New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-08-15
Soap Box Orator
Mofett Opposed
Is Under Arrest
Man Unknown to Writer
Complains to Police of
.Seditious Speech
Author Is Discharged
Plans Organization to Curb
Policeman Oratory
Here

William W. Hines, OF lO6 West Thir-
teenth Street, read in the papers yes
terday that Cleveland Moffett had been
arrested when he interrupted a speaker
who dubbed Washington traitor.
Noting that the incident took place
at Broadway and Thirty-seventh Street
Mr.. Hines set out for stroll last
night. When he reached Broadway and
Thirty-seventh Street, he says. william
Robinson was declaiming from soap
box: "Any man who advocates sending
American soldiers 1900 miles from
America is traitor"
A patrolman being handy, and mind
full that Headquarters was bestirring
itself about the arrest OF Mr.. Moffett,
Mr.. Hines appealed to him, and Rob
inson was locked up on the charge CT
disorderly conduct. In night court he
was released in $1,000 bail for further
examination. He said he was a ste
norrapher, living at 2O9 West Eighty
seventh Street.
81 don't know Mr.. MofTett," said Mr..
Hines to a reporter on the steps Of the
court. ~ wish did; nor do | belong
10 any such organizations as he does.
There ought to be an organization
"Aw, there1l be an organization in
this country soon enough against the
Anglo-Saxons" interrupted stem
torian voice.
The interrupter was arrested, charged
with disorderly conduct. He said he
was Steven w. johnson, Of 33s West
Forty-eighth Street, and was paroled
until Thursday.
Acting Chief Inspector James f. Dill
lon said yesterday afternoon at the con-
clusion of a hearing in his Office at
Police Headquarters on the Moffett in
cident that he was opposed to German
paid speakers. regardless of their ma
tionality, and that he would make every
effort to see that so-called unpatriotic
street meetings are conducted on diff
ferent plane.
To Act Against Sedition
Mr.. MoTett told the inspector that the
American Defence Society, of which he
is trustee, would to-day launch a
vigorous campaign against the groups
who preach sedition and disloyalty TO
the government in this crisis. A spe-
cial meeting, he said, would be held at
the headquarters of the society, at 303
Fifth Avenue, at o'clock this after
noon.
Inspector Dillon's inquiry into the
conduct Of the police who arrested Mr..
Moffett on q charge Of disorderly con-
duct Monday night was ordered by
Third Deputy Police Commissioner
Lawrence B. Durham. Inspector Dill
Ion found that Patrolman Emil Sutting,
OF the West Thirtieth Street Station,
who made the arrest, was guilty Of no
misconduct In fact, Mr.. Moffett testi-
fed that he had urged the policeman
to arrest him, as he desired to test the
right of street orators TO preach sedi-
tion.
There is no doubt of the force CT your
statement that reasonable utterances
should not be permitted" Inspector
Dillon told Mr.. Moffett, "but your con-
duet last night was not proper and did
not tend to keep the peace. When
you heard these utterances, you should
have called a policeman, or else laid the
facts before a magistrate after learn
ing the speakers identity. You must
remember also that il is very difficult
TO draw the line between what is
reasonable and what is not"
Inspector Patriotic, Too
Suppose" rejoined Mr.. Moffett,
you heard an orator say, TO hell with
the Stars and Stripes, what would you
do7"
"Kiek him." the inspector answered.
John d. Moore, national secretary Of
the Friends Of Irish Freedom, under
whose auspices the street meeting Mr..
Moffett objected 70 was held, was pres
ent at the hearing and said that, de-
spite their interest in Irish Home Rule,
the Irish people in this country were
just as patriotic as any other. "If the
American Defence Society" he added,
has decided that the speaker Mr..
Mofett criticised spoke trsitorously. |
will abide by its decision"
When asked whether he would act
against disloyal street orators, District
Attorney Swami said: 81 am an Amer
lean first, and district attorney sec
ond."
Call Pacifst Leniency FOOlhardy
The trustees of the American De-
fence Society yesterday issued the fol-
lowing statement:
The arrest Of Cleveland MofFett, an
American citizen, well known writer
and trustee Of this society, brings
prominently before the public the fact
that irresponsible citizens, pscifsts and
persons Of German sympathies are al
lowed. unchecked from any responsible
quarter. 70 make reasonable speeches
in the streets and TO advocate policies
which are directly opposed TO the safe
~ Of this nation.
This ill-judged leniency on the part
Of the authorities has been repeatedly
brought 70 the attention Of the board
Of trustees Of this organization, and
the arrest Of Mr.. Mofett makes clear
The fact that definite action Of some
kind is necessary. A leniency toward
and tolerance Of pseihsts, pro-Germans
and fanatics In general, which may be
tolerable in times Of peace, is intoler-
able and foolhsrdy with the country al
war"