New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-08-16
Mofett to War On
Disloyal Speakers
Will Aid American Defence
Society to Enroll Patriotic
Vigilance Committee

Cleveland Moffett, writer, who was
arrested on Monday night for breaking
up an unpatriotic meeting at Thirty
seventh Street and Broadway, is now
head of a committee formed by the
American Defence Society which will
start a campaign to stamp out disloyal
mass meetings in the city.
Patriotic Americans are urged to pre-
sent themselves to-day at the society's
headquarters, 500 Fifth Avenue. and en-
roll in a vigilance committee which will
have as it's object the arrest Of every
reasonable orator who airs his views
here.
At a special meeting of the society
yesterday, Mr.. Moffett was appointed
chairman of the committee on aliens
and traitors, which will direct the
campaign against pro-Germans. MI
Moffett announced that ne prrposed to
have soap box orators, who preach what
appears to be traitorous doctrlnes'
placed under arrest.
Will Ask Presidents Support
Other cities have been asked TO root
out spreaders of disloyal teachings IN
letters from Henry c. Quinby, chairman
of the executive committee, TO the
chiefs of police in one hundred large
cities. Moreover, Mr.. Moffett said that
he purposed to ask President wilson
support. and intended 10 carry the night
to Congress if new legislation was nee
essary TO end what he calls "a great ma
tional menace"
Colonel Roosevelt heartily Endorsed
the new movement yesterday.
"Tell Cleveland Moffett,' the Colonel
said chat | glory in what he did. Every
one who SAYS reasonable things snould
he arrested. And any man VINO talks
against our allies is talking against the
United States, for our allies are now
mart az us. since we are fighting with
them. have written Police Commls-
eioner Woods my ideas on this very
matter" .t
Third Deputy Police Commissioner
Lawrence B, Durham represented the
Police Department at yesterday alter,
Moons meeting, and Assistant OnlIeo
States Attorney Harold Harper also
was present. In the opinion OF the
notice, unpatriotic soap box speakers
can he suppressed in three ways.
citizen hearing the Objectionable re
MARKS can order a policeman to make
an arrest; an officer can arrest the
sneaker on his own initiative, or the
natriotic citizen can get stenographic
or other trustworthy report of the
sneech and take it before magistrate
10
out that all infammatory oratory Is
NOT treason, and that an overt act IS
usually necessary for conviction LOT
treason.
Formulate Society's Course
c. s. Thompson, Robert Appleton,
Cushing Stetson and Henry u Quihpy'
members of the executive committee
formulated the course of action OF the
American Defence Society.
The statement of the societys case
is clearly made in a letter which was
sent to Mayor Mitchell. After review
ing Mr.. Moffett's experience Monday
night, the letter says:
"The American Defence Soclety Is
constrained TO believe that icence
entirely too wide is accorded those
DprgOng VINO, lot rehSOHS luty "AS
der no obligation to disclose, may I'd
dress TO the public. As the situation
stands. irresponsible citizens, pacitists
and persons of German sympatnies
speak unchecked from any responsible
quarter, utter reasonable speeches and
advocate policies directly opposed to
the safety OF this nation.
IAN unabridged liberty of utterance
which may be well enough or neg!ig-
Bile in times of peace may be menaclng
and dangerous TO the public safety IN
time of war. Our soldiers even now
are in the battlefelds of France. Any
man who, for whatever reason, impedes
or retards me civil machinery which
is to keep them there, addresses his
audience with bloody lips, or performs
his work of obstruction with bloody
hands"
John u. Moore, national secretary
of the Friends Of Irish FREEDOM, de.
clared last night that Mr.. Mofett and
mis- associates had set off the hrst
gun in a campaign to suppress free
speech in this city,