Norwich bulletin., 1920-10-12
AKREsr rnon1srn roR
STREET MEETING SPEAKERS

STREET MEETING SPEAKERS
 When Mrs Glehdower Evans. wealthy society woman of Brookline Mss. starts to speak here this (Tuesday) eve ming at a street meeting where Albert Boardman. the local socialist leader. is to be chairman, both the speakers stand an excellent chance of being arrested.
 In fact the chance Of having the Nor wich police interrupt their meeting is so good that 1t amounts to a practical certainty. This is what WAS learned by J. l.. Spivak of New York. a rer-escn- tative Of the American Civil Liberties Union. who came here Monday and saw Mayor H. Nj. Lerou. According 10 Mir spivak the Notwieh mayor told him he should stand squarely behind his orders that there should be no street meetings of any political complexion whatever. and that arrests would be made if the meeting is held in the street Mrs. Evans. who is connected with some of the blue-blooded families of .Boston, is billed to speak at the meeting upon the question of whether free speech can be abridged in America.
 Mir. Spivak said that the organ ization which he represented intended 10 make this test of the right of free speech and would carry the fight to the hiehes; courts If necessity. He exnlained the unions stand with reference to Mayor Lerou's order forbidding street speak ing in the following statement:
 "Numefous measures enacted 6urlns the war cnrtailing the constitufional 1 guarantees of free speech and neacesbls 1 assemblage are still enforced by a feu officials in various cities throughout tn, | country. There is no need for measure. of suppression at the present time.
 The order issued by Mayor Lerou for fsE 1frrrr AaH. ! speakers cannot be excused on tn, i ground of a war measure or any othei l measure. The mayors order can bl construed only as an arbitrary attenp ! 10 exercise autocratic power
 1 The meeting which will be held 10 ! night is not Q 'defance'' of cfiv si1fe ! o- national government. It is q d.a ! ance of tho ag -pfra':c attempt Of May or Lcrou 10 forbia the exercise of :, ricb which has been held dsarer than any ] thing else by the American peopie Where freedom 10 utter sentirnAr.s. how l ever obnoxious 10 certain nso-le or in terests. is prohibited. secret methods t utter these sentiments and beliefs. his l tory shows. is reported to- And m good to the general public welfare car l come by driving people 10 secrecy am 1 underground methods.
 If whatever person may say Is un l worthy of notice. the public may b trusted to ignore it. By suppressing II; terahces the wilful officials only arous curiosity in the minds Of people wh otherwise would pay little or no atter ton 10 the speakers
 The recent arrest Of Albert Boa -d man on the charge of violating a cit ordinance prohibiting street speakfn
 tlater changed to obstructing traffic. fc no such ordinance existed) is a challena to all Eherty-loving people. and i-u
 Americans. That the Constitution grfai
 antees may not be destroyed is the leat
 ing issue in this free speech fight.
 TT as Mayor Lcrou asserts. Mir
 Evans is arrested fer exercising h,
 rights as an American citizen. the csl
 will be taken 10 the highest court in n
 state, and. if necessary to the sunrer
 court of the United States to detcrrnir
 once and for all whether an arbitrar
 order from city official can turn n
 Constitution Of the United States into scrap of paper"