New-York tribune., 1918-06-26
The 81. w. w. Bible" at Chicago

At Kansas City, in the trial of Rose
Pastor Stokes, the defendants attorney
cited fragmentary passages from the
collection of the Presidents speeches is
sued in 1913 as "The New Freedom
this in support of the contention that
the views of Mrs. Stokes were not radi-
cally different, in many regards, from
those Of the present President of the
United States.
In the same way, i'll the trial of the
I. w. w. leaders at Chicago, their at
torney offers as the first and perhaps
chief line Of their defence the report
of the Federal Industrial Relations Com
mission, appointed by the President in
1914. This, they say, is "the |. w. w.
Bible" and they point to such facts as
that this report was signed by the chair
man of the commission, Mr. Frank =.
Walsh, and that Mr.. Walsh was under
stood to be the Presidents personal ap
polntee on that commission; that he has
since been active in the counsels Of the
government on labor matters, and that
he sits with ex-President Taft on the
National War Labor Board as the es
peclal representative of the people.
The leaders Of the l. w. W. and their
attorney do not mention the fact that
this report, signed by the chairman. was
OF so violent and extreme a character
that 1t tailed to secure the Endorsement
or even bare majority of the Industrial
Relations Commission and that it was
10 all lntents repudiated by a majority
OF that commission. But especially and
particularly they neglected to mention
Two very notable facts. The first is
that this report was prepared and
issued, like the Presidents ''New Free
dom," some time before we entered the
war. The second fact is that the man
who prepared and signed this report is
now, like the President. in the sincle-
hearted business of winning the war Mr..
Walsh is member of the commission
that IS endeavoring to stop every kind
OF strike in this country so long as the
war lasts-that is to say, to bring about
truce between employers and en-
ployes until the war is over.
Is this true of the members of the
w. W. generally? If it were true. would
thelr leaders now be on trial at Chicao,,
1or oostructlng the war? 1t is no part of
the business of this newspaper or anv
other to prejudge the case or in anv
way prevent these defendants from hav-
ing 1alr and impartial trial. SO far as
the present matter is at issue, the pre-
[ 80
slding Judge declared that the attemnt
10 introduce political or controversial
matter into the trial was not admissi-
BILE. The ~. w. W. Bible" was barred
But we do think that this ouestion
has some bearing on the announced Of
forts of group of American liberals"
to raise fund of $4,000 to assist in
the defence at Chicago. 1t is to the high
est interest of the courts and the peonle
OF all the country that these defendants
should have the fairest possible trial
and a wholly adequate defence. If thew
nave not the means to obtain this neces-
sary defence, it is clearly desirable that
the means should be found.
But back of this is very broad oues-
tion Supposing two men were engaged
IN violent argument, and it was sud-
denly discovered that the house was on
nre. Would sane men rush to put out
the flre or go on with the argument
whiie the house burned down?
| In pretty definite sense what we call
civilization now is house on FIRE. Mr..
walsh and great number Of others
hke him have stopped arguing and gone
to f're fighting. Is this true of the gem
tlemen who are SO highly solicitous as