New-York tribune., 1919-12-16
1000 Expected to March as
Protest Against Holding
Political Prisoners; Po-
lice Ready to Stop Move
Deportation Not Settled
Rerkman and Goldman Not
To Be Sent to Russia
in Near Future, Says Uhl

Unless the police interfere 1000
-sdcals will march up Fifth Avenue
An Christmas morning with their
,.nds manacled and their costumes
draped In mourning as protest
AGAINST the imprisonment of persons
convicted under the Federal espionage
oct The demonstration Is being
MANNED by the free political pris-
oners committee" of the Peoples
Freedom Union, 1873 West Thirteenth
Street.
Tracy G. Mygatt, secretary, declared
Yesterday that the invitations to those
who are to take part already have been
issued. She declared that as the
marchers are to walk single file it is
not technically parade and that,
therefore, no license is necessary. At
police headquarters it was said, how
ever, that if the marchers attempt to
use the thoroughfare the police will
interfere and the self-manacled parad-
ers will parade to Jail.
Promoters Of the plan have decided
that Christmas is an opportune time
to demand the release Of political
prisoners" Their object in wearing
manacles will be to call attention to
inscriptions which are to be worn on
shoulder bands. Where the 1000
manacles are to be obtained for the
occasion was not stated
To Represent Each Prisoner
According to records of the organ
ization, 1000 persons, including Eugene
V. Debs, were convicted under the
espionage law. 1t is proposed that each
prisoner shall be represented in the
parade.
The call to the marchers. as an
nounced by Miss Mygatt, reads:
Eve want you to come out on the
day Of peace on earth and in your own
personal appeal to the kind hearted
Christians and Christian world for
these 1000 men and women who will
spend his Christmas Day, and perhaps
many other days, behind prison bars
because they believed too sincerely and
spoke too honestly for good will to
neil.
This is what we propose: A large
group Of men and women will meet at
10 O'Clock (place to be announced later)
on Christmas morning and walk single
hands manacled and wearing shoulder
bands which will tell the story.
The bands will read:
Let good will to men unlock the
doors for political prisoners.
This is Christmas Day. VIII YOU
keep 1000 men and women in jail for
believing in brotherhood?
Appeal to Christians
Let Christians unlock the prison
doors to those who would bring peace
on earth.
Mahometan Turkey has released
all her political prisoners; will Chris
slan America keep hers in Jail?
After the parade it is proposed to
detail groups of ten marchers each to
stand in front of various churches as
the Christmas morning congregations
come out.
Emma Goldman and Alexander Berk-
man, who are at Ellis Island awaiting
deportation, received assurances that
they will be welcome on their arrival
IN Soviet Russia. Ludwig A. Martens,
mead OF the Soviet Bureau, 40 West
IFortieth Street, sent the anarchists a
letter formally inviting them.
Il wish on behalf Of my country to
state that the Workers. Republic of
Russia will be glad to offer an asylum
to the first group of political refugees
from the United States," Mr.. Martens's
letter said. "Soviet Russia persecutes
no one for his beliefs on political or
economic theories.
Confident of Welcome
Il have no reason to believe that you
and your comrades in exile will not find
yourselves in Russia intellectually
working for the strengthening Of the
ideals Of the Soviet Republic. I am