The Washington times., 1916-08-15
PIERCE TOSTUDY..
DEFENSE JAZZ
Socialist Orator Pleads. Not
Guilty and Declines Release
Under Ball. -
CONTINUED from Fist Pasc.,


4" CONTINUED from Fist Paec.) -"
Gcvernmcnt's aharge that the speaker
violated section s o. tho police. rcguia-
tions. prohibiting public speaking with
out a permit. Simpson signed the infor-
nation against the prisoner.
II intend to- submit nysclt to the reg
ular. treatment 81 all prisoners at tho
jail" Pierce said az ne awaited his re-
moval to jril. II don't expect ary IA
vors from the authorities. and will dis.
courage them II rendered.
Says Constitution Is Violated.
lam confident Of defeating the 10
lice regulation under which 1, wss ar
rested. as 1t II in direct violation Of the
Constitution. I do not blame the police
for arresting me, but maintain that tho
regulation Is In error. Congress should
legislate for the District of Columbia,
and not the head Of the Police Depart
ment.
Tho Socialist party Of the United
states is involved in this proceeding
not Julian Pierce. public speaker. The
party will employ Congressman Myer
London, Of New York. as counsel or MS
sociate COUNCIL. and next Tuesday we
VIII be prepared to resist the effort Of
the authorities. to prohibit. free speech"
The Socialist party can have Its per.
nit for open-air meetings whenever II
wants It,"
There are no strings to this state
ment OF Commissioner Louis +. Brown
low. made this morning. the Commits
+ Washlngton's Hyde Park" is. there
fore, safe!
The Socialists who have been meeting
In the street on Pennsylvania avenue.
and whose meetings were interrupted
rest of Julian Pierce. declare they have
no intention Of creating disorder and
and 1t is not their people. but . rowdy
element la the crowd. that has been re-
Major Raymond Pullman, superin-
tendent of police. stated this morning
that the arrest Of Pierce last night was
for his own protection. Major Pullman
also stated that Pierce sent him a spe-
requesting that police protection be
given him.
The permit under which the street
meetings wcrc held was issued to the
Socialist party's committee In Washing
Disorder In Crowds.
THE difficulty with the Socialist
meetings has not been due to disorder Of
the Socialists. but 40 the disorder In
tn" crowds by some persons who might
take exception to the remarks II he
Socialist orators said Major Pullman
today. I'VE have no objection to n de-
bate tut 1t has become a serious mat
ter tc furnish the proper police protcc-
ton. through the lack OF 20 ,cenien
available for the duty.
Last night VIC had twenty-five men
on duty at the Socialist meeting. We
the Fist police precinct and re-nnfo-cc
them with men from other precincts.
That means that we reduced The pro-
lection Of Other sections Of the city IT,
furnish these men with protection.
Treatment, Fair, Says Socialist.
I'VE have always been given the fair
| est sort of treatment by the police. and
we appreciate IT," said J. W. Richman.
secretary Of the Socialist party in
Washington. this morning. II don't
know what action the committee will
take regarding the revolving Of the per-
nit. In fact I do not believe the re-
voking Of the permit will stand. !
think. from correspondence I have had
from Major Pullman. that the permit
will be Issued again when we want It..
I don't know what the fnal action Of
our committee will be.
I'VE have been given the most cordial
and courteous treatment by the police
heretofore. There are some radical
members OF our party who have COM
planned. But do not think their COM
believe in the preservation OF free.
speech. But do not believe that this
! case has very much to do with that.
| Mr.. Pierce will, Of course, be given the
, support of our party in his extremity"
The big thing the Socialists are in.
terested In preserving Is tho privilege Of
speaking their minds In these street
meetings.
I'VE are interested particularly In pre-
serving, our right to talk ON the
Streets" said Mr.. Richman. ''As Wash
ington Is the Capital Of tho nation il
seems to me that this 10 the last place
| that right should be abridged. II
hasn't been in the past. and I don't BE-
| lieve 1t will be In the future"
Commissioner Brownlow said this
morning that he was anxious to pre
serve In Washington the fullest lib
| erty OF speech. The law provides tina
a speaker at an open air meeting
| shall make no comment on passersby
| or members of the crowd around him.
This law. said the Commissioner.
Is drastic and requires action when
. ever III Ia yiOlatAd ThA Con, . -. :