Hellraisers Journal: Fred D. Warren on “Seditious Libel” and the Free Press Fight at New Castle, Pennsylvania, Part II

Quote BBH, Win Workers to Revolution, ISR p1096, June 1910 ———-

Hellraisers Journal – Thursday July 7, 1910
New Castle, Pennsylvania – Socialist Rally Behind Free Press

From the International Socialist Review of July 1910:

The Free Press Fight at New Castle, Pa.

By FRED D. WARREN
———-

[Part II of II.]

While the jury was deliberating and the judge and his friends scheming to overthrow the right of free press, there was something of importance transpiring in another quarter of the trust-ridden town.

From the surrounding cities came Socialists and their friends by the thousand. Every incoming railroad train was crowded. A special of nine coaches was required to bring the delegation from Pittsburg. The inter-urban service was taxed to its utmost capacity by the Socialists from nearby cities. The visitors were met by the local committee on arrangements and the line of march was through the principal streets to County Head quarters, located in the very heart of the city. It was an inspiring revolutionary spectacle and one that New Castle will not soon forget. Comrade John W. Slayton, nominated for Governor the day before, was called for and from the window overlooking the street spoke for a few minutes. When Slayton’s tall form and kindly features appeared there arose a lusty cheer that resounded from hill to hill and caused smug New Castle to pause and inquire into the cause of this sudden outburst of enthusiasm.

In the afternoon, in Cascade Park, fully 15,000 persons had gathered to hear the speakers. The mounted police were on hand promptly and refused to allow the speaking to take place as arranged. The park was a private one, it was explained, owned by the street car company. Comrade Ries, of Ohio, who is always on the job, rented an apple orchard a few hundred yards distant from the park entrance. Perhaps one-third of the immense throng, (it being impossible in the confusion to get word to all) marched to the new location where the program was continued. The mounted police were on hand, but our rent receipt for the use of the orchard, forced them to respect our “property rights.” The meeting had dispersed before the blue laws of Pennsylvania against a Sunday political meeting, could be invoked.

An interesting sequel to the day’s proceedings was the march to New Castle, two miles distant. The procession, with flying banners and ﬂuttering red badges, reached almost from the park entrance to the center of the city. New Castle’s residents, enjoying the afternoon’s quiet, saw a body of men and women ten times as large as the army that followed the flag of revolution at Bunker Hill.

The following little incident will illustrate New Castle sentiment: Two neatly dressed boys—perhaps eight and ten years of age stopped me on the street. One of them asked, “Who won?” I replied that I had not yet heard the jury’s verdict. “Well,” as he turned away, “I hope the Socialists will win”. And that is the New Castle sentiment!

———-

[Emphasis added.]