New-York tribune., 1918-04-25
Relieves 81 Will Not Kill''
Plea in Masses" Epito-
mized Treason
Law Did Not Cover
Matter, He Asserts
Wrote Article for Sup
pressed Magazine and Re-
CARDS Eastman Highly

Say told of his relations with THE
Masses" the radical magazine, and with
its editors and business manager.
He declared that an advertisement
containing the pledge, II will not kill
nor help kill my fellow men," had been
submitted to him at Washington be-
fore its publication in the issue of the
magazine for June of last year, but
that he thought he had no power to
suppress it, although ne considered at
the time that it "epitomized treason,
absolutely; that he had "a very high
regard" for Max Eastman and other men
who published the magazine; that he
was consulted about the publication of
"The Liberator," which was started re-
Gently by Eastman, after The Masses"
had been suppressed. and that before
the war he had published one article
in "The Masses"
Mr.. Creels statements were made
on the witness stand in the Federal
court before Judge Augustus n. Hand,
after he had been requested by the
government TO appear as a witness
against Eastman, Merrill Rogers, Floyd
Dell and Arthur Young, who are ac-
cused of using the magazine last sum-
mer 10 obstruct recruiting and enlist
ing.
Creel Wrote Article for Masses
Specifically, Mr.. Creel was called in
connection with testimony given on
Monday by Mr.. Rogers, business mana
ger of the magazine. Mr.. Rogers had
testified that he had gone to Wash
ngton with an advertisement prepared
by Mrs. j. Sergeant Cram, who was
promoting an organization known as
H. Dot e-r7
asking people to sign the Il will not
kill" pledge. Mr. Rogers further stated
chat Mr. Creel did not protest against
the advertisement. "although he
thought it foolish" He did not say
that Mr. Creel had approved it.
The fact that Mr.. Creel had pub
lished an article in "Thc Masses" was
brought out on cross-examination by
Morris Hillquit, counsel for the de-
fence. The article. which was not read
in court. was published in the issue Of
July, 1918. 1t was headed "Rockefeiler
Law and the cover, containing an an
nouncement Of Mr.. Cree,'s contribution,
was decorated with a coiored cartoon
which pictured two judges pulling the
string Of guillotine whose knife had
chopped off the heads of numberless
worhingmen.
Both the government and the defence
concluded their testimony yesterday.
Assistant District ATTORNEY Earl
Barnes. for the prosecution, will begin
argument to the jury this morning, and
after the defence concludes it's argu-
ment this afternoon the case will 20 to
the jury A verdict may be returned
BY to- night
Fifteen minutes was the time con-
sumed by Mr.. Creel on the witness
stand He took the stand as soon as
the morning session opened and left
as soon as his examination had been
completed.
Rogers Asked Opinion
After the usual prelimnares con-
cerning the witnesses position and
duties, Mr.. Hillquit launched at once
into the conversation between Mr. Creel
and Mr.. Rogers
The chairman of the Committee on
Public Information related how Mr.
kogers brought him the June issue OF
Inc Masses" containing Mrs. Grams
advertisement.
And did Mr.. Rogers ask you to ex-
press your opinion as to whether OF
not 1t should be published ?" he was
asked.
"Yes, SIR
Q. Just how did he do it? A. He
asked me what | thought of that ad.
sertlsement, and | told him thought
y epltomized treason. absolutely Hs
then stated that the advertisement,
was not expressing n any degree tbs
polley Of the paper, but it had beer
IscelFed as an advertisement. and tnat
.ae publishers were very worried about
~ tnai 1t was now on the press, the
forms were locked. and il was read,
ler distribution, and wanted to know
ny policy regarding 1t. stated K
MIN very explicitly that l was with
ouI power; there was no censorship
ia" Congress at that time had re
fused TO enact such a law / wa.
utterly without power; nor had tbs
espionage law been passed; SO tina
.sere did not appear upon the books
.he law books of the country at ths
.iime. any law that gave any officia
me power to bar publications or pas
upon publications.
And | told him that there was n,
iaw and that ! had no authority tt
aarnid the publication OF this paper.
The conversation then turned upoi
we policy Of the paper. and | triet
% make it clear to him that any op
posi,ion TO the war. any question a.
70 Inc justice Of Americas cause
you'd so be regarded by the people o
america as treason. and that i
seemed to me it vas the duty of ever,
nan nan and every publication to accep
the war az fact, and that certainl.
a0icaI publications. could find il
amerIea fair field for fighting. evel
aler accepting the war as fact, an
nc' ,sy 10 break the will Of Americ
" ai'ar its purpose in any degree.
Y. and during the course Of thi
s..aversation did Mr.. Rogers call you
s@htion 70 the contents Of this Jun
sue. A. No. l glanced through j
T. Did you read any Of the articles
Prose articles. in the issue "a. tn
. .me a. glanced through the edi
.ais quite hastily. But there wer
sHain paragraphs that caught m,
~ mat Heemed TO show an opposition
- tne war, and il waa upon that op
pos,ticn tnat our whole talk was based
nasa pr. Rogers stated quite expiicitl
mat 'ne policy Of the magazine woui
y" changed that the war would b
~eeeptsd az fact, and tina. the futur
sooYse of the magazine would be give
"ssr 10 the discussion Of industria
Ana economical questions that cor
|sfned themselves with American lifs
sna tbnt the war would be nccepte,
- fact.
Cfoss-exAmIaation
Ir Lresi WAS then croxs-exannine,
BY ar. Hillqult.
How nearly can you fix the dat
~ mat eonvefsatiou, Mr.. Creei? A.
~as ~ the time when the gsieetiy