New-York tribune., 1918-04-23
Business Manager Testiie.
Censor Approved Mrs.
Grams Pledge
Used Fact to Help
Circulate Magazine
Eastman Declares He Now
Believes This Is War
for Liberty

MrS. d. sergeant Cram, in promoting
/ an organization known as the World
Patriots last summer, published in the
June issue of "The Masses" full-page
advertisement urging people to sign a
pledge Il will not kill nor help kill
my fellow men," and when the adver-
tlsement was taken to Washington and
submitted to George Creel, chairman
OF the Committee on Public Informa-
tlon, he offered no objection to it..
Merrill Rogers, business manager of
"The Masses" who, with Max Eastman
Floyd Dell and Arthur Young, is on
trial on a charge of conspiring to OBJ
struct enlistment and recruiting, so
testified yesterday before Federal
Judge Augustus C. Hand He declared
that after the advertisement had gone
to press, Mrs. Cram had become "ex-
ercised" as to whether it might be
considered seditious. Thereupon, he
testified, he hurried to Washington to
obtain Mr.. Creels opinion.
Quotes Creel to News Company
OASOA OPlHlOIl uOt DelnE a0-
verse, the advertisement was allowed
to go through, and subsequently, ac-
cording to Mr.. Rogers, Creel's fail
ure to protest was used as an argu-
ment to the Interboro News Company,
4O6 West Forty-ffth Street, to promote
the circulation of later issues of "The
Masses"
In letter, dated June 1, last year,
which was introduced as evidence by
Assistant DISTRICT Attorney Earl
Barnes, Rogers urged the 1nterboro
News Company to put the July issue
on the newsstands. and he added:
II can easily imagine that you might
be worried regarding the matter it
contains in these hectic times. But I
can assure you that we have gone over
the whole matter pretty carefully with
George Creel, the head of the censor
ship board at Washington, and are
taking no chances. There wasn't
word raised against the June issue and,
if anything, we were more frank in
our utterances there than we are in
this current issue. I hope sincerely
that you can cooperate with me and
give me any opportunity to take adj
vantage of this special psychology"
Tells of Visit to Creel
Morris Hillquit, counsel for the de-
fence, asked Rogers how it was he
came to consult Creel
"Well,' replied Rogers, Eve were
carrying full-page advertisement for
Mrs. Cram of the Worlds Patriots in
our June issue, and after the copy had
forms Mrs. Cram became very much
exercised about some Of the language
IN her advertisement, as to whether it
might not be interpreted as being trea-
sonable, and she urged me to 60 to
Washington and bring it to the atten-
ton of Mr.. Creel, who was then called
the censor. Creel looked it over and
said that while he thought the adver-
tisement was foolish he did not regard
it as Objectionable"
Mrs. Grams advertisement was dated
April IL, 1917, about two months before
the conscriQtion law went into effect.
The pledge. II will not kill nor help
kill my fellow men," appeared at the
bottom Of the. advertisement as
coupon to be detached, signed and sent
to 81 Union Square. Rogers did not
testify as to whether Creel read all the
advertisement, which was headed "Per-
petual Peace or Perpetual Battle"
Excerpts From the Ad
Outlining the beliefs held by the
members of the Worlds Patriots. the
advertisement said:
They believe that so long ns people are
willing to kill their fellow there can
be no end of war. That to kill one person
even in order to save another is wrong
and that no good has ever resulted from
the use of violence
They consider American guns more Of
menace to our lives and liberties than those
OF any foreign enemy; for these guns, by
their presence. are an invitation that may
create an enemy.
Also these same guns may any day be
turned on those who cndeavoring to
resist injusticcs in their daily occupa-
tions. .
They believe. rs it has been proved by
the world tragedy across the sea that war
cannot conquer war nor can militarism be
conquered by more militarism. and the real
issue is permanent liberty or permanent
bondage. perpetual peace perpetual
battle.
They deny the privilege of parents to
visit their sins on their children and to
mortgage the minds. bodies and souls of
coming generations for the empty title of
National Honor"
Men and women. will you sign pledge
in the name of humanity not to kill and
help in killing any human beings?
Help to conquer war with peace.
Hillquit elected from Rogers repeat
cd assertions that the magazines op
position to conscription was published
before conscription became law, and
that no attempt was ever made to cir
culatc the publication with view of
inducing men not to enlist or to evade
the draft.
His War Views Changed
That his views on the war had un
dcrgone a change since last summer
was asserted by Eastman in his con-
cluding testimony. An article pub
lished in the magazine last summer, in
which he said: ave do not stand up
when the national anthem is played"
was brought to his attention.
"My opinions have changed since /
wrote that" said Eastman. ~ believe
now that this war is war for liberty
and freeaom, which | did not believe
them"