The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1915-08-05
MAYOR DENIES LABOR MEN
 RIGHT OF FREE SPEECH

Continued from Page the Locomobile heads. It had even been intimated to the palice that Jo- seph Ettor was among those living at Walnut beach, and that he expected to speak at the IocomobiIe meetings in person this week.
 When Bowen and others appealed to the mayor on Saturday he refused to grant permission to either Bowen or Nelson to speak, but had permit ted Cederholnn to address the assemb- led crowds. in the street. Today he Spernft any of them to speak on pub lie or private property. The police were notifieds to break up any meet ing that might form.
 The police were on the scene bright and early, gathering ohi Henry street Captain John Began acted as an aid to the superintendent of police and stationed Sergeant Wheeler at the Henry street gate of the Loe0n e plant. Sergeant O'Connel was kept on Henry street with Detectives Cron- an and Dooley. Motorcycle Police men Gerrity and Beardsworth were hefd in reserve wh1le trqlrnen hei- ly ,Beamer and Simmons were detailed to mix with the crowds.
 Shortly after 12,e as the Workmen in the factory were hurrying towards their homes, ex-A1der1nan Cederholn and Nelson sauntered slowly down Henry street When they reached the spot where Superintendent Birming- ham, Captain Regan and Sergeant OsConnell were in consultation, the at tention of Birmingham was called to Nelson.
 want to warn you" said the SUI perintendent .sthat you cannot hold any meetings here to-day"
 ssVEF1av ricf?'f said Nelson.
 Because. the Mayor has ordered me to arrest you if you attempt to speak, replied Birmingham
 This is free country Nelson re- torted land we propose to speak and if arrested to test out this matter in the eour
 You will not be. permitted to do it l to-day by myself or my men, we are acting under instructions from Mayor wilson who has not granted you per mission to speak on the streets. You will not be permitted to speak any where in the city. even though it is on private property.
 1 Nelson and Cederholrn who had stood beside him during the barley moved away a short distance where tthey were Joined by Bowen and other i organizers working in the 5Locomobile plant These leaders held 9 con ference among themselves in the a1- leyway called Seaside court.
 One of the officials imparted to 9 reporter for the Farmer that Mayor l Wilson had received word that NeI- son was not a citizen of the United IStates
 l The sky overhead was bright and cheerful warmth was imparted to th' l groups of bare-armed and coatless ar tisanss that began to assem ble in thu street Word that the police were ou in force was carried into the shops ant | workers streamed out to add to tn, threng constantly gathering. The DO lice seemed to be the uo5ects of curf osity rather than the labor men who unseen, went to the rear of Seasid court and got a large 3x5 foot pack | ing box and placed 1t carefully in | I spot which could not be construed a public property.
 EYnissaries were sent out to inform the workers that the speaking woul' begin and Bowen ordered one of hi Iieutenants to station himself at tn I end Of the court to notify the polio 1 that they were invading private prop erty when they stepped over the side I walk and into the yard of the tene
 nent block
 l% The crowd struggled in through tn aI1eyway, over fences directly leadini to the LocomobiIe yard and perche' themselves on fences, the top of
 
 large moving van in an djoining yard So thick was the standing crowd tha it was almost impossible to move a the hands of a watch showed s12:20. . Bowne. the business agent of tn Machinists' union was the first t mount the box.
 Nov Brothers. if you will pleas move up this way. Please-as' INT. Bowen clearly and loudly tn voice of Superintendent Birmingham II spoke, as with Captain Began an closed to the rostrun while the othe police officers took various stations il the crowd
 "On orders of the Mayor of the Cit of Bridgeport, you cannot speak eithe on public, or private ground. If Xo take the matter into your own hand you will do so at your own risk h continued.
 Bowen who hardly turned a shad of color underneath the brown ia that he has acquired by being in tn
 ties merely turned his back upon tn
 officers and began again:
 Now, brothers, if you will pleas
 move down this way. Come dow
 here and do not block up this en 1 (pointing towards the aT1eyway i , which others were swarming to fad to the 400 persons crowded into tn small yard).
 You all understand what, tn . meeting has been called for. We ar Edown here to help to secure for yo better hours in the Locomohile. Tht 3 is the thing we set out rl Superintendent Birmingham, wh had been in consultation with Captai
 f