New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-04-20
EMMA GOLDMAN
DEFIES SENTENCE
Tells Friends She Prefers
Jail to Curb on Free
Speech.

81 had rather be in Jail for free
speech than OH side without it,"
Emma Goldman, undaunted on the
eve Of her trial to-day for distributing
birth control propaganda. made this
triumphant statement at the Hotel
Brevoort last night. her clear voice
ringing out above the applause of 200
anarchists, socialists, artists, physl-
clans. lawyers and writer's. But It was
another woman who struck the high
note of the evening.
Rose Pastor Stokes sprang TO Nor
feet. her head thrown back, her eyes
flashing, some huttering pamphlets IN
her outstretched hand. ar
.Who will arrest me?" she cried. u
want 10 do what Emma Goldman did.
So | am distributing here tonight birth
control propaganda, each copy signed
with nv name. ! should like TO see
whether they will arrest me- for dong
the thing that Emma Goldman did, or
whether they will fail 10 arrest me
because am married TO man OF
social prominence. 7 have done TINS
before. through the mails She put
the pamphlets in the hands OF the
women who turned TO her.
Rose Stokes Cheered.
Cheer after cheer shook ire glasses
and pierced the smoke in the hall.
Long haired agitators in soft shirts
and conservatives IN evening dress,
united in laundering out their admira-
ton of the woman who deied suthori.
tv. But Rose Pastor Stokes stopped
Il ,cEo Cd
Its nothing" she SAID. smiling
scornfullv. Pm only breaking the
law. What Emma Goldman did and WAS
arrested for, WAS the right tning TO DO.
What is good for the uptown gander is
good for the downtown goose. what
Is good for Fifth Avenue Is good fer
the Bowery And remember this there
are many women who in crlsls would
do what am doing tonight.
John Tucker. POSTMASTER. handed her
challenge on 10 the assembled crowd.
"You can't prove tonight whether or
not you are towards, but YOU will be
put TO the test tomorrow" he SAID.
ar you are at the Criminal Courts
Building at 2 o'clock, when Emma Gold
mans trial begins, you won't be COW
ards. II every woman who has gwen
out birth control propaganda would 80
there with the proof that she has done
so. do you think that they would
arrest you all, or that they would let
you and Emma Goldman go free. with
your point proved? II would depend
entirely on how many Of you went"
Emma Goldman Thanks Crowd.
! Emma Goldman thanked them for
| their support. She had thought in the
first place that only few friends would
/ come 10 cheer her, she said.
"Ill make my speech tomorrow. not
/ tonight" she said. "I'm not afraid to
20 20 jail. Jail is good place TO think.
Whether ! 60 or not. no law on the
statutes, or off them can ever stop the
4 birth control movement. ] was warned
/ that this dinner would make the judges
mad. Well, hope they will be mad
/ the whole three of them for | had
rather be sent to jail by mad judge
/ than by sane one. II is ridiculous
/ for the authorities to think they can
regulate birth control-but, then, II
they weren't ridiculous they couldn't
/ be authorities.'
/ II was = curously assorted crowd
( that had gathered 20 hear Emma Gold
/ man assure them that free speech
would triumph. whether or not she
went TO Jail. Dr. Benjamin Reitman,
with rumpled hair and flowing black
| tie. went from table to. table, remind
/ ing every one Of the trial tomorrow.
John Sloan. artist and Socialist, spoke
"for freedom; DR.. +. Leber, of the
/ East Side. told Of tn needs OF his peo-
pie for birth control propaganda. and
1 Dr. A. l.. Goldwatcr declared that many
/ physicians were in sympathy with the
, movement. But Alexander Harvey. ed
/ itor and conservative, demonstrated
with the radicals for their belief in
"the myth OF free speech"
Agitation Scored by Harvey.
"This agitation is untimely. unwiae.
/ inexpedient and Ineffective" he said.
There is no use TO pretend to believe
+ in gloriiied ideals that only discredit
you. Why butt your he. Is against the
stone wall Of the American tempera-
ment?"
The demonstrations rose to their
highest point when the chairman de-
cared that if Emma Goldman Is sent
TO jail she will have been ensconced
as a martyr in public opinion, and the
cause for which she has done so much
/ will have been made popular.
Will Give Man from Mexico"
~