Capital journal. (Salem, Or.) 1919-1980, 1920-02-18
DR.. SLAUGHTER
GIVEN FREEDOM
After HEARING

chlropractor, arrested February b
operatives of the department OF jus
tice on a charge of violating the stat
criminal syndicalism act, was free
OF the charge here this afternoon b,
order of Judge Uuruh in justic
court. DIR. Slaughter was tried yes
terday afternoon. This is the frs
case, wherein a violation of the Grim
inal syndicalism act was charged
tried in Marion county courts. DR.
Slaughter was alleged TO have beer
a member of the Communist-Labol
party, revolutionary organization.
In rendering the opinion tht
court said:
After careful perusal Of the doe.
umentary evidence submitted in this
case reiatinB to the program, plat
form and constitution of the Com
munist-Labor party, and of the fact
that the case hinges upon two ques-
tions-whether the Labor
party advocates the use OF violent
force TO gain political ends; and
whether the defendant is a member
Of that organizatlon-the court is OF
the opinion that the Communist La
Dor party does advocate force and
violence in furthering its political
ends, and that DIR. A. Slaughter, de-
fendant in this case, is not a member
OF the Communist-Labor party"
Judge Unruh then pointed out that
although DIR. Slaughter probably con-
templated affillation with the party,
hn anfC nd m -, I,n afy
"purported organization do not make
him member thereof"
DIR. Slaughter was defended by L.
H. McMahan who thrilled the listen
ers with bold assertions supporting
the doctrines Of the, communist labor
party and attacking the present ad-
ministration in the United States. He
said that II the principles of the COM
munist labor party were for the pro-
vision OF right and liberty and for
the equal distribution of wealth
am for H."
"Oh, liberty, what crimes have
have been committed In thy name"
he declared dramatically, launching
up on an attack upon the democratic
party. when such things as that are
rammed down the throats of the peo-
pie, and they have no recourse"
He was referring to letter, con-
tanning numerous questions, that had
been sent to DR.. Slaughter by an oper-
Ative OF the department OF Justice,
and one which DIR. Slaughter had
signed affirmatlvely a question ask
Ing II he was member OF the COM
mur'st labor party.
why don't my friend Gehlhar here
indict every democrat who pursues
methods that are worse than the black
est stain the press Of the country and
the counsel for tho state can, or
have, placed on the doctrines of this
communist labor party? Every man
VIII" snnnorts such principles and Is
O member of the democratic party is a
traitor to the traditions Of this coun-
try.
"vour honor" Mr. McMahan con-
tinued addressing the court Il am a
radical II we are going to prosecutes
this man without first making every
democrat show his loyalty to the coun
try why we are not just--that Is not
Justice.
why, just stop to consider the
methods-the principles, II you please
OF the democrat party. Their first act
after ascending into power was to
wage more un-Godly war on Mex
leo fh"n Germany ever did on Bel
gium. They killed more men In Mex
leo than the imperial German govern
ment did In all Belgium.
"hTe democrats have hung n debt
so big on this country that It is like
a n"'sfone around our necks. They
have hanged crepe on almost every
door krob In this country,
~ was democrat that laid n
ruthless hand on the constitution OF
the Tinted States and tore the bill
or right fro nit. II was he who said
that we shall not have free speech
free press. And It is he (pointing to
the department of justice agent) who
Is ATTEMPTING TO carry out that poll
oy here. Yet we let the democrats 20
without answering for thar.
Never before have we found Il
necessary to send man to the lien-
itentiary when he would not coincide
with the views OF the administration,
Yet we take Dr. Slaughter from his
business raid HIS offices, plllage his
home, and injure him in his business.
And what for? Because he isn't a
democrat"
DIR. Slaughter, on the stand, testi-
lied that he, representing the social
list orga nization In the city, attended
tho national socialist convention in
the east year ago when birth to the
communist and communist labor par
" was given. When asked for his un-
derstnndlng of the distinction between
the two offspring of the old party he
said that the communist party "is
what might be called the ultra-radi-
cal element and the communist la
Dor party 'the progressive wing"
After a lengthy explanation of the
revolutionary aims OF the communist
labor party, cited from "a copy of the
organizations platform the operative
OF the department of justice claimed
he seized In DR., Slaughter's home at
DIT North Capitol street, Prosecut-
ing Attorney Max Gehlhar said:
1T Is not question of the repuh-
lean party, or the democratic party
The constitution OF the United
States itself provides for the rights
OF man. But in so doing II does not
provide the right to incite, promote
or carry on a revolution within the
realm of this nation.
when the time comes In this state
OF Oregon" he concluded. when
man can openly admit In the United
States mail that he is member OF
an anarchist party, and can win sun
port and approval for his action, then
at that time ! want TO leave this