New-York tribune., 1918-06-02
Jury Misunderstood
Mrs. Stokes Mofiue.
Husband Declares

Husband Declares
The sentence of ten years imposed
upon the woman who went about pub
ilciy declaring II am not for the gov
ernment" and avowing her disbelief in
the statement "The government Of the
United States should have the unouali-
ned support OF every citizen in its war
AIMS and her belief that "the govern
ment is for the profiteers" smote the
friends of Rose Pastor Stokes with
amazement
Comment on the Sentence
Comment on the sentence follows:
): Il. Phelps: 81 feel justified in
saying that know Mrs. Stokes better
than any other man or group of men
can know, and that her motives were
grossly misunderstood at her trial
MRS. Stokes is not and never has been
opposed TO active participation in the
war by the American government. On
tne contrary, she has constantly held
INA, 1ha' ehe war must be pushed by the AL
NEG forces until the autocratic powers
OF Cenarl Europe are overcome and nm
til the foundations of democracy are
efectually secured.
i am personally entirely certain
@ nad the jury understood, as I under
stand, her motives, they would not
| charged" o'''''e
Richard M. Hurd: ,"Public opinion
has long demanded the enforcement of
tne laws against sedition and disloval
acts i.s and speeches in this country. The
m ne OF the nation is at stake and those
VINO delberately attempt to oppose the
N noft 4-
are just as much enemies as the Ger
man beasts in spiked helmets.
The sentence of ten years imposed
on Mrs. Stokes will strike the public
mind as being very severe. Doubtless
IL was intended to be severe and to act
as deterrent to the vast horde of
SOCIALISTS, pro-Germans, anti British.
olnn eFlners, etc, who now hold meet
lngs with lmpunity and spread their
poison without hindrance
1T is clear that such long sentence
can only be. justified by similar SEN
tences for similar offenders, including
the wealthy owners of disloyal news,
papers"
Hysteria, Says Hillquit
Morris Hillquit-"Mrs. Stokes was
convicted on technical charge that she
made false reports, or statements, with
intent to interfere with our military
operations, that she attempted to cause
nsubordination in the army and nayv
and that she obstructed recruiting and
enlistment
AS matter of fact, she did none
Of these things. She had never the
desire nor opportunity to do them.
What she did do was to express an
adverse political opinion of the govern
ment in letter to newspaper
The ten-year Jail sentence for this
'ofence' is, in my opinion, grossly vim
dlctlve and almost savage. 1t will
serve no good purpose, but will create
the impression that at least in some
parts OF the country law and Justice
have given way to judicial hysteria."
aIiss Lillian Wald: ~ am shocked. I
cannot understand it. Any one who
knows Mrs. Stokes knows that she is a
noble, unseltish woman, who is in in
capable of doing anything to harm the
government. l know she stood whole
heartedly behind the government in the
prosecution of the war. The public
cannot afford to lose her services to
humanity"
The Rev. DR.. John F. Carson, pastor
Of the Central Presbyterian Church.
Brooklyn: II do not know all the de,
tails connected with the offence
charged against Mrs Stokes, but | be-
lleve that the judge who heard her
case took into consideration all the
facts and circumstances, and also kent
in mind that she was woman. I be-
leve that the time has come to stop
the mouths of those who are putting
fantastic class interests above the in
terests of the Union. The very posi-
ton OF Mrs. Stokes, on account of her
wealth and other considerations. lent
emphasis to whatever she said. and
should have made her careful about
breaking the laws of our country, espe-
cially along the line of seditious utter
ance or writing. l rejoice in everything
that tends to curb the Socialist of the
red flag kind"
Brought to U. S. as Child
Mrs. Stokes was brought to the
United States in childhood. having
been born in Russia. She went to
Cleveland, Ohio, where she earned s12
a week as cigarmaker and special
writer for Yiddish papers, She came
to New York, where she engaged in
settlement work and met J. G. Phelps
Stokes, wealthy philanthropist. They
were married on July 18, 1905, and con-
tinued their social service together.
Some time later both joined the Social
ist party.
On July y, 19l7, Mr.. and Mrs. Stokes
announced their resignation from the
Socialist party because Of its anti-war
platform. On January S, 1918, Mrs.
Stokes applied for readmission into the
party. Her petition was granted, and
March found her in the Middle West
proclaiming her amended doctrine. 1t
led to her arrest in Springfield, Mo-, on
March 21, although the charge was not
pressed on condition that she leave
town. without making any more
speeches.
Her husband has never applied for
readmission to the Socialist party, say
ing when Mrs. Stokes did so: "John
Spargo and the others of us, who left
the party last summer, are still as de-
termined as ever in our fight against
the party which has so hindered Ameri-
ca in the Service it is trying to do to
humanity"