The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1931-04-17
'Rennd. Sedition Law
CLAIMS NeW Victim

DILL LAWRENCE of Philadelphia was SEN
fenced by Judge Smith Of the Quarter Sea-
sions Court on April 11th to years in the
Eastern Penitentiary and not less than years
and $3.50 fine under the Flynn Sedition Law Of
Pennsylvania,
The L L. D. of Philadelphia, which is defend-
ing Bill Lawrence, Immediately filed motion
for an appeal The bail was set at $4,000 which
was supplied by the ]. L. D. This makes the
third worker who has been convicted In Phila-
dephia under this vicious anti-labor law this
year.
The case of Bill Lawrence has been dragging
on for many months. He was arrested during
the last presidential election campaign for
speaking at an open air meeting on behalf OF
Comrade w. e. Foster who was then running
for president on the Communist ticket. The
state claims he made utterances that were sedi-
tious. The fact is that this conviction and VIZ
cious sentence is another attempt to muzzle the
right of free speech for workers, and to outlaw
the Communist Party in this state.
When Bill Lawrence came before Judge Smith
for sentence, Immediately an investigation took
place by the Federal Department, who made
every effort to revoke the citizenship of this
worker SO to be able to deport him to Ru-
mania and death. This investigation took the
form of second trial, the judge himself max
ing every effort to force Bill Lawrence to admit
he was a member of the Communist Party at
the time he became citizen, and to make him
denounce the government.
The judge a reactionary tool of the bosses in
Pennsylvania, worked himself up into a rage
when this worker refused to answer questions
which would place him in the hands of the
federal authorities for deportation.
The other convictions this year we're two
young members of the Y. C. L., Tess Ryder and
Anna Lynn who were tried and convicted. and
are now awaiting sentence for distributing leaf
let's to the National Guardsmen, asking them
not to shoot down workers in the event of an
other imperialist war;
These convictions and the bitter attack on
the workers of this state, along with the ma
tion-wide attack on the working class and the
attempts now being put through to railroad
workers to Jail under this anti-labor law and,
wherever possible, to deport them to certain
death, even using the measure of revoking citi-
zenship papers for this purpose, also the whole
sale murder of Negro workers in the South the
murder of nine young Negro workers in Scots
boro, will spur the lid of this district to
greater and more strenuous mass campaigns
against these murderous attacks of the bosses
on the working class.
1t is well to note that the so-called liberal
governor Pnchot refused to meet the delega-
ton of workers from Philadelphia who we're
elected to meet with the governor and take up
the question of the repeal of the Flynn Sed-
ton Law However, the LID will not be bought
to these tactics of this capitalist tool Governor
Pinchot in refusing to see workers delegations
on the protest that he has no power to take
up the question of the repeal of the law but only
Sharpens and strengthens our determination to
go to Harrisburg in June with at least $4,000
demands and mass delegation to force the
issue upon the state legislature to repeal the
sedition law and grant amnesty for all political
prisoners.
therefore, we call upon all workers and work
ers' organizations to rally to our amnesty CAM
palgn now going on, and to do their utmost to
collect as many signatures as possible for this
campaign. Come to our headquarters, room 3l5
Washington Square Building Seventh and
Chestnut Sts, and we will supply YOU or your
organization with as many petitions as you
require for this purpose