New-York tribune., 1918-10-05
Eastman Describes
Himself as Citizen,
Not taConspirator
Makes Closing Argument
in Behalf of Editors of
the "Masses"

Appearing in a role described bv
himself as that of can old-fashioned
American citizen," Max Eastman, de-
fendant with four other editors of "The
Masses" for conspiracy to obstruct the
draft, made the closing argument be-
bore the jury in his own behalf yes
terday in the United States District
Court The case will go to the jury
to-day after the courts charge.
II was never for the defeat of nv
country at any tme," said Eastman.
but believe in personal liberty in
stead Of military efficiency; in the
right OF minority parties to express
their opinions publicly in time of war
as well as in time of peace.
my ancestor, Daniel Webster, made
an historic anti-conscription address
which probably saved the country from
that sort of recruiting. l have never
belleved IN conscripticn, because | be-
lieve in the liberty and democracy that
Thomas jefferson, John Hancock and
John Adams believed in.
Il am not afraid to spend the better
part of my life in the penitcntary,"
the editor continued, "if my principles
lead me there. But should be afraid
W UCtIdy lnOSC prlnClpleS.
The doctrine of socialism was e]uci-
rating, as he said, the prosecutions de-
scription of the editors of "The
Masses" as cred and bloody bunch
of Bolshcvik."
He Praises Bolsheviki
"If there is pro- German intrigue
among the Russian Bolsheviki then we
are not in sympathy with them," he
said. But we believe, instead, they
have established the beginning of a
government that is based on human
brotherhood. The prosecution has
proved nothing more dire against US
than that we are Socialists. ! point
out that 40 per cent of the Italian
Parliament are Socialists"
Eastman then reminded the jury
that he had tried fourteen times to
get the authorities to point out where
The Masses was erring."
"lnstead Of information I get an in
dictment" he concluded
He said that George Creel a one time
contributor to "The Masses" and
"friend of mine," had written to him
to tell "Ghe boys to be moderate, and
if you get into any trouble III fix it
up for you and described Solicitor
Hardy as 'reactionary Southern poll
tlcian."
Eastman admitted that the attitude
of "The Masses" in its satirzing the
war was not "in good taste"
I've were young, extreme, proud and
rather obstreperous, dissatisfied with
art and politics; we conciliate nobody
in The Masses not even our readers"
Eastman was preceded by Seymour
Stedman, counsel for the defence, who
based his chief argument on the differ
ence between opposition to law and
violation of law.
"Thcy prate about the loss of liberty
because they are no longer permitted
to stab our soldiers in the back" said
District Attorney Barnes, in closing
for the prosecution. "Whether you feel
sorry for them or not, whether you
think they are just nuts that the SOUR
rels of Washington Square have passed
up, send them to prison, where they
ought to go.
"Reed isn't pacitist. He'll fight in
class war. Dell didn't want to serve
in the army when twas legal. but he
did when it wasn't. General Pershing
says he'll smash the Hun line in Eu-
rope if we'll smash Hun propaganda in
this country. This is Hun propaganda,
all the more shameful because there is
no evidence of German money back
Of II :"