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Tipu ge ity _~GYGNERS OF THE PETITION FOR AMNESTY ae . FOR SMITH ACT VICTIMS HTIATING GROUP “HN G, BENNETT Dean, Union Theological Seminary Faculty OY FINCH Faculty, Sarah Lawrence College ALO HARRINGTON Minister, Community Church HARLES R. LAWRENCE New Yoru City Bronxyitle, N, ¥. New York City Faculty, Brooklyn College Brooklyn, W. ¥. Ewis MUMFORD Author Amenia, M. ¥. J, MUSTE Secretary Emeritus, Fellowship of Reconcliiiatior. SuL E. SCHERER Professet of Homiletics, Union Theological Seminary ORMAN THOMAS “DWLAND WATTS Secretary, Workers Defense League ADDITIONAL SIGNEAS SJLAND H. BAINTON Yala Owinity School STAVE J. BASCHOF Profassot. Department of ME, City Coltege of New York STEPHEN G. CARY Secretary, American Section Americal Foends Service Committes tENRY STEELE COMMAGER Columbia University bial SPRAGUE COGLIDGE tectures on Chemisicy carvatd University Cambridge, Mass. HENRY H CRANE Mew Yorn City New York City New York City New York City Hew Haven, Conn. New York City Philadelphia, Pa. New York City Minister, Centrai Methodist Church Datroit, Mich. wd. FAULKNER Pastor, Corgregational Church of Park Macor Chicago, Ill @ICHARO B. GREGG Aythor Jamaica, ¥t. OTGRGIA HARKNESS Froteasc'. Ags ot Thecisgy, Pacifir Schoo; of Relig-or «aL FRED MASSLEP Eotre Feliowahip BEV GGHA MM KRUMM Chagiain, Coumoia University #LNT LAR ROete Secretaty, hee Yorn Regicn, Téencash pol hecettat.on LO LEHMANSS sar, Apphed Chretianity, Punceton Theoice.cal Seminaty th LENE Matagper. AFL Union in Chicago HENRY LOFQUISS ; Secretary, Scuts Presbyterian Feact Feilowship PAUL @ MACY Secretary (regeonal), Feitowshie of Reconciliation ALLEN O. MILLER Piofessor of Theolcgy. Eden Seminaty POUL S. MINEAR Faculty, Andower-Newtan Trectug tal Schuol JFRAOME MATHANSON leacer Socvety tor Ethica! Curture PATTL L PERKISON Orgvte 2! Lomemund ty Serece, Broacady Congregational Chutch JOHN AENRY RANDALL, IR Te basen of Fronganhs Covumbia University ELMER WITT Playorighs and producer '4PS. CLEANOR ROOSEVELT CONSTANCE H. RUMBOUGH | Teaches, Heenday Religious F.dur ston Penge am Berkeley, Calif. New York City New Tork City New York City Princeton, N. J. Chicago, ili. Bessemer, Ala. Chicago Webster Groves, Mo. Newton Centre, Mags. New York City New York City New York City Mew York City Hyde Park, N.Y. Harrisonburg, Va. CULBEAT & @UTENBER Frotessor, Eastern Baptist Theoiogical Seminary JOHN NEVIN SAYRE Co-Treasurer Internateonal Felicw smc of Reconciliation fake tC Sri Morineastern Secretary, Democtacy Untineted Eitity FSRKER SIMON Executwe Director. Gaitimore Peace Section Baltimore, Md. Philadelphia, Fa. New York City Metroce, Mass. we To the Presia—n. of the United States On Amnesty for Smith Act Wictims and Postponement of Trials Dear Mr. President: We respecifully urge you to grant an amnesty commuting the sentences of sixtecn men and women now in prison under the Smith Act (Alien Registration Ac 1940) to time already served. and t use your influence to secure the postponemen trials in the 180 cases presently awaiting Trial Court cr Appeais Court decisions ur the Act. Those who present this petition are in fundamental disagreement with the philosc of the Communist Party and with essential elements in its program and are motiv. in their present action by their attachment to the democratic way of life and the de to maintain and strengthen it. We call attention to Supreme Court Justice Black's description of the chara of the Smith Act and the trial of Communist Party Jeaders under it in his dissen opinion when appeal from the convictions under it was before the Supreme Court: “at the outset | want to emphasize what the crime involved in this case is and \ itis not. These petitioners are not charged with an attempt to overthrow the govern They were not charged with non-verbal acts of any kind designed to overthrow the ernment. They were not even charged with saying or writing anything designec overthrow the government. “The charge was that they agreed to assembie and talk and publish certain idea a later dale... “,., The indictment is that they conspired to organize the Communist Party and to speech Of newspapers and other publications in the fulure to teach and advocate forcible overthrow of the government.” Recently the Supreme Court itself. by agreeing to review the California Smith prosecutions, has recognized the appropriateness of u “second fouk”™ at ihe act. Among the sixteen for whom we are requesling a Christmas ammesty are eld and ili persons. The indictments and convictions im these cases were carried through period of the “cold war” and ia an atmosphere often marked by hysteria. Fortunately recent months conditions have changed ter the better and there is a noticeable tren: reaffirm the basic democratic traditicns of wur country. It is our conviction that your aquiescence in our request would Serve to give tur impetus to this healthy trend, would give proof of our confidence in democratic ins! tions, would encourage and inspire our friends throughout the world and win friends. Thus, we believe, it would also contribute toward peace in the world about wt you are so deeply concerned and would be in line with the policy you set forth thro Secretary of State Dulies on Nov. 18, 1955: “TD know that no setback, no obstacle to progress will ever deter this Government our people from the great effort to establish a just and durable peace.” e , A. J. MustTe 2! Audubon Ave New York 32, Guones of other signers appear in column at Segnets ace acling ox Wedivedaaly, inlormaUee shout Welt paseciations is for porpers of siaeliiication. ARTHUR OL. SWIFT Professor, Union Theclogical Seminary JOHN M_ SWOMLEY, JR. Secretary, Fellowship of Reconcisation New York City LOREN WALTERS Staff, Evangelical and Reformed Church Meadquartert ROBERT F. WEISKOTTEN Minister, St, John's Lutheran Church WORMAN J. WHITNEY Syracuse University HERMAN WILL, JR. Vice-Chairman, Fetlowship New York Cily Philadelphia, Pa. Richmond Hill, N.Y. Syracuse, N.Y. of Reconciliation Lombard, tl. CHARLES W. FORMAN Facuity, Yale University New Haven, Conn. WALTER MITCHELL Bishop of Arizons (Retired) Protestant Epiecopel Church = Rancho Santa Fe, Calif. ROBERT H. MAMILL Morester, Ollawa St Methodist Church LATE SIGNERS Joliet, Lil. ALAN BAARTH Author Washington, D.C. GRANVILLE HICKS Writer Grafton, N.Y. 6. F. McLAURIN * Brotherhood of Pullman Porters Mew York City WALTER M. MUELGER Dean. Boston Univ. School of Thealogy Boston, Mass. JOHN OLIVER NELSON Faculty of Divinity School, Yale Univ. ANNALEE STEWART Women’s Intl. League for Peace and Freedom MICHAEL STRAIGHT Publisher, The New Republic few Maven, Conn. Washington, 0. C. Mew York City prcLosuBe /90-/6900-9YS —