The Sisseton weekly standard. (Sisseton, Roberts County, S.D.) 1892-1929, 1921-03-18
Issue Call to
the Liberals
of America

A group of prominent clegymen,
authors and educators have just is
suet . public call for fund of $780,
900 from American liberals, to as
sist the I. w. w. defense committee
in carrying to the United States su-
preme court the three federal con-
spiracy cases. in which 1865 men,
hers were convicted during the war
at Chicago. Kansas City and Sacra-
ment0.
The group signing the appeal con-
sists OF Rev. Percy Stickney Grant,
rector OF the church of the ascen-
sion. New Yark City: John Graham
Brooks OF Boston. author and hon
orary president OF the National Con-
sumers' League: DIR. Harry r. Ward
professor of christian ethics at the
Union Theological Seminary, New
York City; Ernest Freund, profess
sor Of law at the University of Chi
cagO; Henry r. Mussey, of Wash
ington. d. c.. former professor at
Columbia University; Mrs. Florence
Kelley. general secretary of the Ma
tional Consumers League, New
York City: Professor Thorstein Web
len, author and teacher and John L.
Elliott, associate leader of the Eth
cal Culture Society, both of New
York City.
The appeal for funds character
ICES the Chicago I. w. w. case as
the greatest free speech trial of
the war" and places 1t on the same
ground as the cases Of Eugene V.
Debs and others convicted under
the espionage act for opposing war
and conscription only by spoken or
written words. The United States
supreme court is now considering
an application made on Feb % by
consel for the I. w. w. to review
the decision of the circuit court of
appeals at Chicago sustaining the
original conviction of So of the 1.
w. w. officials. editors and mem
bers. The appeal follows in full.
The greatest free speech trial of
the war was the I. w. w. conspir-
acy case at Chicago in 1918, under
the espionage and other war acts in
which 90 members were sentenced
to terms ranging up to 20 years in
Levenworth penitentiary.
"The recent decision in the case
by the circuit court of appeals at
Chicago makes it clear beyond ar
gument that the men were guilty of
opposing the war and CONSUMPTION
only by spoken or written words
placing their case in the same class
as that of Eugene " Debs and scores
Of other political offenders under
the espionage act.
THE I. w. w. is appealing to the
United States supreme court for a
writ of certiorari to review this de-
cision. The brief will be filed in a
few days. The chief constitutional
point at issue is the effec, or the H.
legality of the search warrants un-
der which practically all the docu-
mentary evidence was seized. The
circuit court OF appeals admitted
that the warrants we're invalid, but
nevertheless sustained the convic-
ton by some involved reasoning.
This case is one Of three feder-
81 conspiracy cases brought by the
government against the I. w. w.
All three cases are before appellate
courts.
The legal defense of these cases
Is costing the general defense COM
mittee Of the I. w. w. sums unpre-
cedented In American labor trials.
The committee has already collected
and spent over $225,ooo and raised
over half million dollars in bail for
the men out on appeal bond. $l0.-
oeo more is needed at once to carry
on the defense. The resources OF the
membership and their sympathisers
have been taxed to the limit.
saThis 10 an appeal to lfberai-
minded Americans to help the I. w.
". carry their cases through the APP
peaate courts. Whatever ono may
think OF the I. w. W.. they are en-
titled to the fullest possible hear
Tag before tho courts. Misrepresen-
tatton and sustained attacks from
al quarters have made adequate
legal defense exceedingly dtmcult. %
coatribqtions should be sent to
Pasi J. Furnas. treasurer. at 138 W
18th strset. New York City. Mr..
Famae. Who will transmit TO the
general defence committee any fund
receive0. d . member OF the cxecu-
tive oolmmittee Of tho American CIV.
4 Liberties Union. which has been
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