vol. 6, no. 8

AMERICAN CIVIL LIBERTIES UNION-NEWS

FREE SPEECH FREE PRESS FREE ASSEMBLAGE

“Eternal is the price of liberty.”

Vol. VI SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA, AUGUST, 1941 No. 8

REVIEW OF A CRISIS YEAR

Annual Report Cites Few Casualties to Civil Liberties, Despite Trends

The nation’s emergency defense program has taken “remarkably few casualties’ in the field of civil liberties “despite growing intolerance of minorities out of step with the national effort,’? the American Civil Liberties Union said in the 21st annual report, released last month. The report is printed as an 80-page pamphlet under the title, “Liberty’s National Emergency’’, covering the year ending June 1, 1941.

Union correspondents in 36 states, polled in a survey for the report, “uniformly agreed that there has been little interference with civil liberties under pressure of the national emergency and defense program, but all reported the sense of a general tightening up and a great apprehension.”

The Union observed that “‘despite an international policy aimed at Fascism, public opinion and public authorities have been far more concerned with hostilities to labor and the left.”

It was noted that ‘no federal prosecutions for opinion have been undertaken despite the power in law to do so.”

The Casualties

Summarizing the “casualties’’, the Union reported: “Only five prosecutions were brought under state laws penalizing opinion—two for sedition against Communists in Oklahoma and Illinois (the Illinois case was settled before trial), one against German--Ameri- can Bundsmen in New Jersey for antiSemitic speeches, and two against Jehovah’s Witnesses in Indiana for sedition. Savage sentences were imposed in the sedition cases tried, now on appeal. In addition, prosecutions were brought against Communists for alleged election frauds in four states involving essentially their political propaganda. Most striking of the casualties was the barring of the Communist Party from the ballot in fifteen states.”’

Recounting developments favorable to civil liberties, the report said: ‘‘Despite the furore against strikers in the defense industries none has been prosecuted under fed- eral or state law. No state troops were called out in strikes. Injunctions in labor disputes fell to the smallest number on record in a single year. The only persons in prison for the expression of political or other views, date from cases of years past, and their number is the lowest in years.”

High Courts Favorable to Civil Liberties

“In the appellate courts decisions were almost wholly favorable to civil liberties,” the Union stated. ‘Practically all the significant cases were won, from the United States Supreme Court to the state Supreme Courts. Not a single judicial set-back of any importance to civil liberty marked the year’s record of cases on appeal.”

“Significant of advances in labor’s rights were the abandonment of the public crusade against the National Labor Relations Board and the success of the trade unions in forcing recognition of collective bargaining in the last two great centers of re- sistance, the Ford Motor Company and Bethlehem Steel.”’

It was pointed out that ‘“‘in over half the state legislatures bills aimed against the political rights of the Communist Party or against the German-American Bund failed ot passage, largely on the persuasive argument that it is sounder policy to keep in the open, rather than to drive underground, movements with foreign loyalties.

SANTA ROSA TAR and FEATHER PARTY LEADER ADMITTED TO CITIZENSHIP

More than two years ago, on June 9, 1939, Judge Edward I. Butler of San Rafael, denied citizenship to Fred Cairns, Secretary of the San Rafael Chamber of Commerce, and asserted leader of the Santa Rosa tar and feather party of August 21, 1935. At that time the court decided Cairns was not attached to the principles of the Constitution because he “should not have been part of a mob. It was unthinkable that he did not know what was going on.” The A.C.L.U. was the moving spirit in opposing Cairns’ petition, producing the witnesses who testified to Cairns’ mob activities. Last month, Cairns renewed his petition for citizenship, which the A.C.L.U. did not — oppose, and the application was granted by Judge Butler.

VIOLENT OPPOSITION TO COMMUNIST STREET MEETINGS IN OAKLAND

Communists encountered violent opposition to their street-corner meetings in Oak- land last month. Sailors and hooligans, despite the party’s new all-out-aid line, as- sertedly attacked their speakers and generally disrupted Saturday evening meetings at the corner of 10th Street and Broadway, while police assertedly merely stood by and watched.

After the usual protests to the City Council that gained front-page coverage, some 30 police were assigned to protect the Communists in exercising their right of assembl- age, and the Navy’s shore patrol cooperated by directing sailors to other places of amusement. :

Voters Urged To sign the “Hot Cargo” Referendum Petitions

Labor in California—both A. F. of L. and C. I. O., is united in a drive to secure a referendum on the ‘Hot Cargo” bill enacted by the Legislature last June over Governor Olson’s veto. Petitions are now being circulated which require exactly 132,518 valid signatures in order to place the measure before the electorate at the next general election in November, 1942.

While.the State Constitution provides that petitions must be filed with the Secretary of State within 90 days of adjournment of the Legislature, Labor has wisely fixed August 15 as the deadline for completing its tremendous job. This date was set because the law requires petitions to be ii the hands -of County Registrars for certification within 70 days of adjournment of the Legislature.

In any event, only two or three weeks remain in which to gather the necessary sig- natures. Persons desiring to circulate petitions may secure them in San Francisco at the A. F. of L. campaign headquarters, 1164 Market Street, or at the offices of the California State Federation of Labor in the Flood Building. Petitions may also be ob- tained at Room 322, 593 Market St., San Francisco, the C. I. O. headquarters. In other communities, interested persons should contact A. F. of L. or C. I. O: offices. If you live or work in San Francisco, drop around to the A. C. L. U. office without delay and sign a petition, or, better yet, we will provide you with one for circulation.

Make sure before circulating a petition or merely signing one, that you are a legally registered voter. If you moved since the last election, you must re-register before your signature can count on a referendum petition. Also, if you failed to vote at BOTH the primary and final election in 1940, your registration has been cancelled and you must re-register. If you voted at one of those elections and have not moved, you are qualified to sign a petition.

If the requisite number of signatures is secured, operation of the law will be sus- pended until it is passed upon by the electorate. Otherwise, it will go into effect on September 13 and will remain in force, as provided by its terms, until May 1, 19438, — or during the present national emergency or during any war legally declared to exist.

The A. C. L. U. opposed enactment of the statute on the ground that it violates the right to strike in that it prohibits workers from refusing to handle “hot cargo,’”’ and also because it limits the right of freedom of speech by declaring secondary boycotts to be unlawful. The latter term includes peaceful picketing of an employer who handles “unfair” goods. To protect Labor’s civil rights, support the ““Hot Cargo” referendum!

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RACE VIOLENCE IN DALLAS, TEXAS Tect of Constitutionalty of Smith Aet

The ominous state of race relations in Dallas, Texas, has been called to the atten- tion of the American Civil Liberties Union in a memorandum submitted by the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People. This memorandum reports that since September, 1940, when 400 Negro families were forced to find new homes because of the Dallas Federal Housing Project, the Negroes of Dallas and those whites who are willing to deal with them have been subjected to a wave of terror and violence.

So far there have been fourteen bombings, four fires of suspected incendiary origin, and four firings upon Negro homes. There have been no arrests, and no action by the mayor beyond attempts, soon abandoned, to establish “segregated” districts and to frighten Negroes into accepting them:

Now, white citizens of South Dallas are openly threatening bloodshed if the Lincoln High School is not discontinued as a Negro school. At a recent Board of Education meeting, a South Dallas delegation announced it would form a guard around the building to prevent its opening this fall as a Negro school. The Dallas Morning News of July 9, reported that at this stormy board session “there was much talk about death and murder if the situation continues.”

The American Civil Liberties Union has taken the matter under advisement and is considering suitable action.

Texas Civil Liberty Attacks Involve 600 Victims

More than 600 arrests of Jehovah’s Witnesses by Texas police officers and sheriffs during the past year reveal wide-spread violations. of civil liberty in that state, ac- cording to Hayden Covington, attorney for the Witnesses. They were arrested for dis- tributing literature explaining the Bible, or refusing to discontinue such distribution when ordered to do so by the police. Material on the Texas situation has been sub- mitted by Mr. Covington to the American Civil Liberties Union which has aided in the defense of Jehovah’s Witnesses throughout the country.

In every case before the arrest was made, according to Mr. Covington, attention was called to U. S. Supreme Court decisions upholding the right of Jehovah’s Witnesses to distribute literature. In nearly every case Texas police officers replied: “To hell with the Supreme Court; we are running this town’; or ““You do as we say or we'll lock you up.” In some cases they said:

“We'll turn you over to the mob and let them string you up. These acts were followed by arrest and imprisonment, often without any charges being filed. In many instances the prisoners had to wait five days before obtaining their release. Often they were unable to obtain counsel. Because of local prejudice against Jehovah’s Witnesses, lawyers have in many cases refused to defend them even for reasonable pay.

Mr. Covington cited these facts in refutation of a report by the Bill of Rights Com- mittee of the Texas Bar Association, which appears in the current issue of the Texas Bar Journal.. The report claims that there have been no Violations of civil liberties in Texas of which the Committee has had notice.

-MOVIE CENSORSHIP LIGHT

Few cases of movie censorship occurred in the past year, the American Civil Liberties Union reported.

“Of the seven states censoring movies, substantial difficulties arose only in Penn- sylvania, where they have been traditional in recent years,” the Union said in a sum- mary of the year in the field of censorship.

Mass Indictment of Trotskyists Brings

Mass indictment of 29 Socialist Workers’ Party (Trotskyist) members by a Federal grand jury in St: Paul, Minn., July 15, brought immediate intercession by the American Civil Liberties Union to challenge certain sections of the Smith Act of 1940, first applied in this case.

Those indicted were charged with -conspiring to overthrow the United States gov- ernment through armed intervention.

The Union issued the following statement on July 16:

Union’s Statement

“The American Civil Liberties Union has offered its services to the 29 persons in- dicted by the federal Grand Jury at St. Paul insofar as these prosecutions may penalize mere opinions and advocacies. We are informed that a blanket indictment has been returned charging these persons with seditious conspiracy under Section 6, Title 18, of the U. S. Code, and with advocating the overthrow of the government of the United States under Sections 10 and 11, added to the criminal code by the Smith Act passed by the present Congress in 1940. These new sections of the Code penalize opinions and advocacies even in the absence of overt acts. The American Civil Liberties Union went on record in opposition to the act when it was introduced in Congress, and after its passage in 1940 the Union announced its intention to test its constitutionality when and if the occasion arose. Such an occasion, we believe, is at hand now in these first cases under the new law.

An Instrument of Oppression

“We hold that these provisions of this statute are a violation of constitutional guarantees and a potential instrument of

SAN JOSE EXCLUDES COMMUNISTS FROM USE OF CIVIC AUDITORIUM

The San Jose City Council on June 30 enacted an ordinance aimed at barring Communists from renting a meeting place in the civic auditorium. The ordinance provides that rooms will not be rented to “any organization advocating overthrow of the United States or the State of California by force and violence, nor for any meeting -having as its purpose inciting riots, race prejudice, force and violence against governmental institutions, breaches of the peace, or destruction of life and property.”

While the manager of a local shoe store, Bert Collins, was directly responsible for adoption of the ordinance, the American. Legion swiftly seconded his demand that the Communists be barred from the use of the auditorium.

The action seems particularly silly, because the manager of the auditorium reported that a group of 10 or 12 Communists met in one of the auditorium’s small rooms “four or five times a year’ since 1936. “They met,” he said, “with the doors open and never bothered anyone.”

ARMY INFRINGED CIVIL LIBERTIES IN INGLEWOOD SEIZURE

The United States Army’s seizure of the North American Aviation plant at Inglewood, Calif., June 9, leaves a case history of abridgement of civil liberties.

Representatives of the Southern California Branch of the Civil Liberties Union who witnessed the Army occupation and kept in touch with the development at all times maintained: “Precedents have been set in this case that may very seriously curtail civil liberties on the labor front.

A. L. Wirin, Branch counsel, reports the following civil liberties were impaired: Freedom of assemblage; the right to picket; freedom from unlawful imprisonment, and the right to strike, through improper threats of reclassification of striking aircraft workers under the Selective Service Act.

oppression against unpopular minorities and organized labor. Prosecutions under it for mere opinion, in these days especially, are dangerous to the preservation of de- mocracy.

‘“Wxperience in this country as well as in Great Britain, even in the present grave crisis facing that nation, has shown that the fullest freedom of expression, far from being a danger to democracy is a safeguard, and suppression of minority opinion leads only to heresy-hunting. with all its attendant evils, to general loss of faith in democratic processes and to underground activity.”

“The Omnibus Gag Bill”

The Smith Act was introduced in Congress in March, 1939, by Representative Howard W. Smith of Virginia, and combined a number of features. Opponents dubbed it “The Omnibus Gag Bill”. Certain provisions were aimed at aliens. The Civil Liberties Union pointed out that the bill punished “advocacy” of government overthrow, and “created in effect the crime of sedition.”

Under the provisions of the Smith Act, under which the Minneapolis prosecutions are to be brought, “it shall be unlawful for any person by word of mouth, or in writ- ing, or by transmission by radio, to knowingly or willfully advocate, abet, advise, or teach the duty, necessity, desirability or propriety of overthrowing or destroying the Government of the United States, or the government of any subdivision thereof, by force or violence, or by the assassination of any officer of the United States, or any of- ficer of any state of the United States, or any officer of any subdivision thereof, or by any other unlawful means.”

A BOOK ON CIVIL LIBERTIES

The Story of Civil Liberty in the United States. By Leon Whipple. (The Vanguard Press, 366 pp.) Now available to members of the American Civil Liberties Union at $0.25, against the list price of $0.75.

A lively and realistic account of the practices, as opposed to the principles, of American democracy in the period 17761917, Professor Whipple’s carefully documented study describes the varied methods by which the majority, or whatever group could successfully pretend to represent the majority, has consistently attempted to suppress any deviation from its standards of thought and behavior. Most of the material — ig strikingly pertinent to current problems: the suspension of civil liberties during the Civil War, the attacks on racial minorities, the opposition to organized labor and to movements for social reform. Professor Whipple shows clearly how the state’s vast and vague “police power’ has gradually replaced mob violence as the instrument of suppression, and analyzes the problems implicit in this transition. The book—both its content and its implications—is as valuable now as it was when first issued in 1927.

“THE STORY OF CIVIL LIBERTY IN THE UNITED STATES”

By PROF. LEON WHIPPLE A Book You Must Own Cloth-bound — 366 Pages Formerly 75c — Now Only 25c including postage Order Several Copies For Yourself and Your Friends A.C.L.U., NO. CAL. BR. 216 Pine St., San Francisco, Calif.

Facts and Figures About Conscientious Objectors

The handling of conscientious objectors under the Selective Service Act is progress- ing in a very satisfactory manner. What in 1917 was a sore problem marked by a good deal of stupid blundering and cruelty, has today been dealt with in a surprisingly in- telligent, understanding and efficient manner.

Exact figures are not available, but we do know that there were about 6000 objectors in the first registration, of whom about 2500 have already been classified. Appeals are pending in 658 cases.

Such appeals will be heard by a so-called Hearing Officer. In San Francisco, Francis V. Keesling, Sr., Special Assistant United States Attorney-General, will serve as the Hearing Officer. After an investigation of a case by the F.B.I., the appellant will re- ceive at least ten days’ notice of the hearing. On the basis of the F.B.I. report and his personal examination, the Hearing Officer will transmit findings of fact and a recommendation, to the Appeal Board, or he may send a case back for further investi- gation. The final decision in each case is in the hands of the local Appeal Board.

106 Sentenced to Jail

In addition to the registered C.O.’s, there were also a number of men who refused to register. One hundred and six of these have been tried and sentenced, while about 50 are awaiting trial. The sentences in these cases vary greatly and should be equalized. Under an Executive Order, however, such persons may be paroled for service in the defense forces or work of. national im-— portance if “it is compatible with the public interest.”” We do not know whether any paroles have been applied for or granted.

The various camps for conscientious objectors are under the administration of the Quakers, Brethren and Mennonites. Each group is responsible for the administration and financing of its own camps. The Federal Council of Churches, World Peace Commission of the Methodist Church and the Disciples of Christ will cooperate with the above groups in administering additional camps to be established. The National Service Board for Religious Objectors in Washington is the official representative of all the co-operating agencies in dealing with the Government.

C. O.’s Pay Own Way

The camp fee for conscientious objectors is $35 per man per month. Congress ap- propriated no money to finance the camps, but the member groups of the National Service Board assumed the burden “within the limits of their ability.” Campers are asked to contribute, but no legal obligation rests upon them, and, indeed, only a few are in a position to do so. In San Francisco the Board to Counsel Conscientious Objectors has set up a fund to support local objectors. Contributions may be sent to Miss Phoebe Seagrave, treasurer of the Friends Meeting, at 845 Pine Street, San Francisco. At present, $70 a month is needed to pay the expenses of two objectors who entered the camp at San Dimas on June 1. In Berkeley, a loan fund is being established.

The National Service Board reports the following denominational affiliations of the 1063 objectors who have been referred to it up to May 7, 1941:

Mennonite... 2 378 Church of the Brethren.....................--113 Jehovah’s Witnesses. .........----------------81 Society of Friends ............ oe 73 WMiethodist ee k.. 69 Presbyterian... 38 Baptist . 2 31 Church of Christ.....2:...-2....--.:------.-20 Catholic: ee ee 20 Congregational ............2---------------------20 58 other denominations .............---153 Non-affiliated 2... 2: 55 Affiliation Unknown .............-------------15

Religious Objector Court Martialed for Refusing to Don Army Uniform

While thus far the draft law has operated fairly successfully as far as conscientious objectors are concerned, occasional cases. do arise where, through one cause or an- other, conscientious scruples against military training recognized and protected by the Selective Service Act are violated. Such a case came to our attention recently when a draftee at Fort Ord was court-martialed on May 12 for refusing “to put on his uni- form and fall out to help clean the barracks for inspection.”” He was sentenced to six months at hard labor and ‘“‘to forfeit. four-* teen dollars per month for a like period”. The latter penalty is no loss to the objector because he has refused to accept army pay.

A Victim of Ignorance Or Mistake

The man’s conscientious objections had been recognized by his local draft board, but apparently, either through a mistake or its own ignorance, the board classified him for non-combatant service (1 A-O), which is under military direction, instead of work of national importance under civilian direction (4-E). At the time he was classified, the registrant suffered under the belief that his objections had been fully recognized, and his board assertedly assured him that after his entry into the army he would be transferred to work under civilian direction. Of course, that is not the way the law works, and if the draftee had not been misled as he claims, as well as uninformed of his rights, he could have appealed his case and thereby very likely have escaped — difficulties in which he now finds himself. :

We have called this situation to the attention of the Selective Service System in Washington, D. C., in the hope that the objector will be furloughed out of the army and reclassified for work of national importance under civilian direction. The Se- lective Service System has advised us that “A letter has been directed to the Director of Selective Service for California requesting that a complete investigation surround- ing the classification and induction of the registrant be made, and a report furnished this Headquarters at the earliest possible date.” Paul Comly French, Executive Sec- retary of the National Service Board for Religious Objectors in Washington, D. C., was instrumental in having this case considered by the Selective Service System.

Facts As Related By Draftee

Following is a copy of the letter we received from the draftee in answer to a re- quest for information about his case:

To the best of my knowledge I have fulfilled all of the draft laws concerning con- scientious objection of the extreme type— opposed to any type of military training. The special questionnaire was granted to me by my draft board, No. 166 of San Diego, which I filled out in detail giving excellent references.

When I was called I inquired of my draft board concerning my rating, and I was in- formed that my conscientious objections had been honored. I personally saw the papers sent to the army and have seen them since. On each set of papers the extreme rating was checked and the words “conscientious objector” were written on the face of each copy. I was told by my draft board that the army would give me civil constructive work as provided in the Selective Service Act.

Refuses To Take Military Oath

On February 25 I passed through the induction station at Los Angeles, where I courteously refused the military oath although I was told that taking the oath would in no way affect my rating. From the reception center at Fort McArthur, where I sincerely pointed out my type of objection in my interview, I was sent to the 57th Med. Bu. Corps Co. A at Fort Ord. I was told that the medical would straighten out my case. Here I was told that the medical was all the army has for objectors of any type.

After once more refusing to take the oath, I was asked to “string along” with my com- pany while they were sending my case through the Army. I was told that it was to be a test case which might greatly benefit future objectors of the same type. It then became my duty to cooperate and I did so to the very best of my ability. During the process of investigation, I was interviewed by the army psychiatrist. According to my company commander, Lieut. Bernard, these were about the words of the psychiatric report. “Gallatin is absolutely of sound mind. He is not malingering. He is an objector of objectors.”

Sentenced By Court Martial

On April 18 I was informed that higher . officials had designated that they could take no action. I then immediately refused to cooperate further and was placed in con- finement April 19 under the 64th article of (Continued on Page 4, Col. 2)

A Letter FromaC.O. At San Dimas Camp

What is work of national importance to which, conscientious objectors are assigned under the draft law? Are there only Quak= ers.at California’s Quaker-supervised camp for G,.0.’s?

These and other questions are answered in the following letter by a San Francisco draftee who was assigned to the San Dimas Camp at Glendora, California. And, in reading his letter, don’t forget that such C.Q.’s get no pay; indeed, each man pays $35 a month for his keep. If the C.O. can’t foot the bill, supporting organizations or persons contribute for him. Here’s the letter written about a month ago.

Couldn’t Ask for More

San Dimas Camp is all it could be éxpected to be. One could not ask for better friends, leaders, work and spirit.

Riding along the nine mile road from Glendora to the 2700-foot elevation of the camp, the fifteen of us were shown the surrounding country and something of our work by our guide, a volunteer worker and graduate of U. C. Last Monday the second “batch” arrived bringing us nearer our total within a few weeks of 100 C.O.’s. Ours was the fourth, I believe, of some 20 such camps that will open.

Four weeks ago a Mr. Kraebel, regional forest service chief, came down from Berkeley to show us slides and tell something of the San Dimas Experimental Forest “for the scientific study of watershed management problems in order to achieve the maximum yield of useable water.’ A lecture like this each Friday night.

Tens of thousands of dollars can be saved each year by proper control of water drain- age. Some unknown unfoliage will best hold back water yet not consume overly much for itself, thus reducing floods and giving a longer, steadier waterflow to the lands below.

Rain and water guages, lysimeters and debris dams yield important information in this tedious, long-range program of which we are but a very minute part.

Wide Assortment of Religions Quakers might be thought to predominate in this, a Quaker-supervised camp. There are two or three. We Presbyterians (Continued on Page 4, Col. 3)

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American Civil Liberties Union-News

Published monthly at 216 Pine Street, San Francisco, Calif., by the Northern California Branch . of The American Civil Liberties Uniom.

Phone: EXbrook 1816 ERNEST BESIG Editor Subscription Rates—Seventyfive Cents a Year. Ten Cents per Copy.

Congress Challenged On Lasser Case

Singling out a federal employee by Congress for exclusion from an appropriation bill as-in the case of David Lasser, former Workers’ Alliance head, was recently criticized by the American Civil Liberties Union in a letter to President Roosevelt.

Stating that discrimination by Congress against Lasser was occasioned by “‘the im- plication that he was a Communist or Communist sympathizer,’ the Union warned that the procedure “‘opens the door to further interference by Congress with what appears to be purely administrative discretion.”

“It appears from the record of debate that Mr. Lasser was singled out because he was formerly president of the Workers’ Alliance and indulged in some caustic criticism of the opponents of adequate relief for the unemployed. The language he used was admittedly strong, but no stronger than that used by many other men in the federal service,’”’ the Union commented.

“The essential point, however, is the ominous precedent established by such leg- islative action against a single federal employee.”

CHURCH-STATE-SCHOOL : ISSUE IN CHICAGO

Violation of the “‘cardinal American principle of the separation of Church and State’”’ is contained in a proposal for religious training on school time for school credit, the Chicago Civil Liberties Committee said in a protest against adoption of such a plan to the Chicago Board of Education, June 25.

The Chicago Committee argued: proposed plan looks in the direction of a closer tie between Church and State. To that extent, the proposed plan represents a step in the direction of a breach of our civil rights.”

Observing that the plan limits itself to the Protestant, Catholic and Jewish faiths, the Committee contended: “The exclusion of any faith may be the forerunner of an ex- clusion of your faith. The constitution of the United States and the constitution of Illinois do not recognize specific faiths; they recognize all faiths.”

It was further remarked that “the proposed plan accentuates religious and racial divisions and sets aside as a special group those whose parents do not wish to have their children receive religious instruction.”

NEW BOOKS ON CIVIL LIBERTIES

“The Bertrand Russell Case.” Edited by John Dewey and Horace M. Kallen. (The Viking Press, 227 pp., $2.50.)

Editors, educators and philosophers join in presenting the issues of this celebrated case. The opening chapter is a complete review of the facts by Horace M. Kallen, Professor of Philosophy at the New School. John Dewey follows with ‘Social Realities Versus Police Court Fictions’’. Ordeal, New Style”’ is the Yale law professor Walton H. Hamilton’s description of Justice McGeehan’s conduct on the bench. The nine chapters of this highly commendable book include as well ‘“‘The Problems of Education in a Democracy” by Richard McKeon, Professor of Philosophy at Chicago; “A Scandalous Denial of Justice” by Morris R. Cohen, Emeritus Professor, C.C.N.Y.; “The Case as a School Administrator Sees It” by Carleton Washburne, Superintendent of Public Schools, Winnetka, Ill.; and a summary of the issues of freedom involved by Sidney Hook, ‘The General Pattern”. The book ends with the now notorious decision by Judge McGeehan.

“Bhe “Trial. by

MORE ABOUT THE C.0. PROBLEM Religious Objector Court Martialed (Continued from Page 8, Col. 3)

war for refusing a direct order of my company commander. At the end of two weeks I was returned to my company where I again refused duty. I was immediately again confined. This time I was charged with failimg to obey a direct order of my company commander. On May 12, under a special court martial and the 96th article of war, I was given a six months’ sentence with two-thirds of my pay forfeited. However, I have consistently refused to sign for pay and have never received money from the army.

My company commander, Lieut. Bernard, who was forced, because of his military duty, to bring charges against me, stated under oath at my trial that, “It was felt by the official personnel that had it not been for G.’s belief he would soon have become a non-commissioned officer.”’ He further stated in content that, although G. had refused to do duty, he had never taken a disrespectful attitude.

Relied On Scriptures

It is not boasting to say that my answers to all of the many questions I have been asked concerning my faith and its implications to the social order have been not only seripturally sound but also socially scientifically sound. Consequently, I have gained and maintained the respect of the men with whom I have come into personal contact. My stand is in no way to be construed as political, but is based solidly upon the Christian faith; and I have paid special attention to this point in answers to questions. I am not and have not been connected with any legitimate or subversive political organization.

As for my church connections, I am technically a member of the Baptist church, but I do not rest my faith upon any denomination or cult.

I have felt it my duty from my youth to equip myself to serve mankind constructively. Not only have I consistently sought spiritual development from the scriptures, but I have also given myself seven and one-half years of college. I possess an A.B. and a teaching credential from San Diego State College.

I have never before been called into question by the law.

Would Serve Country As Christian

In the light of my good citizenship, I believe my country owes me an opportunity to serve her according to my Christian faith. It is the only way I can respond directly to the emergency program.

I have been told by army officials that the draft board had mishandled my case and that I should never have been sent through the induction center. However, my testimony at my trial as to my reasons for failing to obey a direct order seems to have been ignored. I have been told by more than one lieutenant that it was the army’s job to make it hard on objectors. As a matter of fact, I believe the army has no machinery for handling such cases. Heretofore such cases as my own have been handled by a series of courtmartials until a dishonorable discharge is recommended. A dishonorable discharge would ruin me in my teaching protest and curtail my usefulness to society.... A. E. G.

A Letter From a.C. O. At San Dimas Camp

(Continued from Page 38, Col. 3)

(including the assistant director) have the largest single group, not counting Mennon- ites. Methodist, Baptist, Jewish, Catholic and none at all comprise our “religions’’.

One man has just received his doctorate in agriculture from U. C.; several are col- lege graduates.

One of the Jewish boys is a refugee from Austria. He has taken out his first papers. Although he has had many trying experiences, he is still a pleasant, likeable chap .. quite an example for us.°

“Hddy” and “Mary” are a young, genial, capable couple on leave from Swarthmore College (Pennsylvania) to direct the camp. Dr. Newman is a graduate of Harvard in psychology.

Individual Responsibility

The motif—individual responsibility—is the opposite, I believe, of the army. From top to bottom the question asked is: ‘‘What do you think of this idea?”’

Laundry, some buying, and orc other things are done cooperatively.

The morning devotional period is a change for the better. The period of silence, sometimes broken near the end by a few words from one of the group, impresses one more deeply and potently than the usual continuous worship.

Last night, Saturday, was amateur night. Half a dozen of us gave a musical review of camp happenings. Some fun!

Tolerance With Conviction

And so we carry on Civilian Public Service, knowing that the most we do is little enough, but believing that the least we do is much better than anything done at either end of a machine gun.

As one of us said, “Perhaps war is the way to solve international problems. Who amItosay? Yet to me non-violent methods seem so much better; I must do everything possible to further the pacific methods.”

This—tolerance with conviction—might be said to be the effort of the camp and our stand.—kK. C. S.

JERSEY COURT UPHOLDS BAN ON BUND CAMP

After refusing the American Civil Liberties Union permission to intervene in the case by filing a brief as a friend of the court, Vice-Chancellor James J. Fielder of Jersey City, N. J., has upheld the ban on the use of land at Camp Nordland, Andover, N. J., formerly operated by the German-American Bund. The court ruled that Bund activities at Camp Nordland constituted “‘a source of danger” to the national defense effort.

The American Civil Liberties Union defended the right of the Bund to Camp Nordland on the grounds that ‘‘no overt acts of any character are charged against the Bund; no allegations are made as to any breach of the peace, the conduct of military training or any preparations for the use of force.” The issue, according to the Union, “resolves itself solely to the expression of opinions detested, of course, by all rightthinking men, but clearly protected by constitutional guarantee.”

CLARIFICATION OF MARE ISLAND DISMISSALS FOR “SUBVERSIVE ACTIVITIES” EXPECTED SOON

Twenty-eight civil service employees were discharged at the Mare Island Navy Yard on June 30 for what newspapers declared were “subversive activities.”’ Denying the charge, the men asserted that their dismissals were “predicated on the evidence of groups in Vallejo who desire to stifle the free expression of American citizens.’

The Commandant of fie Navy Yard has advised the A. C. L. U. that ‘‘those persons discharged have been informed that they may, if they so desire, appear before the Commandant or such officers as he may designate within thirty days from the date of the letter advising them of this fact to be fully informed as to the reasons for the discharge.”’ Whether the dismissals violate civil liberties should, therefore, be known early this month, since the men have requested the reasons for their discharge.