New-York tribune., 1919-07-07
National Civic Liberties
Bureau Is Medium of
Warning That Repression
Will Have Sinister Effect
Decry Raid on SsThe Call''
Say Violence Leads to Con-
tempt of Law and Aids
Counsellors Of Revolt

A protest against employing what
are described as violent methods in
dealing with the Bolsheviki, the I.
w. w, Left Wing Socialists and other
Reds was voiced yesterday by five
prominent clergymen. They contend
that repressive measures will have the
effect of driving criticism of the gov
ernment under ground "where it will
grow dangerous and unhealthy"
The clergymen who issued the pro-
test, which was sent out by the Ma
tional Civil Liberties Bureau, Al Union
Square, are the Rev. Arthur C. McGif-
fert, president of the Union Theologi-
cal Seminary; the Rev. Howard c. Rob
bins, dean of the Cathedral of ST. John
the Divine; the Rev. Charles R. Brown,
dean of the Yale School of Religion;
the Rev. Henry Sloane Coffin, of the
Madison Avenue Presbyterian Church,
and the Rev. William Austin Smith,
editor of "The Churchman."
"Much has been said and written Of
the dangers of Bclshevism and a great
hue and cry against the Red menace
Las been raised" says the statement.
"ln some cases fear of these dangerous
teachings has impelled men to take
the law into their own hands and to in
dulge in acts of violence toward the
preachers of radical doctrines. Against
hysteria and lawlessness of this sort
these clergymen take firm stand"
Cite "Call' Raid
Raids on "The New York Call" the
Socialist newspaper, and other radical
strongholds are cited as instances, with
the comment that this form of "vlo-
lence leads to contempt of law and
strengthens those who counsel revolu-
ton" Special disapproval is taken of
measures, sponsored by Senator King,
of Utah, seeking to extend some of the
provisions of the espionage act during
peace times.
Senator Kings measure "gives the
power to every Federal prosecutor and
jury to determine whether any given
criticism of the existing order is law
full or not" says the statement. "There
is only one jury competent of de-
termining questions of that sort.
That is the jury of public opinion
The American people have had eco
nomic heresy preached to them many
times before this. They have had the
vision and good sense to choose wisely.
In the long run they will resent at
tempts like that of Senator King"
Plead for Just Trials
The clergymen conclude by recon-
mending:
THAT all men and women resolve to
see that fair hearings and just trials
are given to men irrespective of their
political or economic opinions, so that
it may be said that in America no
mans case, be he an I. w. w. or a
Bolshevist or the most reactionary con-
servative, is prejudged by an appeal to
popular feeling, and in particular that
they set themselves against the coun-
10 of To cffo Ia 8
ing generation can be only to pile up
future disaster for mankind.
"Since, in the Judgment of the At
torney General of the United States,
existing laws against criminal terror
ism are adequate, and since free dis
cussion is essential for the exposure
of economic and political errors, that
the attempt be abandoned to coerce
minority opinion so long as 1T does not
promote disorder, or to defeat social
change by repressive legislation.
Inquiry Resumed Tomorrow
Further revelations of documentary
evidence taken in the raid on the Rand
School, East Fifteenth Street, are to
be made when the Lusk Joint Leglsla-
tive Committee, which is investigating
Bolshevism, resumes its sessions to-
morrow morning at the City Hall.
Archibald 4. Stevenson, special coun-
sci for the committee, said yesterday
that several days would be devoted to
reading radical propaganda.
Scott Nearing yesterday sent let
ter to the committee requesting that
he be heard. Mr.. Stevenson said he
had not seen DR.. Nearing's letter but
supposed it had been sent to Senator
Clayton Lusk, the chairman, who would
later decide whether radicals were to
he heard.