Bisbee daily review., 1918-07-10
THELW. w. ON TRIAL
CFrom the chieago rribunel

Thorstein Veblen, etc.-have appealed to the people for contributions to the l. W. w. defense fund. The leaders are on trial in Chicago before Judge Landis The ap- peal for funds insists that true American ism will provide fair trial for these men.
 Never Mind What You Think About the l. w w" the appeal says; they are at least entitled to a fair trial and an open minded public hearing. That is primary American right.
 The fear that fair trial will not be had is not well explained. There is no public excitement against the defendants. There is no popular prejudice here. There might be in the farther west. Here people regard the organization as an amusing menagerie. Journalism treats it in the spirit of elabor- ate josh-not the best method of treatment, but the prevailing one.
 five had the packers on trial there would be much more popular animus. This lack of interest Is unintelligent and unwise be- cause 1t Is not only indifference to the methods of social revolutionaries but 1t IS indifference to conditions which give vigor to the revolutionaries. But it represents a state of mind not iniInical to the fair trial of the leaders of the organization.
 The intellectuals who ask for defense fund are not candid Their virtual conces- sion that the criminal aspects of the case will be treated effectually leaves their movement as one to expose intolerable conditions of labor" For such exposure witnesses must be brought from distant places and money is needed.
 Americans would be interested in giving these 1. W. w. leaders fair trial and an unprejudiced hearing of the charges against them. These are charges which affect their liberty and their right of action. If they are not guilty of crimes they should not be pun ished for them Fair play, to which the appeal is made, Is concerned entirely with the individual responsibility of these men to the law as society has made the law.
 These social revolutionists frequently assert their independence of the law, their contempt for the social order, their desire and purpose to change 1t by violence and force and to impose upon a majority, slug gish or sane, stupid or intelligent, inert or determined, a new social system whether the majority, for whatever reason. wants 1t or not.
 Such procedure virtually outlaws the revolutionaries because they will accept none of the processes of reform. modifica- ton, or ameloration which are provided by the prevailing scheme of society. Liberal ism in that scheme means constant amelior- ation without destruction. The revolution aries frequently urge destruction as the necessary preliminary to reform.
 We cannot see how an appeal in honest and candid spirit can be made to people who believe the l. w. w. to be fundamentally wrong to assist in devoting their general case against society It is not case of these big men being in danger because of unfairneness. It Is a case of their propa- oanda not getting its most elaborate expo sition. Inasmuch as society considers it. self on the defensive against the propa- ganda it may be excused from furthering the work against itself.
 A criminal case is not the occasion for a survey of intolerable conditions of life. The scheme of society is working and 1t ought to work fairly-as we think 1t is-to de termine whether the specific crimes charged against these men were committed by them.
 The provocation found in conditions of life. against which liberalism constantly contends and for which it constantly seeks amelioration, is not defense of destructive methods. The methods may be more in furious to the stability and general equity of