, pro-
testing that his righs as a citizen had
been invaded. Mayor Lunn's statement,
sent soon after his arriva lat the Jail
from Little Falls, in the custody of the
Sheriff follows:
"Herkimer. n. Y, Nov. 15.-I ap-
peared before Judge Collins at Little
Falls this morning at 10 o'clock to await
his decision on the question of the
right Of free speech. II Will be re-
called that on October 10 ! went TO
Little Falls for the first time. on invi-
tation of the strikers that | come and
speak TO them. When left Science
tady that morning I made arrange
ments to return early in the afternoon
'T naturally believed that the Consti-
tuition of the United States, guarantee
ing the right Of free speech and free
assembly, was operative in Little Falls.
! soon discovered, however. that l had
made a mistake in imagining that the
same constitutional liberty which is
allowed in Schenectady and other cities
of the nation was also allowed in Little
Falls.
Hustled to Miserable Dungeon
Quoting Abraham Lincoln, that !
agreed with him in that was glad tnat
lived in a country where men had
right to strike, was ordered to cease
speaking. and was soon under arrest
and hustled TO the miserable dungeon
that they call the city Jail. They re-
fused 10 answer my question as to the
charge on which 1 was arrested: they
refused TO give me a hearing; they re-
fused to allow me to telephone to my
wife unless ! would tell the chief Of
police my name-this refused 10 do
for the simple reason that it made no
difference who was.
ANY citizen had the same right TO
speak i'm that park that / myself did.
| then asked If | might speak some
where else in the city The same
laconic answer followed:
"'No, sir
II then, said
Chief. is there any place in the
CITY. i'm the outskirts, where there Is
no possibility Of the congestion Of traf-
fic or crowding of sidewalks, where l
may speak,
He faced me with anger and re-
Piled with staccato emphasis:
You can't speak inside the city ,
limits
Judge Dodeed Issue, He Says.
TO make the issue Of free speech
clear cut and we'll defined, / asked
Judge Collins during the recess Of the
trial. on October 1G if / would be al
lowed to speak at Clinton Park. lie
lodged the issue by saying that he
did not have the authority. then
went from the courtroom and met
Chief Long. I said TO him:
"'Chief, may l speak in the park for
a few moments"
This defined the issue. Chief Long
acting under instructions, had decided
that there was to be no public speak
ing anywhere. The chief of police IN
sworn testimony, now on the court
record, stated that he arrested me on
October IL, as well as october IL, for
speaking.
This issue is therefore clear cut and
well defined, Notwithstanding the at
tempt of the city officials to muddle 1t.
They have since tried to make out that
speaking would be allowed anywhere
.lse but Clinton Park. My trial was
held the next day, at the conclusion CT
which the Judge postponed action until
November ]. On November 1 he again
noetnoned action until 10 o'clock this
morning.
~ did not know what his decision
would be to-day because there is no
standard for baslng an opinion when
constitutional rights are abrogated. II
there had been one scintilla of respect
for the law Of the land, I would have
been discharged, and TO save them
selves deserved rebuke from decent
neople everywhere they have deter
mined and carried out their purpose to
punish ne,
slames Wrath OF Officials.