New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-07-08
UPTON SINCLAIR OBJECTS
Says He Never Advocated Violence,
but Fight for Free Speech Will Go On.

To the Editor of The Tribune.
Sir: In your editorial to-day. BLOWN
Up" it seems to me that you rejoice
a little too soon in the ending of the
struggle for economic freedom in
America. You mistake the temper of
the men you are dealing with. You
say: at is interesting to see the philo-
sopherJ and sentimentalists and free
speech advocates rushing to cover.
They cannot afford to have their names
associated with bomb throwing. The
rovclists and magazine writers, the
whole tide of intellectual sympathiz-
ers, will now discreetly withdraw into
the background"
The statement above is q grossly un-
fair statement. so far as concerns the
past; and so far as concerns the fut-
ure, it is, TO say the least, rather pre-
suming. AS one of those who are OBJ
viouslv the target of your attack, | will
ask you 10 explain just what you mean
ty it, In what way have | crushed to
cover? In what way have ! said or
done anything TO justify the sneer? |
am right here. where your reporters
know ! live. and have said since the
explosion exactly what ! said before
it. Is it your idea that R man who
has vchemently declared for peaceable
methods at every possible opportunity,
and has followed them consistently
is it your idea that such man should
turn into q defender of violence as
soon as he learns that there is sus-
picion Of violence having been attempt
ed by some one? II would seem so
from your editorial.
Or is it that you do not believe that
| was sincere in advocating peace?
Let me suggest that you call in your
reporter VINO was present at the meet
ing of the Liberal Club, where the 26
Broadway demonstration was planned.
A man got up at that meeting and
spoke in favor of opening a recruiting
station to send out armed men to Colo
edo. and at ance interrupted the man
and asked him 20 be so good as TO leave
the meeting. He left and more than half
of those present went with him. There
were a dozen reporters, present at that
time. and the event was described in
many papers for all | know in The
Tribune. Of you wish TO be extra fair
you might look up your issue of April
20 and sec.)
! described the episode under oath
in the courtroom. when ] was being
tried for the offence OF walking up and
down in front OF Mr.. Rockcfeller's Of
fees. and my testimony was corrobO-
rated by Miss Elizabeth Freeman and
COntradictcd by no one. | furthermore
testified that | had made il a point to
impress upon every one who came TO
help in those demonstrations that they
were to maintain an absolutely quiet
demCanor. and not even TO resist at
tack il any were made. Every one who
has had ANYTHING 10 do with that affair
will testify that the above is true, and
40 will every newspaper man who had
anything to do with the story.
And that has been my attitude
throughout the last two months work;
my attitude both public and private;
and there is not person IN the world
who can say otherwise. | went out to
Colorado and organized mass meet
ing and helped TO make possible Judge
Lindscy's trip to Washington. came
back TO New York and collected sigma
lures 70 petition TO the President
and wrote articles for papers and mag
azincs about the Colorado situation.
When some men were arrested for
attempting 10 speak on the streets OF
Tarrytown | went up TO plead for JUS
tice TOR them. Every one there knows
that | came as a man of peace, and
acted as man of peace. The mem
bcrs of the village board of trustees
and numerous residents thanked me
again and again for the courtesy and
sense o, fairness | had shown.
| spoke OF two meetings nj Mrs.
Gould's theatre. and every one who
was there will say that ! never uttered
word of violence. and that my plea
was for reason and fair play. The
newspapers all reported il 40. and they
elso reported that ! carried the meet