The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1928-07-20
JOHN PORTER IS
GIVEN 211 YEARS
HARD LABOR
Young Strike Leader Tells Court-MartiaI He
Would Not Be Tool of Capitalists
Gets Maximum on "Desertion" Charge After
Officers Try to Avoid Political Issues
By PAUL CROUCH.

A0ROOS0N
FORT ADAMS, R. l., July 49,
John Porter. arrested a month ago
and turned over to the military au-
thorities, following his New Bed
ford strike activities and leadership
in the Young Workers (Commu-
MISTY League, was sentenced by gen
eral court-martial yesterday to two
and a half years Imprisonment at
hard labor and "dishonorable" dis
charge from the army, on a tech
nicaI charge of desertion.
Exposed Role of Army.
The sentence followed Porter's ex-
posure of the role of the army and
his declaration that he would not
be used against his own class. He
took the stand, in spite of the
knowledge Of the consequences, and
made one of the most militant chal-
lenges of capitalist militarism ever
known in the history of court
martials-
Saved from Life Sentence.
The fact that Porter received a
sentence of two and half years
instead of life Imprisonment was
due to the big protest already be-
political significance of the case.
ties, and their efforts to avoid the
political significance of the case.
Plans for trying Porter under the
96th Article of War for leadership
in the strike and membership in the
Young Workers &C IN nun S t)
League had been abandoned after
the beginning of mass protest ar
ganized by the International Labor
Defense, the Young Workers League
and other organizations.
Porter was finally charged with
"desertion" from the army and the
officers tried to prevent expose of
the reasons for his arrest in New
Bedford and the causes which led
Porter to desert the army last year
when he had almost completed his
, enlistment.
Tried to Weaken Position.
At the investigation" Porter
made a written statement in which
he told of his activities against the
bosses in the New Bedford strike,
and declared that the authorities
had known that he was a deserter
for a long time, but arrested him
only because of his participation in
the struggles of the workers. The
authorities tried to weaken his stand
and persuade him to accept freedom
or short sentence on condition that
he make sentimental plea and
leave the political issues out.
The trial was scheduled for July
IT., but when Isaac Shoor, attorney
retained by the International Labor
Defense, arrived he found that most
of the members of the court-martial
were out of the post. Apparently,
it was their intention to call the
court-martial later without Shorr's
presence and take care of the situ-
alton in their own way. Shorr
would permit nothing of the kind,
and demanded an immediate trial
with a definite date. At last, Por-
ter was brought before the court
martial yesterday at 2 P. M.
At the opening of the trial,
everything seemed to be going well
for the authorities. They read ex-
tracts from court martial regula-
tions and "evidence" in military
terms meaning nothing to civilian.
Efforts to Avoid Issues.
Then the Investigating officer
was called to the stand. He said
that Porter had admitted the es-
sentials of desertion" without quot
ing his words, and he would not
read Porter's written statement that
his arrest was on account of his
strike activities, etc.
Finally, the Investigating Off
cer'' tried to make sentimental ap-
peal for Porter to avoid completely
the real political issues. Fantastic
stories were given of ian aged
mother" etc. Obviously, it was the
purpose of the officers to give Por-
ter very short sentence in order to
get out of the predicament in which
they found themselves.
No Retreat BY Porter.
! Porter refused to fall into the
trap, regardless of the consequences
to himself. He demanded to take