Show FREE SPEECH the question as to whether or not the anarchists and socialists of chi cago should be permitted to hold meetings has been one of intense anxiety to the inhabitants of that city and a judicial determination of it has been awaited with much interest by the country at large on the dinst judge tuley of the circuit court rendered a decision upon it which deserves the highest commendation for the soundness of the doctrines it embodies th ability with which they are set forth and the tone of lofty patriotism and devotion to freedom sounded in the document the case was in reality one in which the perpetuity of free speech in the united states was being tested it was claimed by the police that to allow that privilege to anarchists would be to to invite the destruction of society but J judge tuley seems to think that to deny it would bring about an equally disastrous result following is the telegraphic synopsis of the decision e judge tuley holds that the anarchists ts and socialists have not forfeited their constitutional rights to assemble peaceably and discuss any question which interests them provided they do not plot to carry cabry out their ideas by the use of force agrain against st the constituted authority this decision was the outgrowth of the application made in december last by the Ar arbeiter belter bund for an injunction to restrain the police from interfering with their meetings the progress of which me case has been reported from time to time in these dispatches tho decision is more than words in length it begins by reciting the history of the case stating that the particular meeting which was made the test case was called for the purpose of head hearing ng a report of the arbeiter bund committee on constitution and bylaws by laws and of completing its organization that the only objects of the society according to the allegations of its constitution were to secure to its members mutual benefit social intercourse and political education that the police were were invited to be present and did actually by show of force prevent the allf ho holding ding of the proposed meeting in behalf of the city authorities this interference is justified on the ground that the name arbeiter bund la Is a mere cloak that the real purpose of its members is to plot to overthrow the constitution and laws of the united states and this state that as police officers it is I 1 in a their jurisdiction to forbid such auch meetings in order to prevent the commission of crime the judge says 1 I find no reason to differ from the master in chancery in his conclusion that the evidence adduced falls to show that the proposed assemblage was for unlawful purposes u r it was argued that the elon constitution ution shows on its face an unlawful purpose because of the condition of membership that only persons of reputable character chara oter who declare for the abolition of the inhuman wage system can become wage members T the e solicitor is in error in the supposition that the law upholds or demands any particular system for carrying on industrial enterprise the master reports that there was no evidence to show the meaning of the declaration that the society favors the abolition of the capitalistic system of exploitation I 1 nor any purpose to assist in the fight against exploitation the word exploitation is a french word for which in english we have no precise equivalent I 1 understand the object is to encourage a system of using capital whereby labor will receive a greater share of the combined earnings of labor and capital than at present and capital shall not be used so as to 0 oppress the people f le by combinations and mo monopolies lo I 1 may be mistaken in my interpret interpretation but whatever may be the object agh act to be accomplished by the enlightenment lighten ment and education of the masses I 1 find no law which prohibits the formation of societies for such purposes the members of the society may seek to disseminate views and principles which I 1 in A the opinion of a great many citizens are wrong but they have a right to meet and discuss them publicly in a quiet and pea peaceable beable manner and make converts to their views if they are able to do so the question of the relations of capital capia and labor in its mixed mixed phases and many others like th the exclusive ownership of land or the single tax question are burning questions of the hour that have come to stay and must be met referring Ee ferring to the claim of the authorities ties that the purpose ur of the society is the same as caf that co of f spies et al ah judge tuley is of the opinion that there is a vital difference that the internationals declare for force and for an organization for the purpose of rebellion and for inexorable revolution and for association while in the constitution of this society there is nothing to indicate that their objects are to be accomplished by such measures in any contingency if it appeared that this society was such a one as the au supreme rem court describes them to E be it could have no standing in court men cannot appeal to t the h e Is law w for the purpose of overthrowing the law the men who appealed to the court denounced the principles of socialism and anarchism but it did not decide that either anarchists or socialists criminals the court held that anarchists who commit mit crime are am criminals but pronounced no judgment of outlawry against anarchists as a body judge tuley then takes up the claim on behalf of the police that they had a right to prevent the meeting and prevent crime and holds that the jhb police power cannot be given such latitude that therdo the police cannot at their discretion prevent what may in their judgment result in crime 1 I am astonished to find that in this day and in this free country continues the judge it should be urged by affidavits and arguments in a court of justice that a police official can forbid a society or a public meeting because of his belief that this society is a treasonable one and its members are about to commit treasonable acts if this be the law then every political literary reh religious or other society would ho hold d their constitutional right of free speech and liberty at the mercy of every petty policeman ce n in n no other 0 or city cit in the t a union except here in chicago I 1 0 have the police attempted to interfere with free speech or peaceable assemblies on such pre bences it is time to call a halt the right of free speech and peaceful assembly is the very lifeblood life lafe blood of freedom you might as well expect to exist Is after tafter your blood had been expended as to expect the continued existence of the liberty of a count rys citizens deprived of free speech and peaceful assembly and any abuse of free speech and peaceful assembly must be punished the police by arrest without warrant by such illegal acts as here complained of cause more disorder than they cure and create more crime than they prevent 1 in ponc conclusion lusion the chancellor says that tha inasmuch as the city authorities have undertaken to respect the law as laid down by him in this case he would not issue the ip injunction junction prayed for to him because it was not needed |