Letter from Roger Baldwin, Director, American Civil Liberties Union, to Homer L. Morris, American Friends Service Committee, March 1, 1943
Primary tabs
AMERICAN CIVIL LIBERTIES UNION
170 FIFTH AVENUE
NEW YORK CITY
GES 400
Yereh 1, 194%
dr. Homer L. Morris
Americen Friends Service Geant thee
20 South 12 Street
Philadelphia, Pa.
Dear wr. Horris:
- [ am writing as one of the trustees of the Robert Marshall
Civil Liberties Trust, which contributed $1,000 to the fund being
raised by the Friends for the appeal in the case of Gordon |
lirapayashi. It wes stated in your letter that you were endeavor-
ing to raise " fund of $2,000 to earry the case to the 0. .
Susrege Court with wr. Walters of Seattle acting es sttorney.
ir. falters aspesred for him in the Cireuit Court of Appesls
at Sen Franciseo on February 19 end avpsrently disappointed every-
body interested in these cases, One of your own workers, Jorenh
Conard, has exoressed his views in a letter to your Service fom-
mittee members in Seattle, from which I take the Liberty of
quoting: |
"On the other hend I do feel I should write you quite frankly
about Mr. Walters' effectiveness in the trial here. It wes
not only my own ooinion but that of everyone with whom I
have spoken that dr. falters' presentetion was not ohly poor
but pitifully so. I eid judge that hie point of view is
absolutely toos and that he is a grand person, but he was
completely unable to meet the essential issues; he antagonized
the court and resestedly failed to answer legitimate cuestions
asked by the judge. I am sure that everyone here, including
the Friends who were at the trial, Ernest Besig of the Ean
Francisco A.C.L.0., Sirin of the Loe Angeles .C.L.U. and
Rorthern Californie Board members, will join me in hooing that
we try to secure a really high grade, and tf poseible, a
rominent ettorney for eny further heerings. In any case
r. Walters does not seem adequate. `
"It may be that you were not planning to send Welters or that
you are not even involved in this, but in any case I assumed |
that you would want e frank statement, end I trust you will not
think I sm meddling in your plans by writing xs i heve.*
ir, Conard confirms whet our orn representatives at the hearing
-peported. I ghould think it would be wise now, in the event of an
adverse decision which is etpected, to see that somebody else than
ir. Salters argues the esse in the fupreme Court. fe sitowld be
very glad to make recommendations if you #ish.
Sincerely yours,
PNB/sa ; Roger N. Baldwin
ec to Ernest Besig
aa eee _-- Harshall Fund