The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1924-10-01


only Christ, but Abraham Lin
coin. and other historical cha
racters were using her as a
medium to address the world.
"The Liar" Gets Busy.
But the doctor in the hospital tipped
off the Washington Times that the
state department files might" connect
her with the Soviet government. The
city editor wrote lurid lead, and the
headline said she was Linked With
Soviet" while the state department
was refusing to admit that it had ever
heard Of her. 1t still says it knows
nothing of her.
Mrs. Murray apparently knew moth
ing about the Soviet government ex-
cept what she had read in the kept
press. She sued for damages, and her
lawyers convinced jury in the feder-
al court here that she was entitled to
$4,000 to mend the injury to her repu-
tation. AS she phrased 1t in her COM
plant, the Hearst story had the effect
OF holding her up to public hatred,
contempt, ridicule and disgrace, and
10 cause the public to believe that
she was an anarchist and spy, con-
vincing against the government Of the
United States. and of improper and
dangerous action"
After two years, the lady has just
collected her $4,000 from Mr.. Hearst,
thanks to decision by Justice Bar
her. Of the appellate court of the Dis
trict of Columbia, who finds that THE
nature of the Soviet government of
Russia, its proclaimed purposes and
declared activities, beliefs and teach
ing, as commonly understood in this
country, are such that the article is
clearly capable of being understood
in n defamatory sense by the readers
thereof"
Sees Nothing Defamatory.
In the argument before Justice Bar
Der, the counsel for Hearst made the
plea that there was nothing defama-
tory in the statement that one was
a secret agent of foreign govern
ment. The United States itself, they
pointed out, has secret agents abroad
and at home. watching popular move
ments." and its consuls and diplomatic
officers are continually engaged in the
same line of activities, even tho they
are publicly recognized. Besides, the
Soviet government of Russia was
simply government of radical So
ciaiist type, founded on representa-
tion by communities thru councils or
soviets." Surely, connection with
government of that special type could
not in itself constitute anything of
which to be ashamed.
In reply, the claimants read from
the only precedent in this new field
of damages-she decision of Secretary
of Labor Wilson, in 1920, to send Lud-
wig c. A. X. Martens, Soviet COM
back to Russia. In that de
cision, Wilson held that the Soviet
government is committed to a policy
OF destruction of the government of
the United States by stirring up
violent instruction in this country.
Since Martens was an official of that
hostile government, he must be de-
ported.
Now, they said, Mrs. Murray is an
alien; she is DETAINED when she is
accused OF this new deportable Of
fensel Justice Barber agreed, and
Hearst paid.
Recognition" Not Popular.
Altho they may not have read this
decision OF the learned court, friends
of recognition OF the Soviet Union are
keeping mum these days, when For
eign Minister Chicherin, in Moscow,
issues a statement suggesting that
only the Wall Street affiliations OF
Mr.. Hughes stand in the way of an
understanding between the two big
gest republics.
As sure as anybody who is running
for Office this year whispers a word
of hope for Russo-American trade
treaty, or diplomatic recognition, that
politician will be branded as a Soviet
by the valiant Dawes and his cam
paign STAFF.
Judges LenIent With Dawes.
It's all very we'll to reflect that
damages may be awarded, after cleo
tion day, for the use of that awful
epithet; the trouble is that Dawes
wriggles out OF his financial obliga.
tons too easily, as was illustrated
In the Lorimer bank fraud case. Too
many judges we're too lenient with
Dawes. Most of them are still on the
bench, and Harry Daugherty has adj
ded few more.
On the whole, II is safer for the CAPT
talist politicians to avoid all danger
OF being branded as one who would
In any way cooperate with any Of the
national activities Of these 10000, 900
Rueaian oufcoota