The New York herald. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1920-1924, 1920-10-13
RAIDERS SEIZE
REV. MR. HOLMES
Community Church Preacher
Dragged From Soap Box by
Mt. Vernon Police.
TWO OTHERS TAKEN ALSO
Missionary Campaign, With
Talking Without Permits,
Resented by Officials.
TWO OTHERS TAKEN ALSO

A raiding squad of Mount Vernon
police, directed by Police Commissioner
Wynne of that city. picked the Rev.
John Haynes Holmes of the Com
munity Church of this city from a soap
box in front Of the Palace Theatre in
Mount Vernon last night. whittier he
had gone to do missionary" work,
and conducted him and two other
speakers of the Civil Liberties Union
The Rev. Norman Thomas and Miss
Rose Schneidermann, president of the
| Womans Trade Union League-to
Mount Vernon police headquarters.
The Rev. Mr.. Holmes did not submit
10 arrest without protest. AS the
leader of the expedition, which was de-
vised to test tho ordinance requiring
The issuance Of permits for public
meetings. the Rev Mr.. Holmes got out
of the automobile which carried the
party into the city from Manhattan
and pulled out a book from which he
attempted to read the Constitution Of
the United States.
A crowd OF service men and other
citizens who mad word of the coming
Of the missionary band--one OF many
that have attempted to upset the ordi-
| nance which was intended to put 4
, check to radical demonstrations-quick
! ly gathered. The reading Of the Con-
stltution did not improve the temper of
| the crowd and a chorus of boos and
Kisses arose. That brought the nearest
patrolmen.
Fail to Deter Preacher.
One OF the party tugged at Mr.
Ho,mes's coattails, and he plunged back
into the automobile. The car was driven
| around the main square, followed by the
crowd and adding more policemen to
each turn Finally Mr.. Holmes decided
to face the thing out and the car was
! driven boldly to the curb near the Pal
ace Theatre.
There the clergyman again began on
the preamble OF the Constitution. His
deep voice scarcely had begun to re-
vertebrate over the heads of the crowd.
however, when Commissioner Wynne ar
rived with flying squadron in charge
of Lieut.. Silverstein-
81 have n right to speak" DR.. Holmes
shouted. when Commissioner Wynne told
, him to halt the recitation.
Have you a permit" asked the Com
missioner.
81 have not. do not need ONE"
| The clergyman did not get a chance
! to finish. The arm OF bluecoat as
sisted him from the steps and other Of
J ficers backed the crowd away. The
procession was forming for Police Head
quarters, but Miss Schneidermann made
another attempt
/ You cannot stop us from speaking. .
she said. THE Constitution guaran-
tees
Her words were lost She was ranged
alongside the Rev. Mr.. Holmes. The
Rev. Mr. Thomas struggled for posi-
! ton and shouted that he was there to
speak and was going to speak," but the
opportunity was taken from him. The
three delegates of the Civil Liberties
Union moved to headquarters under es-
cort of the police and several hundred
excited residents.
There they were charged with viola
tion OF an ordinance, and were required
to put UP 5000 bail each. Gerson Rob-
lson, Manhattan business man. wro
supplied the bonds.
Crowd Asks for Deportation.
Az the delegates were leaving the
crowd again collected and some ono
shouted. Drive them out or town.
They entered the flag draped automo-
bile hastily, and the chauffeur made
rapid progress from that immediate
vicinity.
After they had been admitted to bail
, the defendants got out statement In
which they said they went 10 Mount
Vernon 10 find out whether the Mayor
Of any American city can actually pre-
vent peaceful citizens from exercising
their constitutional rights Of free
, speech"
! DR. Holmes, after twelve years as
pastor of the Unitarian Church of the
Messiah. succeeded In May, 1919. In
getting the congregation to leave the
Unitarian faith and rename themselves
"the Community Church" The new
body. as outlined at that time by DR..
Holmes was TO interpret free. demo-
cratic, social religion" The Church Of
the Messiah was at Park avenue and
4 Thirty fourth street and one OF the best
( known in the city. The Community
Church has been meeting in the Lyric
Theatre.
| TTtrTl AID ssT,ost and Fourd'F Adq have n