Jasper County Democrat, Volume 20, Number 52, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 29 September 1917 — ARREST DRAFT FOES [ARTICLE]

ARREST DRAFT FOES

POLICE HURL SPEAKERS FROM PLATFORM IN NEW YORK. Sleuths and U. S. Agents Act When President Wilson Is Assailed— Riot Averted. ■ ■ ,'U New York, Sept. 28.—Swooping down on the platform and hurling five of the speakers bodily from the rostrum, fifty detectives and twelve secret service men broke up a mass meeting of conscientious objectors’ league in the labor temple. Rioting broke out, women in the crowd began screaming, but the quick work of the police overawed the throng and violence was averted, j United States Marshal McCarthy gave the signal for the ending of the meeting while Louis. Fraina of tin? New International was s'speaking. Fraina said: “This country is cursed with a president who is particularly adept in coining phrases which mean nothing to democracy, but whose influence is like the poison of a snake. We are going to be compelled to fight, if they can compel us. I say right here they cannot compel coilscientious objectors to do it. We have made up our minds to go right through With this thing.” Marshal McCirfthy then gave the signal. Fraina was hurled from the stand by detectives. Charles S. Sonnenscheiu, general organizer of the league, sprang to the platform despite his lameness. “This meeting will proceed andv” He got no further. He too was flung from the platform. “Don’t hurt him 1 Don’t hurt him 1” shrieked women in the audience. A man described as A. Turner then took the platform. He was also thrown out. Another man, whose name the police could not stop to take, followed. E. Ralph Cheyney came next. “Free speech in America is dead,” he cried. “Another assassination has taken place. This meeting is adjourned, but the work of the league is not dead.” Stalwart detectivescut short his further utterances. Detectives cleared the hall, Fraina and Clkeyney were arrested, charged technically with having failed to produce regi st rat ioti cards. > .