Voice of action. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1933-1936, 1934-08-24
Portland Mayor On Stand,
Exposes His Fascist Role
CARSON TOLD WORKERS TO
go AHEAD AND HOLD
MEETING"
BY Kenneth Fitzgerald

SIX members OF the League
Against War and Fascism. charg
led with speaking in "A publ,
park without a permit" in con
nection with the August FRS
demonstration here, received con
tinued sentences when the city
failed to esta blish anything NOR,
than technical violation" oI
the ordinance. Mayor Carson
summoned to the witness stand
by the lid. admitted he had
told committee from the league
to go ahead and hold your meet.
ing anywhere you want to-" De.
spite this fact, however, six OF
the speakers at the meeting were
arrested.
The police under the direction
of the red squad. waited an en-,
tire week before beginning to
serve the warrants. They then ap.
peared at the Bevan- Resented
meeting and arrested DIR. Virgil
MacMickle as he was entering the
Masonic Temple where the meet,
ing was being held. This was oh
viously an attempt to iiscrcLit
the widely anti-fasciSt meeting
in the eyes of the public. HOwev-
er, the crowd became so aroused
over the arrest that the red
squad determined to make a hur-
ried exit with the one prisoner.
Warrants were later served on
the Reverend Nathan b. Aker,
man; Henry Robinson, a repre-
sentative of a Portland Jewish
group; Richard LOvelace, dis
abled American World War vet.
eran; Mrs. Beatrice DeBOrd of
the executive cOmittee of the
Civic Emergency Federation: and
Kenneth Fitzgerald. Portl a IL Il
correspondent of the Voice of Ac-
ton who had Officiated as chair
man of the August l demonstra-
ton.
The arrest had aroused wide
public interest and this publici-
ty had a great deal to do with
the hurried release of the DriS-
oners, it is believed here.
Mayor Knows No Law
A well known attorney here
recently stated that you radi.
Gals. whether you call yourselves
socialists, communists, liberals Or
prOgressives had better watch
out. We're going to do the same
with you here as they're doing in
Germany"
This statement was made by
the attorney, who was counsel
for the shipping interests in
Portland, during the strike. How
ever the declaration was no idle
boast. This was proved just last
week when well known doctor,
a clergyman, a writer and several
Others were arrested for speak
ing without permit in a public
park.
Their crime consisted of speak
ing under the auspices of the
League Against War and FasciSm,
united front defense
against such organizations as the
Citizens Emergency league, and
participating in the August list
demonstration. The &c hIi zeal
charge was a nice camOuilage
but, in this particular instance,
it didn't work.
The mayor of Portland, little
Joe of strike-breaking fame, was
summoned by the LID as a wit
ness, created good laugh in the
court room by displaying abSO-
lutte ignorance as to his own city
laws. As it was. the mayor made a
bad break and ventured the as.
sertiOn that no permit was need.
ed for speaking in public park.
Little Joe, however, red faced and |
Immediately saw
his mistake when the proseclt- |
ing attorney came to his feet OBJ /
Iecting loudly and pointing hys-
.erically to the city statute.
The harm had already been |
lone, however, because witnesses |
including city hall newspaper
had already testified |
hat the mayor had previously |
old a League Against War and |
Fascism committee to go ahead
md hold their meeting anywhere
hey wanted to.
The judge, being on the spot
md quite aware of the tremend- |
JUS public opinion aroused by
he outstanding arrests, was
more than eager to get rid of the
'ase. Consequently, he hurriedly
'ame to his conclusion and con-
inuod the case indefinitely.
The next case OF this nature. it
AN be safely said, will not be dis !
missed so easily. The city has
earned a lesson and all radicals
whether you call yourselves So
'ialists, communists, liberals or
are soon going to
be made aware of the fact that
'ascism is on its way over from
Germany.