New-York tribune., 1920-02-06
Citlow Guilty;
Faces 10 Years
In Jail as Red
Verdict Against Agent of
'Revolutionary Age'' and
Former Assemblyman
Gets Praise From Bench
Few of Friends in Court
Government Can BE Over
thrown Only by Lawful
Means," Declares Justice

nenJamln TltIoW, clothing cutter,
one-time Socialist Assemblyman and
more recently business agent for "The
Revolutionary Age" radical journal.
was found guilty of criminal anarchy
yesterday.
1t took jury before Justice Barlow
s. Weeks in the Criminal Courts Build
ing two and half hours to decide that
Gitlow was guilty of advocating the
overthrow Of the government by force
and violence,
Gitlow was remanded for sentence on
February II. His conviction carries
with 1t maximum sentence of ten
years imprisonment
Ihls is the second case in which con-
victions under the anarchy statutes.
passed here following the Mckinley
assassination, have been obtained.
Friends Hear Verdict
A handful of persons, obviously Git
low sympathizers; members OF the
Bomb Squad, Charles Recht, of coun-
sci Tor the defense, and Assistant Dis
tr'ct Attorney Rorke, were In the court
room when Frank v. Kennedy. foreman
fendant had been found guilty.
"Your verdict reflects crsdIt unon
your sincerity and intelligence, and is
one Of distinct benefit to tho country
and tho state" Justicc Weeks said to
the jury.
There must be a right for this
organized state to protect itself. If
citizens who accept the benefit Of or
Ranized government do not recognize
the government that protected them
can only be overthrown by lawful
means, then it is difficult to see how
civiIzatlon can be maintained.
The defendant is striking example
OF the educational opportunity of this
country continued the justice, re-
ferring to Gitlow's testimony concern.
ing, his education In the primary and
high schools here. HE has enjoyed
high honors. He earned sal week
and yet he confesses he has never ac.
cumulated any property.
How can he claim that he has taken
advantage Of the opportunities of citi-
zenship? How can he claim that he
has adhered to the principles of his
citizenship. He took oath of Office as
member Of the Assembly of this
state to support the Constitution of
the United States. When he entered
that Assembly he was fettered bv that
obligation Of his organization which
provided that he should be driven from
Office # he voted for an appropriation
TOT military purposes or the war.
Was that only the entering wedge
Tor the destruction of the nation-fo
prevent It appropriating money to save
itself in war. 1t certainly seems 40
/ The dreams of vsionaries would not
prove very satisfactory defense
against foreign enemy.
Warning to Others Seen
ut may be that these dreams elevate
IN the sense Of a drug that fills the
brain with wonderful pictures Ideal
ism without practcablity. So LONG as
we are on this mundane sphere the
only way we can keep our feet on the
gro and is to stand on something sub
stantial, to stand by the government
hope this verdict will reach out and
act as deterrent to Others"
Gltiow told the attendant taking his
record that he was twenty-nine Years
old and was born in New J,rscy He
worked at his trade until he became =
business agent of "The Revolutionary
Age" which last July published the
manifesto of the Left Wing OF tne
Socialist party, for which GitIow was
al. job on this paper paid him s3r
week, Gitlow said. TIE defcndant ant
said that the S345 Rose Pastor Stokes
check, which figured in his trial. had
come to him through DR.. MaximjYan
Cohen, secretary Of the Left Win,,rs
MRS. Stokes. SAID Gitlow, was treas
! urer Of the New York branch OF The
Left Wing party.
Gltlow estimated, at the courts re-
quest, that the Socialist party has
about 10000 members in this city, pay.
ing from 25 to so cents a month in
dues. This. Justice Weeks remarked
gave the Socialists an income hero of
about $4,000 d month.
In his charge to the jury Justice
Weeks had declared:
I'm this organized government there
is lawful means to overthrow it. q
means provided for in the Constitution
without force or violence, and if any
other means is advocated it is un-
lawful
Counsel for Gitlow reserved mo-
tions for new trial until the dav Of
sentence.
Police Face Revival