The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1927-07-14


The Civil Liberties Union if is to continue carry the
tasks imposed upon the has chosen for ITSELF that of
champion of the civil and constitutional privileges accorded theo
retcy to minority opinion in the United States will have to
make important changes its hurried
and the methods used to reach conclusion regard to the
unfortunate at the recent Union Square demonstration
for Sacco and Vanzett.
Contrasted with the punctilous Civil
Liberties Union acts in investigating the ordinary of free
speech involving the question of civil rights the method en-
poyed in its Investigation of the Union Square affair smacks
of star chamber proceedings.
1t anyone casually familiar with the
that the only way i'll which civil rights became involved in the
Union the action of the police break
ing up the demonstration
Strangely enough the investigation committee the Civil
Liberties Union makes mention of this unacceptable fact
Likewise the committee fails in its public statement to
ton another almost equally important fact that the police action
procured by the right socialist party elements who
nomnay in charge of the meeting which composed largely
of left wing workers and sympathzers.
Furthermore by allowing Norman Thomas leader of the
socialist function chairman of the committee of three
which wing representative
by calling spokesman of these two political tendencies to give
their version OF what took place. the Civil Liberties Union IN this
instance abandoned completely all pretense of mpaaty and
fnconed of the organized opposition Of these working
class elements.
other the Civil Liberties Union deeds
the very principle which gives its exstence-the
theory side to every question
civil liberties and that all sides have at least the right to be
heard
greatest mistake that the Civil Liberties Union made
this instance denounce section of the working class under
the guise of rendering impartial report In this respect it
adopted method of procedure which usually outawed
which have nothing to do with the particular matter under nves
tgaton guilt We the paragraph
the Civil Liberties statement in which the irrelevant charge is
made that the Workers Party has been responsible breaking
four other air Meetings. bald statement support of
which evidence advanced and which quite obviously tackled
the general statement Justify decision
without investigation
We would like to ask the Civil Liberties Union cues
tons:
~ Did it's committee establish the fact that thousands of
workers meeting called upon Ben Gold to speak?
2) Did the committee establish the fact that Gold
tho hou
platforms which could
prevent?
90 Did the committee try what the would
have been had the right wing socialist chairman allowed Gold
speak instead of kicking this popular young leader full view
of thousands of workers?
( Does the committee take the position Gold
of the most active supporters of Vanzet
have stayed away from the meeting?
(5) Did the committee establish the that huge
Union Square meeting largely the result of agitation and
ganzaton work the part of the left in the New York Ia
Dor movement?
(6) Does the committee that had it the
decisive stand taken by left wing organizations and the workers
Communst) Party that in all probability there would
no national and international movement in their behalf?
Cd What is the position oae onnittee practice of
chairmen OF workers demonstrations calling upo the police
settle dispute real anced between sections the labor
movement?
81 Does the committee see any connection with the enlist
ment of police by right wing socialists the Union Square
onstraon and similar tactics employed by the right wing the
struggle in the needle trades?
(9 Since when has it been the practice Civil Liberties
Union 10 select investigating
tee leader of of the political parties involved in DISPUTE
The Civil Liberties Union give clear unequivocal
answers to these questions repudae the findings biased
committee appointed and conduct genuine investigation
really desous OF being regarded impartial agency devoted
obtaining the free exercise of civil liberties by all working class
and liberal groups.