The producers news. [volume] (Plentywood, Mont.) 1918-1937, 1919-03-28
WHY DISCRIMINATE
AGAINST CHRISTIANS

On the 21st of June, 1918, J. 4.
Rutherford. President of the inter
narional Bible Students Association
and successor to the late Pastor Rus
sell. together with seven other on
ciais of that religious organization
were sentenced to twenty years I'M
nrisonment for teaching what they
honestly believed to be the proper IN
depreciation of the Bible. They pub
Iished a 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. lie
died in 1916 without having COM
pIeted the book. 1t was completed
and published about the time the
United States entered the war, al
though the manuscript was written
cut at the trial, the book was on the
press before the Espionage Act had
been passed by Congress. The men
were so busily engaged in their re-
igious work that they failed to take
notice that an espionage act had De-
come law.
The Government Counsel and the
trial Judge indicated that they be-
Eeved these men sincere. Yet
iurv convicted them, and they were
given a severe sentence of twenty
years in the Atlanta penitentlary and
have even been denied the privilege
of giving bail pending the appeal of
their case. This is indeed singular in
Tiew of the fact that Socialists, an
archists. l. w. w officials and lead
ers of the most radical movement
who have been convicted under the
Espionage Act have been admitted
to bail with impunity. Now, many
of these agitators are being released
from prison, but the Bible Students
are kept behind the bars.
These Bible Students were charged
with conspiracy (Which means an
unlawful agreement) to interrupt the
United States in prosecuting the
war, although, as shown at the trial,
they did nothing more than pursue
the religious 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 bail,
denied the privilege of consulting
counsel except in the presence of a
representative Of the Department of
Justice, while the records have been
held up by the lower court so that
the case may not be heard in the
Appellate 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 made in
Brooklyn, New York, last autumn
Fucker was sentenced to fifteen years
imprisonment, but was Immediately
admitted to bail, pending the hearing
Of his appeal. The contrast in the
treatment of the Socialist, DR.. luck
er, and these ministers of the Bible
Students Association was so marked
that even rne Brooklyn Daily Eagle
known to be unfriendly to Mr.. Ruth.
erford and the Russell organization
recognized the discrimination and
commented upon it in its issue OF
January rs, as follows: fuckers ad.
mittance to bail by Justice Brandeis
caused surprise comment, in view Of
the fact that the Russelite leaders
are still held in jail"
Are the International Bible Stu
dents being Disseminated against be-
cause of their religion? Fair minde;
Americans will not tolerate The
making of martyrs of Christians il
this enlightened day. There is no ex
cuse, legal or otherwise, for holding
such men in Jail without admitting
them to bail, pending their appeal
Ion this point we quote from a de
.cision of the United States. Supreme
Court, as follows:
"The statutes of the United
States have been framed upon