The producers news. [volume] (Plentywood, Mont.) 1918-1937, 1924-03-07
COURT RAPS NEWARK
OFFICIAL WHO BROKE
UP A LENIN MEETING

A rebuke by Police Judge Horace
Grlce to the city officials of Newark
who exceeded their authority" by
prohibiting an orderly Lenin memoir
al meeting from taking place in a
public hall marks "the probable end
Of lawless police censorship in New
ark" according to statement is
sued by the American Civil Liber-
ties Union. The statement was is
sued following the trial of Ludwig
Lore, Alexander Trachtenberg, David
Kaplan and Constant Chriss, members
OF the Workers Party arrested at a
Lenln memorial street meeeting in
Newark on Feb. 1st.
The four men were fined $4,000
each on technical charge of ioiter-
ing and cbstrrcting traffic. Through
out the trial which lasted over four
hours, Judge Grice emphasized that
the men were not being tried for
their political views, and that they
had legal right to hold a Lenin me-
mortal meeting in hall.
John Larkin Hughes, the Newark
attorney of the Civil Liberties Union,
who defended the four men, claimed
that they were forced I @ hold a street
meeting because they were prevented
from meeting in a hall by order of
Director of Public Safety Brennan
and Chief of Police Long.
In reply to cross-examinatiOn by
At Orney Hughes, Director Brennan
stated that one reason why he re-
fused permit to the Workers Party
was that hey support a government
not recognized by our government"
DO you know of any disturbance
at any meeting ever held by the
Workers Party?" Attorney Hughes
asked Direc' or Brennan.
Answer: I know of none.
Question: On what grounds did you
prohibit this meeting?
7 A. Well, about ten or twelve
years ago there was some trouble at
a Ferrer NEE, ing.
O. Do you know who Ferrer was
A. No daughter from spectators
who knew that communists are not
anarchists). Well, some revolution
list who lived in Spain.
Judge Grice agreed with the attor-
ney for the Civil Liberties Union that
the police had no right to regulate
meetings in public halls on any such
! grounds.
Following the trial City Counsel
John Manning invited the Civil Lib
critics Union to arrange for an annie
able settlement whereby meetings
similar to- those halted by the police
might be held in public halls without
official disturbance. In the event OF
failure to reach such an agreement
the Union will carry the matter into
the higher courts.
Il am glad this case has come up,
Judge Grice said after the trial, "fol
We don't know where we stand or
free speech in Newark. | hope thi!
will be the beginning of clearing w
The situation" The Newark police
have recently interfered with mum.
Der of meetings arranged by the
Workers Party OF by the Civil Liber.
ties Union. Special measures have
been taken against William z. Eos
ter, whom Direc.o Brennan has re
fused permission to speak under any
circumstances"
William Z. Foster was arrested il
Newark on january 18th together
with Bishop Paul Jones at a meeting
arrange dby the Labor Defence Coun
ell and the Civil Liberties Union anC
was held incOmmunicado for over al
hour Through the Civil Libertie.
Union he has filed suit for false ar
rest against Captain Ebert of tn,
newark police Foster appeared il
person 10 ask for a permit to speal
on FEBRUARY 9th, but was refused.