Evening star., 1924-12-11
SYND|CAL|SM LAW
| UPHELD BY COURT
Michigan Supreme Bench
{ Backs Ruthenberg Con-
5 viCti0n.
BY the Associated Press.

BY the Associated Press.
LANSING, Mich, December Ii
Charles E. Ruthenberg, secretary of
the Workers party, and prominent
Elember of the Communist party of
America, was held guilty of violation
Of the Michigan syndicalism law by
Che State Supreme Court yesterday.
J Ruthenberg was originally convict
ed in the Berrien County courts, fol-
Owing his arrest in the raid of Fed
oral and local officers on the secret
convention of the Communists at
Sridgeman, Berrien County, in Aug
qst, 1922. He promptly appealed from
the decision of the Circuit Court and
has been at liberty under bond
Futhenberg is now in Chicago.
J W. 2. Foster, the presidential candi-
gate of the Workers party in the last
election, and Benjamin Gittlow, his
funnlng mate, were others among
those arraigned in the Berrien raid
roster was tried, but the jury disa-
tsFeed., He probably will be retired
anu Gittlow, Rose Pastor Stokes and
many other Communists who were in
Hcted following the raid, but never
trted, may be brought into court as
u result or yesterdays decision.
Decision is Unanimous.
t'The opinion upholding the Circuit
COURT conNlCtlon was written by Jus
tice Howard Weist and concurred in
unanimously by the entire bench 1t
held that the State has the right to
enact such laws as the syndicalism
act to defend itself; that the act is
constitutional and that Ruthenberg's
plea that he was arrested ana his
documents were seized illegally were
incorrect. The court ruled that The
officers who raided the Bridreman
meeting were within their rights in
SelZing the portfolios and barrels of
arguments offered in evidence. be-
cause they were directly related 70
the commission of crime by Ruthen-
berg
The decision took biting fling
al Ruthenberg and the Communist
party, describing them as the red
thread Of Russian communism" and
accusing them of trying to hide be-
Hnd the laws of the government they
seek TO overthrow.
The defendant would have us en-
tertain the opinion that he attended
the convention 10 turn the Com
nunist party from its illegal actiy-
ities and constitute it through a
merger with the Workers party. an
open or legal party" the decision
satd. we entertain no such opinion
resolutions We're adopted al the
Brldgeman meeting that the under
ground, illegal party, which is known
as number l and which is the Com
munist prty, must continue.
Communists Are FIayed.
1.-The record shows that the Com
munists with whom the defendant
assembled are not content to await
the realization of their hopes through
the process of evolution, but intend
TO accelerate the accomplishment of
their aims by revolution. They have
pledged allegiance to the Third Inter-
rationale, a foreign body inimical to
Il free people. and are carrying out
its commands in our midst.
Their doctrines teach ultimate i'll
surrection and civil war. Their tao
Jics Involve the coWardly purpose of
iujuring until they can destroy. They
plan the looting of the nation, and
Invoke its laws to protect them while
inStilling their doctrines. The free
hooters and pirates Of old were small
fry compared to their modern broth
ers Their hope is to find oppor-
tutity to commit crimes; their creed
IS that of terrorism and violence;
they are the red thread of Russian
Communism and their avowed pur-
pose is the destruction Of the Gov
eminent of the United States by
force