The sun., 1918-10-03
EASTMAN, ON TRIAL,
EAGERLY BACKS WAR
Writer Lends His Approval to
Wilson's Reply to Peace
Proposals.

Max Eastman described to a Jury yes
terday in the Federal District Court his
reactions to the wars developments. He
was never pro-German. he said. He was
strongly for the ALLIES until they ignored
Kerensky's peace proposals. He argued
in vain with President Wilson in favor
OF the Russian ideas. Then came q
mood Of 'individualistic rebelliousness
in which he put himself in opposition to
the Government Of the United States.
Eastman expressed his feelings in the
Masses, the organ Of the Greenwich VII
lase intellectuals. John Reed. Floyd
Dell. Art Young and Merrill Rogers
Joined him In a violent campaign against
the war programme. and particularly the
draft. All are on trial before Judge Mar
tin T. Manton charged with violating the
espionage law. The defence is that what
ever the defendants wrote or pictured
was the expression OF individual ideas,
that the Masses never was bound by a
definitely formulated policy and that
hence there could have been no con-
spiracy.
His Sudden Change.
Eastman declared himself to be Tor
war to the end. He changed from op-
position to the Government, he said.
when the President answered the Pope g
peace proposals last August in a man.
ner he approved. The Government main
tains that German brigandage at Brest-
Litovsk caused Eastman and many other
Socialist sympathizers with Russia to
change their positions.
Eastman's examination by his counsel,
Seymour Stedman. will be continued to-
day. He gave his age as % and his ad-
dress as 1875 Washington place. He said
that he had taught philosophy and psy-
chology at Columbia before he became a
writer and lecturer. His father and
mother were both ministers OF the Con-
gregational Church.
An article In the June number OF 1917
written by Eastman was read to the Jury
by Mr.. Stedman. Excerpts from It were
put In as part OF the Governments case
This article expressed Eastman's views
at the time the United States entered the
war. The lawyer contended that the full
text modified such excerpts as the fol-
lowing:
1T Is not n war for democracy.> II did
not originate in a dispute about democ-
racy and II Is unlikely to terminate in a
democratic settlement. There Is a bare
possibility that the victory OF the Allies
will hasten the fall Of the autocracies Of
central Europe. but there ia practical
certainty that in trimming for such
victory the Allies will throw out most OF
the essence of their own democracy. We
will Prussianixe ourselves and we will
1HaH
will remain, as before, the task OF the
Odd Ideas on Liberty.
We wish to persuade those who love
liberty and democracy enough to give
their energy or their money or their
lives for 1t to withhold the gift from
this war and save II to use in the sad
renewal of the real struggle for liberty
that will come after it,
Merrill Rogers. business manager OF
the Masses, was cross-examined by Earl
b. Barnes. Assistant United States At.
torney. The prosecutor asked the wit
ness TO explain his declaration that the
ma gaxine had no policy.
IL mean that each of the editors had
tho right at any time to print any
article, cartoon or statement he might
wish and the other editors could not
stop him." said Rogers. Therefore the
could not be said to have had
a fixed policy"
Mr.. Barnes showed a circular appeal
for subscriptions signed by Max East
man. From this he read the following:
This is to pledge you that the Masses
will oppose conscripion."
Would you say that does not an
a policy in the common accepta-
ton of the English languageT' asked Mr..
Barnes.
mo"
what would be your manner of an
a policy them"
THAT circular was only advertising
matter A policy is something agreed
upon by the owners and editors and ex-
planned on the editorial page"
Floyd Dell. managing editor. described
quarrels between the editors OF the pub
LEGATION. He declared that no policy
governed the publication.
Dell Tells OF Dismissal.
It seemed to him. no said. that the
issues appeared each month In spite Of
the editors. Dell was drafted last sum-
mer and spent fourteen days In a south
ern training camp.
Were you dismissed from the army"
asked Mr.. Stedman.
II was"
who caused your dismissal?"
81 suppose Mr.. Barnes did"
Mr.. Barnes Jumped to his feet. ct
object to this" he said. This man was
indicted into the service of the
United States. He was under indictment
when he was mustered In. This at
tempt to bring In my name is meant to
prejudice the jury"
Tho objection was sustained. Dell
described HIS life in camp. He was
never n conscientious obJector. he said.
He admitted writing an article critics.
Ing the treatment OF contentious OBJ
iectors In England. He said that Presi-
dent Wilson's proclamation prescribing
for conscientious directors
had met his objections to the draft law