The sun., 1917-05-30
Bitter PropagandaThrough
Mails by Anarchists, I.
w. w. and Pacifists.
CALLS MASS MEETING
"NO COnscription" Gathering
to Be Held at Hunts Point
on Eve Of Registration.


pacihsts. bitter propaganda has been
started against conscription and circu-
lars and handbills denouncing the selec.
tive draft in the strongest possible terms
have been sent by thousands through the
mails and distributed broadcast through
out the country. Emma Goldman. at
the headquarters OF the No Conscription
League. 20 East 125th street, asserted
last night that already the league is sure
Of between 5000 and 10000 men Of
draft age who will not register June 6.
In the circular sent through the mail
an active war on conscriptlon is urgea.
The circular Is cleverly worded 10 AS
not actually to advise young men not to
register. but 1t is asserted. however. by
the officers OF the league that those
young men who do not reglstss will be
aided in every possible way by the
eague-legslly, financially and morally.
Federal Inquiry Begun.
I'VE are against registration" as
serted Emma Goldman last night. but
we leave it to each individual to decide
for himself whether to register or not.
We intend to place our cause before
every one who Will listen. Already We
know OF from 5000 to 10000 who will
not register and we will stand behind
those who don't and give them every
possible aid"
In discussing the means to be taken
by the league to prevent consUtpt>un
Miss Goldman said:
I'VE would rather be shot than shoot"
The circular Is now receiving the at
tention OF the various local and Federal
authorities and the most strict watch has
been set upon the members Of the league.
That the subtleties Of the circular In
no way make the writer or distributors
immune from prosecution WAS the opin-
ion expressed last night by Federal OFF,
cials, who intimated that immediate ac-
ton will be takeIi on the matter The
No Conscription League is one Of forty
cults In this city which are under sur
veillance by Government agents. and
the activities of Miss Goldman have been
the subject of Federal attention for a
long time past.
May GO.tO Grand Jury.
As the rule laid down by Attorney
General Gregory forbids the discussion
by members of his staff of cases
OF this nature before action is taken no
statement could be obtained as to Just
what course will be pursued. but IL is
expected that the matter may be placed
with other pacihst activities before the
Federal Grand Jury.
The league has arranged a mass meet
ing on the night of June 4 ut Hunts
Point Palace. The Bronx. to protes,
n o a n a..
ers will be Miss Goldman. Berkman
Mother" Yuster. Miss Shapiro. Leonard
ID. Abbott, Winter Russel and other
radical Socialists and anarchists The
notices of the meeting advise Fathers
mothers. sons 10 turn out In frotes,
against conscription."
In the circular letter sent out yester-
day the platform of the League is given
at the top OF the letter as follows:
I'VE oppose conscription because we
are internationalists. anti-militarists and
opposed to all wars waged by capitalistic
Governments.
I'VE will fight for what we choose tc
fight for; we will never fight simply be.
cause we are ordered to fight
I'VE believe that the militarization OF
America is an evil that far outweighs in
its social and anti-libertarian effects any
good that may come from America :
participation In the war,
I'VE will resist conscriptlon by every
means in our power and we will sustain
those who, for similar reasons. refuse ia
be conscripted.'
Text Of the Letter.
Then follows this letter:
Dear Friend--We are sure that yo,
are interested In the anti-war agitation
( 20
! triotic claptrap which Is now propagate ed
on such a huge scale by the press, tn,
pulpit and the authorities only repre-
sents a desperate effort TO blind the peo
| pie to the real issue confronting them
The main issue now is the PrussIanizins
of America.
! Already America has demonstrated
| its autocratic tendencies in passing tn,
conscription bill without making ever
the slightest proviso for constellation.
collectors to human slaughter. There ar,
thousands Of men who will not unde,
any circumstances allow themselves Il
be sconscripted. First. they consider al
wars fight between thieves who ar,
too cowardly &c do their own fighting
hence force the masses to do the crue
thing for them. Secondly. they will no
be conscripted because they refuse to b,
coerced into taking human life at tn,
behest of their masters. Something mus
be done to sustain these men, to whom
the ideal of liberty and human solidarit,
is not mere phrase but a vital. livin,
! fact.
5000 Already Pledged.
with that In view We have organized
the No Conscription League. Its frs
public activities took place OH Frida,
evening, May 1S--a mass meeting al
tended by 5000 men and women VIII,
pledged their decision not to register o
to be conscripted into killing. 1t was A,
Inspiring demonstration and so tremen
dous In its scope that all the dailie
were stirred from their usual attitude o
silence.
More than any other Governmer
perhaps the Washington authorities ar
very sensitive to publicity and criticism
especially on the part Of those who ca
reach large sections Of the people bot
here and abroad. The American Go,
ernment cannot afford to have the worl
know that while 1t pretends to be inter
ested In democracy and to night agains
Prussianism In Germany It is at III
same time Prussianizing America.
I'VE therefore feel that the agitatio
Continued on Second Page.