The Ward County independent. [volume] (Minot, Ward County, N.D.) 1902-1965, 1919-03-27

WHY DISCRIMINATE AGAINST
CHRISTIANS?
(Contributetl)
On the 21st of June, 1918, j. F..
Rutherford, President Of tie Inter-
national Bible Students Association
and successor to the late Pastor Rus
sell, together with seven other offic-
ials Of that religious organization
We're sentenced to twenty years i'm
prisonment for teaching what they
honestly believed to be the proper in
depreciation of the Bible. They pub
lished book entitled The Finished
Mystery, which is strictly Bible
commentary, explaining the prophe-
cies Of Revelation, Ezekiel and the
Songs Of Solomon. 1t was book
which Pastor Russell had promised
his followers for thirty years. He
died in 1916 without having complet-
ed the book It was completed and
published about the time the United
States entered the war, although the
war and, as was brought out at the
trial, the book was on the press be-
fore the Espionage Act had been
passed by Congress. The men were
so busily engaged in their religious
work that they failed to take notice
that an espionage act had become
law
The Government Counsel and the
trial Judge indicated that they be-
lieved these men sincere. Yet jury
convicted them, and they were given
a severe sentence of twenty years in
the Atlanta penitentiary and have
even been denied the privilege of Civ
ing bail pending the appeal of their
case. This is indeed singular in view
of the fact that Socialists, anarchists,
/. W. w. officials and leaders of the
most radical movements who have
been convicted under the Espionage
Act have been admitted to bail with
impunity. Now, many Of these agi- |
tators are being released from pris- |
on, but the Bible Students are kept
behind the bars.
These Bible Students were charged
with conspiracy (Which means an un-
lawful agreement) to interrupt the
United States in prosecuting the war,
although, as shown by the trial, they
did nothing more than pursue the re-
ligious. work along the same lines in
which they had been engaged for .
many years prior to the war. They
have now been in prison for more
than eight months, denied ball. de-
MED the privilege of consulting coun-
sci except in the presence of repre-
sentative Of the Department of JUS
tice, while the records have been
help up by the lower court so that
the case may not be heard in the APP
pellate Court for many months to
come.
In comparison we call attention to
the case of DR.. Fucker, recently tried
and sentenced in the same court for
an alleged disloyal speech msde in
Brooklyn, New York, last autumn.
Fucker was sentenced to fifteen
years Imprisonment, but was immed-
lately admitted to bail, pending the
hearing of his appeal. The contrast
in the treatment of the Socialist, DR..
Fucker, and these ministers Of the
Bible Students Association was so
marked that even the Brooklyn Daily
Eagle, known to be unfriervSS to Mr..
Rutherford and the Russell organiz-
alton, recognized the discrimination
and commented upon it in it's issue
of January 25. as follows: "Zuck-
er's admittance to bail by Justice
Brandies caused surprised comment,
in view Of the fact that the Russellite
leaders are still held in jail"
Are the international Bible Stu
dents being Disseminated against be-
cause of their religion? Fair mind
ed Americans will not tolerate the
of martyrs Of Christians in
this enlightened day. There is no
excuse, legal or otherwise, for hold
ing such men in jail without admit
ting them to bail pending their ;tp-
peal. On this point we quote from
a decision of the United States Su-
preme Court, as follows:
'The statutes of the United
States have been framed upon
the theory that person accused
of crime shall not, until he has
been finally adjudged guilty IN
THE COURT OF LAST RE-
SORT, be absolutely compelled to
undergo Imprisonment or punish
ment, but MAY BE ADMITTED
TO BAIL, not only after arrest
and before trial, but after con-
viction and pending writ of err
rOr."-Hudson VS.. Parker, 1856,
: U. S. 277.
Let every one who believes in fair
dealing take part in having these
Rihla St,,Jap+e, fxoo Watt -,