National Civil Liberties Bureau
New York
April 3, 1918.
My dear Miss Addams,
No War-time case involving the liberty of the Press is of such nation-wide significance as that of the "Masses", whose editors have been indicted under the Espionage Act for criminal obstruction of the military service. Their crime consisted in publishing their magazine and telling the truth as they saw it.
Mr. Eastman's enclosed letter to us states the case clearly and simply. The "Masses" was first wrecked through the autocratic tyranny of the post office department, and after the publication was destroyed without any real chance for relief in the courts, its editors were criminally prosecuted, -- Max Eastman, editor, Merrill Rogers, business manager, Floyd Dell, managing editor, Art Young, cartoonist, H. J. Glintenkamp, artist, Josephine Bell and John Reed, writers.
There is no charge that any citizen has violated the law because of what the Masses printed. No actual obstruction of the military service is even alleged. The sole offense of the editors is the expression of their opinion.
Because the "Masses" case is of such far-reaching import, we have undertaken to act as custodian of their defense fund, and to assist in raising that fund. The financial resources of all these [defendants] have already been exhausted in their fight for a free press.
We are addressing a few of the known friends of liberal and radical thought in America to ask generous support in making up the fund to carry the case through the approaching trial in the district court. This trial constitutes the record on which an appeal may be taken to the United States Supreme Court. It is likely to be the test-case of a free press in America.
Without funds a fair trial of the Masses editors is impossible. To us who have never been denied justice, it is difficult to appreciate what the denial means to others in America today.
What will you contribute?
Sincerely yours,
L. Hollingsworth Wood
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