The New York herald., 1921-11-16
. MRS, SANGER WANTS
POLICE PROTECTION
Enright Asked to Detail
Guard for Meeting at
Bryant Hall.
Curious CROWD LIKELY
Birth Control Advocates
Threaten to Push Legal
Action.
CLINIC OPENING PUT OFF
Mrs. Casper Whitney and
Prof. Irving Fisher Protest
'IntOlerance.'
CLINIC OPENING PUT OFF

P0llce prOteCt1On Tor the blrth con-
troll public meeting in Bryant Hall.
Sixth avenue, near Forty-second
street, on Friday night. was requested
yesterday Of Commissioner Enright
by Robert McC. March, counsel for
Mrs. Margaret Sanger, who was ar
rested at the Town Hall meeting Sun
day night, and then promptly dis
charged In court.
A letter signed by Mr.. Marsh was
delivered by special messenger to
Headquarters in the afternoon re-
questing Commissioner Enright to
answer within twenty -four hours il
the desired protection would be forth
coming. Mr.. Enright is out Of town
SO the communication was handed to
his secretary.
The Bryant Hall meeting will be
the final session Of the first American
birth conference, which was inter-
rupted by the police in Town Hall at
the request of Archbishop Patrick j.
Hayes and others opposed to birth con-
troll.
Will Consider Legal Action.
Members of the conference, including
many prominent men and women OF
this city, will meet this afternoon at
o'clock in the home of Mrs. Juliet Bar
rett Rublec. 242 East Forty-ninth street,
to decide on what legal action, If any,
shall be taken against the police and
others regarding the stopping of Sun
dav uiChf'u yonafipar hefpra
had begun.
"Police dictatorship over American
liberties and rights should cease" said
Mr.. Marsh. every appropriate legal
means will be taken against unwar-
ranted interference with the meeting at
Bryant Hall and to rectify the wrong
committed last Sunday Magistrate Cor
rigan, in discharging Mrs. Sanger after
her arrest In Town Hail. held that nc
crime had been committed and the ar
rest was unjustifed. / intend to take
every available step to see that the po-
lice, as well as Mrs. Sanger, recognize
the supremacy of law" ta
In his letter to Commissioner Enright
Mr. Marsh said
"On behalf of those interested, you
are requested to use your powers as
Police Commissioner to prevent unlaw-
ful interference with the meeting to be
held In Bryant Hall Friday evening. On
last Sunday night in Town Hall the
police stopped an orderly meeting. The
outrageous action of the police on that
occasion violated the rights of not only
Mrs. Sanger and another woman ar
rested at the time, but those also of the
fifteen hundred people who had peace
fully and lawfully gathered to hear d
discussion on topic of unquestionable
Importance to legislation and society.
The police have no authority under
the law to forbid in advance the exer-
else OF an American constitutional right,
nor was there any threat OF language
inciting to violence or otherwise con.
trary to law. 1t is obvious that the
people have a right to discuss what the
policy Of their laws shall be.
THE Constitution of the State of New
York (Article l.. Section 81 provides
every citizen may freely speak, write
and publish his sentiments on all sub
Jects. being responsible for the abuse
OF that right Tho speakers had no
opportunity to abuse the right, even II
they had that intention, because your
mon interfered before any one spoke
For the sake of orderly procedure and
prevention Of unnecessary confusion YOU
are requested to give the desired as.
surance by written reply within twenty
four hours Of the delivery of this letter.
Because Bryant Hall is smaller and
less conveniently arranged than Town
Hall, 1t is likely that there will not be
room for all who wish to attend,
both from interest In tho subject and
because of Sunday nights Ill advised
proceedings. You are therefore further
requested to provide proper police super
vision over entrance and exit, guard
against overcrowding and enforce the
hre regulations. Both Mrs. Sanger and
the committee In charge state that they
VIII gladly Cooperate with you In seeing
that the laws are compiled with in every
respect"
The subject Is to be Birth Control
Is Ii Moral?" and the principal speakers
VIII be Mrs. Sanger and Harold Cox. a
FORMER member of the British Parliament
and editor Of the Edinburgh Rcrieu,
Mrs. Sanger sent an invitation on Mon
day to Archbishop Hayes to attend or
send an accredited representative to pre-
sent the Catholic side Of the birth con-
troll question. but had received no answer
to 1t last night.
In a telegram TO Mrs. Sanger, Mrs.
Casper Whitney said: The utter alb
surdity OF the police attack cannot but
make friends for the birth control move
ment. Americans hate intolerance"
Prof. Irving Fisher OF Yale Uni
versity sent a message saying that the
interruption of the Town Hall meeting
by tho police was an outrage and
against American rights of free speech
as guaranteed by the Constitution.
The opening of the Mothers Health
Centre at S17 East Tenth street will bc
postponed pending the outcome of Fri