The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1931-11-26
SHOWDOWN ON
SYNDICALISM is
DREISER'S HOPE
Free Speech at Stake in
Kentucky Attempt to
Convict Novelist.
BY DEXTER H. TEED
NEA Service Writer

Copyright. 1881 by NEA Service. Incl
NEW YORK, Nov. 26.-Indict-
ment of Theodore Dresser, one
of Americas foremost novehsts, and
other members of the committee
that investigated conditions in the
Kentucky coal fields, on charge
Of criminal syndicalism, has devel-
oped into a critical situation that
may result in a showdown on such
laws in particular land free speech
in general.
The case assumed a national and
even an international aspect when
John w. Davis, Democratic candidate
for president in 1924 and former
president of the American Bar AS
ISOLATION, agreed to act as counsel
for the accused men in the fight to
prevent them from being extradited.
When formal request is made by
Bell county authorities for extradi-
ton of Dresser and the others, the
decision will be up to Governor
Roosevelt, himself potential presi-
Dental candidate.
Roosevelt In Hole
No one can foretell what Roose-
welt will do in this unquestionably
ticklish situation Three years ago
he refused extradition of Fred G..
Biedenkapp and Paul Crouch to
Massachusetts. These men we're
wanted in Massachusetts on some
what similar charges to those now
facing Dresser.
Governor Roosevelt refused on the
ground that the accused had not
been molested while in Massachu-
sets, and had been sought only
after they had left the state; there
fore they we're not fugitives from
justice in the federal sense.
Whether the circumstances of the
Dresser case, externally similar, are
really so, will be up to Roosevelt.
Dresser is so incensed over what
he terms being framed" in the
syndicalisln and misconduct cases,
that he is determined to battle
through to the bitter end, regard
less of personal comfort or safety.
Not Afraid of Pen
ct am not afraid to go to peni-
Tertiary for my ideals" is his fiery
challenge. "If could do away with
the abuses which I see I would con-
slider it an honor to sit in cell"
The indictments charges that
Dresser and his associates unlawful
ly banded together ito commit
criminal syndicalism and to promul-
gate reign of terror" in the coal
fields; and that, further, the Drei-
ser group had suggested disorder
and resistance to the government OF
the United States and of Kentucky.
Those indicted besides Dresser are
nine members of the investigating
party. including John Dos Passos,
author; George Maurer, representa-
tive of the International Labor De-
Tense; Charles Rumford Walker,
Adelaide Walker, Samuel Ornitz,
Celia Kuhn, M. P. Levy, Marie Per-
gain and A. Cannes.
Never Made a Speech
Dresser hotly AYERS that the
charges are groundless, and that
both the syndicalism of violation of
the Kentucky morality laws, are a
smoke screen to hide possible expo
sure of intolerable conditions in the
coal fields.
OF the charge that he tried to
inhame the miners by addressing
them, he says this:
81 never made a speech in my
life"
Just that, and in New York it
is recalled that he never would
make a speech at any of the liter
airy events which he attended.
Even if he is successful in fight
ing extradition he may go back and
face trial. Now he is primarily in
terested in winning the extradition
fight because he wants to discredit
the Harlan county officials.
why didn't they arrest me when
I was there?" he demands. IF the
crimes they accused me of were
committed, why didn't they arrest
me then, as has happened in other
cases?"