The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1934-03-09
By OSCAR RYAN

By OSCAR RYAN
Especial 10 the Daily WcTAer)
TORONTO, Canada, Mar Tim
Buck, famous claSs-wsr prisoner
and Secretary Of the Canadian
Communist Party, was the first de-
Tense witness yesterday morning in
the trial OF 4. z. Smith, General
Secretary Of the Canadian Labor
Defense League on G charge Of Sc
dition for an alleged Statement
charging the government with az
tempting 10 asSassinate Tim 6dcs-
on Oct. 20, 1892, in Kingston Prison
shows Effect OF Imprisonment
Tim Bucks appearance IN colm,
was the first occasion he has been in
Toronto since ne was sent away 70
Kingston penitentiary two years age
The working class leader was
dressed in the blue prison Uniform
Prison pallor showed strongly on his
face, but he held himself erect and
cheerfully greeted your correspond
ent when he passed the press table
do you remember October 90
1892" asked Chief Defense Counsel
AScMurray. 81 remember 1t very
we'll" replied Buck. what partic-
ularly impressed 1t on your mind?"
Crown Frantic at Bucks Testimony
Bucks answer: 81 was saot at, u
brought the Crown prosecutor, Peter
White, K.C., to his feet IN frantic
objection to the evidence. Vainly
did the defense attorney argue that
IL attempts were made to shoot an
imprisoned man, this was subject
for discussion, for investigation and
for reforms. The objection was Sis
tanned by the bench.
Frank Love, unemployed elecbIi-
clan, was the second defense Wit
ness. Love Is one Of the authors OF
the banned play, Eight Men SPEAK,
based on the imprisonment Of the
eight Communist Party leaders.
Love denied that Smith had said
it was an order from Premier Ben
nett to Guthrie and from Guthrie
TO the warden regarding RESPONSE
bility for the shooting OF Buck.
Workers present at the Hygeia
HMl protest meeting came forward
to deny the allegations in the
crowns indictment, all agreeing that
Smith had not uttered the words
charged to him by the crown. The
witnesses included Frank Love, I'M
employed electrician, and one OF the
authors Of the banned play Eight
Men Speak" John Cook and Chester
Stokes, war veterans. Stokes de-
clared that had Smith uttered the
words charged against him "they
would have made an indelible i'm
preston on my mind il they had
been spoken. I considered it my
duty as a worker and loyal citizen
to come to his aid against wrong
ful indictment"
Smith FearleSsly Flags Government
Smith, the defendant, taking the
witness stand from 2:30 to $50 pm.
spoke clearly and impressively and
bore himself throughout with quiet
dignity. The crown prosecutor,
White, and sergeant Of detectives
Nursey, sitting together most of the
time, grinned at each other several
times, but as Smiths testimony pro-
ceeded they seemed to become irri-
tated.
Smith outlined his speech at the
Hygeia Hall protest meeting. He
referred to the statements he mad
made then, regarding the great
value Of the Workers Theatre move
uaent, the Progressive Arts Club, the
political implications Of the play.
He had said, he declared, that the
play was IAN expression Of the feel
ings Of the workers regarding sup
preston and capitalist class often
sive against all workers organize
lions that exhibit any militancy. He
recalled his remarks regarding the
demand for appointment OF a popu-
lar commission to investigate the
attempt on Bucks life, the refusals
OF the government to grant an in
Vestigation, and that the fact that
in February 1888. over 200 900 sig
natures were obtained for the de-
mand Tor an investigation, and on
Nov. IT, 1888. we carried with us q
petition Of $50 900 signatures to the
government demanding an inyesti-
CATION. We asked for popular com
mission, not Of professionals or par
liamentarians or officia1s OF the
institution or Of the department of
justice, whose chief function would
be to whitewash the affair.
Places Responsibility for Skoossng
on Government
we had presented petitions and
resolutions by the thousands" smith
continued. II undertook to place
the responsibility, the moral and
political responsibility for this situa-
tlon on the government because they
nave stoutly and categorically re
fused the Investigation
Tells Of Strike by Kingston Eisht,'
Had Smith said that the order
70 shoot Buck had been handed
down until it reached Guthrie" the
prosecutor demanded. That's alb
surd," Smith answered. Guthrie
has authority and doesn't need or
oers, and further in replying to
another formulation Of the same
question:
L said those men who did she
shooting wouldn't dare, on their
OWL without orders 30 initiate
sssch q thing"