New-York tribune., 1918-10-03
Eastman Testihes
He First Wanted
Germans Licked
Then "Masses" Editor Dis
approved Statement of
War Aims by Allies
Lays Bare His Mind
Says He Felt. "Individualistic
Righteousness" Against
u. S. Conscription

complete confession of faith by
Max Eastman concerning his attitude
toward the war was the feature yester-
day in the governments case in the
United States District Court against
Eastman and ether editors Of "The
obstruct the draft law.
For half an hour the editor addressed
the jury, explaining his every change
of feeling toward Germany and the
Allies throughout the whole course Of
the war. a series Of emotions which,
according to his testimony varied from
a sympathy with the Allies against Ger
many to feeling OF "individualistc
RIGHTEOUSNESS, against Americas en-
tering the war and conscrpting her
citizens.
During his testimony Eastman told
of three conferences he had had with
President Wilson, upon whom he bad
urged his own opinions about the
proper course for the United States to
take. When the President in his Au-
gust note to the Pope endorsed the
terms of Russa's war aims" Eastman
said he wrote the President a letter of
Commendation and received from him
reply. Before that time, the de-
fcndant said, he was excited, indig-
rant, hot under the collar, ard mad''
that the President had betrayed his
own peace without victory" declara-
ton Of an earlier date
First Wanted Germany Licked
at the beginning of the war in
Europe" Eastman said, Il was strongly
convinced that in the interests of dc
mocracy and Socialism Germany should
be licked. Ard | so stated in articles
and lectures. In December, 1916. when
President Wilson wrote to the bclligcr-
cnts asking for statement of wal
aims, Germany replied cquivocally and
the Allies laid down programme that
to me seemed 80 natonalstic and inn
rcrialistic that | decided it was no
longer important that Germany should
be licked. I assumed the President was
disappointed too, as he later declared
himself for a programme Of peace with
out victory. | considered that ono of
the most important documents in
human history and told him so.
Eastman then related how he with
several others had gone to the White
House to urge d league of neutral ma
tons for the protection Of neutral ship
ping against Germany's unlawful sub
marine warfare, instead of an armeC
neutrality for America alone. He sait
he was "astoundcd and appalled' whcr
Congress 'haunted every American anc
democratic tradition and voted for con
scription, but explained that his "re
bclliousncss soon found new vent il
trying to assist in getting Russia's
peace terms indorscd by the United
States government"
Four Of Staff Testify
Boardman Robinson, contributing
cartoonist; Floyd Dell, managing cdi
tor of "The Masses; c. Merrill Rogers
business manager, and Louis Inter
meyer, contributing editor and stock
holder, also took the stand yesterday
They all testified that there was nc
fixed policy by which they all wrote fol
the magazine. but that each man sent
in his contribution, which was pub
lished without question by the editor
Mr. Eastman. MI. Eastman DrOughl
smiles in the courtroom when he sale
that his Function of editor was really
that of a diplomat" because he was
always receiving kicks from some OF
the contributors whose stuff had to be
crowded out on account Of space
limits"
A sucstion put to Floyd Dell that was
received with much excitement was OBJ
jcctcd to and objection sustained. The
question was, Would you so to Russia
now and fight the Soviet government
with the American cxpcditonarS
force? 2"
Dell had testified that he was quite
willing to 60 int othe service of his
country" and related that he had beer
in the army for fourteen days, after
which he WAS dismissed.
DisapprOvcd of Conscription
Rogers admitted that he had said tC
Richard Schoup in conversation tina
r "dsapproved heartily of the theor,
OF con- rription" and that he "hopet
conscriptioa in the United States woule
not succeed"
Eastman will take the stand again to-
day at the resumption of the trial.