New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-08-09

press sympathy with the enemy with
out going beyond their constitutional
rights? A. No utterances can be pro-
ceeded against as sedtious. As a
practical matter in war time the au-
thorities, Federal or local, will be In
clined to proceed against men who
criticise the government. who oppose
war or express sympathy with the
enemy. They will be sure TO find some
ground upon which 20 proceed, even
though il may be under an ordinance
governing 'disorderly conduct All
persons who are opposing, by speech
or in print, any act Of the government
or laws which they regard as unjust
should do so by advocating legal means
of opposition. To advocate resistance
| TO the conscription law would result IN
the prosecution OF the person who
counselled il. But TO advocate the re-
peal of the conscription law, and 10
saw anything one chooses in advocacy
of that repeal, could not be held IL
legal. All meetings devoted to opposi-
ton 70 laws and all literature issued
for that purpose should clearly state
that they are for the purpose Of petit
tioning the government TO repeal the
laws"
"Q-Have the police the right to enter
private meetings held on private prop
erty? A.-The police have no legal
right TO enter private meetings heId on
private property, nor to break up or
derby public meetings held on private
property, nor TO confscate literature
| or papers without warrant Inc
| Fourth Amendment TO the Constitution
reads: "The right of the people to be
secure in their persons, houses, papers
and effects against unreasonable
| lated, and no warrant shall issue but
upon probable cause supported by oath
! or affirmation, and particularly descrlb-
! ing the place to be searched and the
persons or things 70 be seized.
Rights of the Police
"Q.-Have the police the right TO
break up meetings held on the streets
or stop the distribution OF literature IN
public places2 A.-The police have no
right to break UP meetings held on the
street or other public places, or to pre-
vent a man from speaking before he
saws anything on which TO make q
charge. The police have not the right
to stop the distribution of literature
either on the streets or in meetings.
Despite the opinions Of the courts and
the provisions of the Constitution, the
police in many cities do break up pub
lie meetings and arrest speakers II they
say things the police do not like, or II
they are announced to talk on subjects
the police and officials regard as dan
gerouS.' Be sure the advertising for the
meetings does not contain advocacy of
illegal purposes. See that advertising
reads for the repeal or enactment OF
laws, for discussion, or for petitioning
the government"
"Q.-What authority have prosecut-
ing officials to interfere with meetings,
terances? An addition to inter
free speech and free press may be in
vsded by prosecuting officials and dis
trict attorneys, who in some cases sum-
mon persons to appear before them and
to produce their records, literature,
names OF members of an organization,
and the like. In some cases Offices are
raided and literature and papers taken
in charge by Federal or local officials
No prosecuting official or district attor-
ney has the right to summon citizens
TO answer inquiries, or to enter pri-
vate Office to take papers without war
rant. They have no right TO question
citizens about their activities or utter
ances until a formal charge has been
made in court"
The officers Of the Union are the fol-
lowing: Lillian d. Wald, chairman;
Amos r. Z. Pinchot, ce-chairman; L.
Hollingsworth Wood, treasurer; Crystal