The New York herald., 1922-01-25
HIRSHFIELD ADMITS
BIRTH CONTROL WAR
Attack on Doctrine Is Real OBJ
ject, Not Punishment of
Police for Raid.
MRS. SANGER SANGUINE
Free Speech Movement Gains
Headway-Shc Goes Soon
to Teach Japanese.
MRS. SANGER SANGUINE

| David ftlSn1lelQ, commissioner or AC-
| counts, yesterday declared flatly what
his first announcement of an investiga-
tion into the police raid on the birth
control meeting at Town Hall last No
vember indicatedthat his inquiry is to
include as thorough examination Of the
doctrine of birth control and as much
publicity concerning it as he can COM
mand.
That course is what persons who pro-
tested to the Mayor against the exercise
of police force against the meeting have
contended was the purpose Of the Com
missioner, and they have stated frankly
| their belief that he would pursue such
to distract attention from the main
issue. which is that of determining
whether the police acted arbitrarily in
breaking UP the meeting and arresting
speakers who subsequently were re-
leased for lack OF evidence to warrant
charges Of any sort.
In addition Mr.. Hirshfield said that
he doubted whether either Robert McC.
Marsh, attorney for Mrs. Margaret
Sanger. one of those arrested. and the
Birth Control League. whom he dis
qualified to examine witnesses, as he
had made no speech In favor of the
movement.
Prepares to Investigate.
He pointed to pile of papers and said
that he was making an exhaustive
study Of birth control, not only for his
own information but for the edification
Of the general public as well. He de-
clared that If he Is to determine the
legality Of the action of the police he
must make thorough inquiry into the
nature of birth control. and to that end
he proposed to summons all persons in
a position to throw light upon the SUBJ
ject.
Mrs. Margaret Sanger said that she
and other leaders Of the birth control
movement were confident that the ac-
ton of the police in breaking up the
Town Hall meeting on November 13
would be subjected to the closest scru-
tiny by Paul d. Cravath. who will ap-
pear before Commissioner Hirshfeld on
January 81.
The investigation Of the breaking up
of the meeting. Mrs. Sanger said. had
been taken over by a group of citizens,
who are not interested in birth control,
but who - interested in the preserva-
tion Of Tire right Of free speech.
II am grateful" said Mrs. Sanger,
that the battle for free speech Is being
waged by some one else, for the duties
imposed upon me and the work to be
done along educational lines in this
movement Is sufficient to occupy all of
ones time. strength and energy. Both
my arrest and the arrest Of Mrs. Juliet
Barrett Rublee will be investigated by
this committee of citizens, who have
given 1t into the hands of Mr.. Cravath
and Mr.. Buckner."
Several prominent women interested
in birth control met yesterday after
noon at Mrs. Rublee's home, 242 East
Forty-ninth street, to make arrange
ments for a farewell demonstration on
February at the Lexington Theater
for Mrs. Sanger. who will leave soon
thereafter for japan.
Among those at the meeting were Mrs.
Edward Mcvickar, Mrs. Cecil Barrett,
Mrs Dexter Blagden. Mrs. Ernest Adee,
Mrs. Frank l. Cobb. Mrs. NJ. A. Graham.
Mrs Anne Kennedy. Mrs Rublee and
Mrs. Sanger.
Three Months I'm the Orient.
Mrs. Sanger will pass three months
lecturing in China and Japan. During
the last year and half. she said, there
have been more than twenty-five repre-
sentatives of the Japanese Government
touring the world seeking suggestions
which might aid in the solution Of
Japans problems.
'T a uniformed" said Mrs. Sanger
that twenty-one Of the twenty-five in
vestigators have returned to Japaen
with the message that the birth control
movement in America has a most i'm
portant message In tho worl dto-day
and one to which Japan should listen
with an open mind. am invited to go
there under the auspices OF group of
patriotic citizens. am TO speak on the
subject Of birth control as a solution to
the economic Pre- ZEN. and I am in
formed that there "A great interest and
preparation being made for my coming
Baroness Ishimoto is anxious that
give her instruction on how to estab-
lish birth control clinics for the poor
women of Japan.
"It is an interesting commentary on
American liberty that while many halls
are closed against my speaking and de-
livering the message of birth control in
New York the people Of japan welcome
and urge my visit there"
Mrs. Sanger will speak Friday after
noon at performance of 1bsen's
Ghosts" at the Broadhurst Theater.
Mary Shaw will present the play The
proceeds will go to the American Birth
Control League. Ghosts" has been de-
scribed by birth control advocates as
the most intelligent propaganda that
has been found for the movement.