New-York tribune., 1918-09-11
Violence Used
In Fight ON
Newsdealers
Police Asked to Protect
Vendors Who Refuse to
Sell Hearst Papers
Aged Man Is Beaten
In City Hall Park
Women and Boys Also Are
Victims in Campaign to
Discipline ''Newsies"

OlSClplln6 lNcWSlcS
Lemuel Ely Quigg, counsel for the
rewsboys and newsdealers, yesterday
wrote Police Commissioner Richard E.
Enright calling his attention TO tho
venters who refused to handle Hearst
papers and asking that the police take
action to prevent such brutality.
The specific case on which Nh
Ouirg's letter was based was an as
sault upon Max Levitt. an aged man
who has stand at the Thirtythird
Street subway station. Levitt re
ported that while on his way across
City Hall Park with his supply Of
papers he was set upon by three men
and beaten after he had declared he
had no "Americans' and that he did
not propose 70 carry any.
10 complaint is made that the police
are negligent in this matter, assaults
of tins kind being timed with an eye
to escaping the attention of the man
on post.
Won't Sell Hearst Papers
Levitt, Ill his story to Mr.. Quigg, said
he had not been carrying Hearst pa
pers because the patrons of his stand
object to their presence, and that how
ever he might feel, protection
would compel him to decline to carry
them. For that reason it is a consider
able time since he called at the Hearst
Offices for his supply of morning and
evening papers. He had made his
round Of the Offices and vas crossing
City Hall Park on his way uptown
when he says he was accosted by one
Mason. who asked him if he had any
Hearst papers. On his declaring that
he had none, Mason told him. he says,
that he must cease selling Tribunes and
must sell The American and even
ing Journal This he declined to do,
whcreupon, he says, three young men,
roughly dressed, set upon him and at
tempted to take his papers away from
him.
At the same time they beat him about
he head and body, quitting only with
the approach Of pedestrians.
Painfully Bruised
Levitt, painfully but not seriously
bruised, made his way to his stand,
later complaining to his association of
the assault.
MANY of the boys" said Andrew
Stanton, president of the union, "and
the aged and infirm dealers have been
complaining of intimidation because of
their refusal to sell Hearst papers
"Only few nights ago an aged
woman, known as Mrs. Taylor, was set
upon while selling papers at Brooklyn
Bridge. Later an old dealer was beaten
at the Municipal Building because he
admitted he did not sell New York
Americans I am going to complain
to the Department of Justice and the
police and demand that these fellows
be rounded up"
John Williamson, the Borough Hall
rewsdealer, whose fight against the eff
forts to deprive him of his license is
pending in the courts, continues to re-
oeive numerous encouraging and con-
gratulatory messages from sympathetic
PATRIOTS Sgmond SAKE, dealer in
tanning and dyewood extracts at 19
East Forty-tirst Street sent the follow
ing communication:
Although stranger, | want to con-
graduate you on your fight in refusing
to sell the Hearst newspapers.
You're taking a patriotic stand and
hope you will continue your legal FIGHT.
Tor 1t seems to be intimidation.
He Offers SIS
II you feel that you cannot afford
this legal fight, | would suggest that a
committee be formed to raise funds to
assist you, and if such is done I shall
be very glad to contribute $25 to the
cause.
Please note that I am not inter
ested IN any newspapers, but as a citi-
zen behevc IN fairness and Justice"
AT the request of the Corporation
Counsels office Williamson's case
scheduled for hearing in the Supreme
Court IN Brooklyn this morning, has
been postponed until Friday morning.
IN seeking an agreement to postpone
ment the Corporation Counsel's Office
explained that one of the LAWYERS en-
gagged on the case is absent owing to
the death of relative
The postponement will not affect
"ll!lamson's rights in his stand in
Borough Hall. He will continue to do
business, but with the difference that
he has more business than ever be-
fore. At the request of many from a
distance who call at his stand to ex
press their sympathy he is arranging
to take subscriptions for magazines
and periodicals other than those pub
L