New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-09-19
Call Orators Law Evaders
Continuing, the presentment says

Continuing, the presentment says:
From reports of these soapboX
speeches as published in the press II is
clear that the makers of these speeches
are attempting TO evade their response
bilities as abusers of the right OF free
speech. They preach sedition, yet they
are so skilful in the use of language
that il is difficult 70 select precise
statements for which they may be in
dicted with prospect Of conviction.
They seem 10 be traitors. yet they hide
themselves in clever verbiaGe They
encourage rebellion TO constituted au-
thoritieS, yet the authorities find 1t
difficult 10 say wherein they have Of
Tended. They are masters Of the art
of innuendo. They speak IN velled
terms. They are disturbers of our
communal peace. /. is the result they
produce on idle minds that is dam
gerous. They are virtually conspIrators
against the general wcilbelng OF the
community and the nation.
"Yet the arm of the law does not
seem adequate TO mete out 70 them the
proper punishment for their offences
The presentment points out that the
city magistrates have had the same
difficulty with the problem owing 70
The lack of definite evidence on which
10 prosecute. 1t says they have re-
fused to accept innuendo for evidence
or TO send men to jail for alleged mods
and winks.
Believe Magistrates Are Lenient
"Nav II not be asked" il goes on,
Gin these times of war, if the city mag
jstrates have not failed 20 perform
their duties TO the community? We
are living no longer in times Of peace.
We are beset with dangers without and
within. We are face to face daily WIN
conspiracies and possible murder, with
poisonous hatred and nefarlous plots
AGAINST our national existence. Is II
too much 20 hope that our magistrates
should rise 10 a higher conception OF
their duty and proceed boldly TO an
INTERPRETATION Of the spirit OF the Ia"
which once and for all will efectualIy
root out the cancerous CROWN "h!ch
has menaced our recent lie
eve believe the magistrates snou!d
act with vigor We believe the Ponce
Department should produce fdll ana
exact evidence. We are mindful OF
your honor's clear and eloquent IN
structions, and whenever evidence -
produced we are prepared to act
District Attorney Swami announced
Yesterday that he had assigned As
sistant District Attorney Nelson OI-
colt. son of former District Attorney
william NJ. X. Olcott, to present police
evidence Of disorderly conduct TO the
soap-box grand jury. The work has
bcen in charge OF Assistant District
Attorney John McKim Minton, jr., who
was appointed by District Attorney
Whitman. Mr.. Minton will still, how
ever. have general supervision of the
subject.
Moore Accosts Swami
az believe that Mr.. Minton Is abso-
lutelv independent of politics, but ne
;s a Democrat" said the District At
tornev somewhat testify last night
"Nr Olcott is a Republican and was
annointed by District Att1ney Perkins.
Charges Of playing politics have been
made in this controversy by the news
naners. If they can find any politics IN
tba assignment of Mr.. Olcott they are
welcome TO it."
John D. Moore, national secretary OF
the Friends Of Irish Freedom, who is
under arrest for disorderly conduct AT
q street meeting in West Thlrty-seV-
enth Street and who has asked Gov
ornor Whitman to investigate District
Attorney Swann's conduct Of the grand
iury Investigation of soap-boX oratory'
sent in his card yesterday, but the
grand jury did not request him TO tes-
tify. MIR. Moore offered to waive I'M
munity. In the ante-room Moore &C,
costed District Attorney Swami and
said:
Judge Swami, why are you so snX-
ions TO have me tried by a magistrate
Do YOU want to see me rallroaded 10
ian5 | want to be tried by jury
THAT" replied the District Attorney
"is a matter entirely for the grand jury
10 decide ..
Six policemen who were witnesses AZ
Nioore's meeting were asked TO testify.
The inquiry will continue to-day.