Upton Sinclair to US Federal Attorney
Title
Upton Sinclair to US Federal Attorney
Creator
Sinclair, Upton, 1878-1968
Identifier
WWP25038
Date
1918 May 31
Description
Upton Sinclair writes to Attorney General to argue against the retrial of the editors of "The Masses." Includes a letter on the topic to him from President Wilson.
Source
Library of Congress, Woodrow Wilson Papers
Publisher
Woodrow Wilson Presidential Library & Museum
Subject
Socialism--United States--Periodicals
Lawyers--United States
Wilson, Woodrow, 1856-1924
Contributor
Morgan Willer
Relation
WWI1018, WWI1018B
Language
English
Provenance
Document scan was taken from Library of Congress microfilm reel of the Wilson Papers. WWPL volunteers transcribed the text.
Text
United States Federal Attorney,
New York City
Dear Sir:
I venture to address you upon the subject of certain cases now pending against Socialist editors. I have just read that the case against the editors of the “Masses” resulted in a hung jury, and that the case is to be re-tried. I don’t know if you happen to know, but I am one of those American Socialists who resigned from the party at the outbreak of war as a protest against the attitude of the party toward the war. I have since been giving my support to the administration in every way in my power, and I have received acknowledgments from President Wilson and from many members of his administration for what I have done.
Doubtless you have the files of the “Masses”, and know that I contributed several articles in opposition to their course on the war; if you have been over the files of their letters, you know that I wrote them personal letters pleading with them. Therefore you ought to appreciate the fact that I am a disinterested witness in this matter. I happen to know the editors personally, and I know that there never has been a shadow of German influence in their stand. They are sincere humanitarians, working for a higher social order to which they look forward in the future. They have been bitter opponents of all war, and naturally it was hard for them to change their attitude when this emergency arose. I know how hard it was from my own case. It took them a longer time to change, but my point is they have changed at last, and I respectfully urge upon you the fact that in the “Liberator” they are now helping the administration to hold in line those embittered elements throughout the country which it is going to be very difficult to hold in line as the strain of the war continues and as fake German peace offers come to the front.
I wish to urge upon you the consideration that these men will be of use to the administration out of jail, while sending them to jail would put an end to their work and would still further embitter those whom they may influence. I believe it is the general rule that a hung jury affords a graceful opportunity to the prosecutor to affect a compromise. I don’t know if you have consulted the President about this matter, or what his attitude may be, but I know that last October I wrote to the President, urging that a more convincing and democratic way to meet the radical opposition would be to compel editors to give a certain amount of space to the government so that false statements and arguments might be answered. Max Eastman was one of those who wired me that he would be perfectly willing to accept this plan, and Secretary Tumulty wrote me the following letter, which he afterwards gave out for publication in the New York “Times.”
THE WHITE HOUSE
Washington
My dear Mr. Sinclair:
The President asks me to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of Oct. 22d, and to tell you how much he appreciates its frankness and sincerity, and also your generous personal kindness. He feels convinced that as case follows case in dealings of the Post Office Department with this matter, your impression will be very much altered as to the way in which they are handled. He certainly sympathizes with your own principles in this delicate business as stated in your letter.
The President requests to add that your suggestion interests him very much and that he will certainly consider the feasibility of acting upon it.
Sincerely yours,
J.P. Tumulty,
Secretary to the President
The other person about whom I wish to write is Dr. Wm. J. Robinson, also under indictment. Everything I have said about the “Masses” editors applies to Dr. Robinson, whom I know very well, and with whom I have had correspondence about the war. He has made as full and complete a retraction as a man can possibly make. It has been published in the New Appeal of Girard, Kansas, which has the largest circulation of any Socialist publication in the world. I personally have found Dr. Robinson’s statements one of the best documents for use with pacifists and conscientious objectors, of whom I naturally know a great many.
Making War in Europe is a new phenomenon to Americans, and it was not easy for Americans to make up their minds to it. I should think that the government could afford to show consideration to men of undoubted integrity of character and sincere idealism when they finally see the light, and endeavor to undo the effect of their former opposition. In conclusion let me say in case you have any doubt concerning my attitude toward the war, I enclose a short extract from the May number of my magazine, “Upton Sinclair’s.”
Very truly yours,
Upton Sinclair
New York City
Dear Sir:
I venture to address you upon the subject of certain cases now pending against Socialist editors. I have just read that the case against the editors of the “Masses” resulted in a hung jury, and that the case is to be re-tried. I don’t know if you happen to know, but I am one of those American Socialists who resigned from the party at the outbreak of war as a protest against the attitude of the party toward the war. I have since been giving my support to the administration in every way in my power, and I have received acknowledgments from President Wilson and from many members of his administration for what I have done.
Doubtless you have the files of the “Masses”, and know that I contributed several articles in opposition to their course on the war; if you have been over the files of their letters, you know that I wrote them personal letters pleading with them. Therefore you ought to appreciate the fact that I am a disinterested witness in this matter. I happen to know the editors personally, and I know that there never has been a shadow of German influence in their stand. They are sincere humanitarians, working for a higher social order to which they look forward in the future. They have been bitter opponents of all war, and naturally it was hard for them to change their attitude when this emergency arose. I know how hard it was from my own case. It took them a longer time to change, but my point is they have changed at last, and I respectfully urge upon you the fact that in the “Liberator” they are now helping the administration to hold in line those embittered elements throughout the country which it is going to be very difficult to hold in line as the strain of the war continues and as fake German peace offers come to the front.
I wish to urge upon you the consideration that these men will be of use to the administration out of jail, while sending them to jail would put an end to their work and would still further embitter those whom they may influence. I believe it is the general rule that a hung jury affords a graceful opportunity to the prosecutor to affect a compromise. I don’t know if you have consulted the President about this matter, or what his attitude may be, but I know that last October I wrote to the President, urging that a more convincing and democratic way to meet the radical opposition would be to compel editors to give a certain amount of space to the government so that false statements and arguments might be answered. Max Eastman was one of those who wired me that he would be perfectly willing to accept this plan, and Secretary Tumulty wrote me the following letter, which he afterwards gave out for publication in the New York “Times.”
THE WHITE HOUSE
Washington
My dear Mr. Sinclair:
The President asks me to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of Oct. 22d, and to tell you how much he appreciates its frankness and sincerity, and also your generous personal kindness. He feels convinced that as case follows case in dealings of the Post Office Department with this matter, your impression will be very much altered as to the way in which they are handled. He certainly sympathizes with your own principles in this delicate business as stated in your letter.
The President requests to add that your suggestion interests him very much and that he will certainly consider the feasibility of acting upon it.
Sincerely yours,
J.P. Tumulty,
Secretary to the President
The other person about whom I wish to write is Dr. Wm. J. Robinson, also under indictment. Everything I have said about the “Masses” editors applies to Dr. Robinson, whom I know very well, and with whom I have had correspondence about the war. He has made as full and complete a retraction as a man can possibly make. It has been published in the New Appeal of Girard, Kansas, which has the largest circulation of any Socialist publication in the world. I personally have found Dr. Robinson’s statements one of the best documents for use with pacifists and conscientious objectors, of whom I naturally know a great many.
Making War in Europe is a new phenomenon to Americans, and it was not easy for Americans to make up their minds to it. I should think that the government could afford to show consideration to men of undoubted integrity of character and sincere idealism when they finally see the light, and endeavor to undo the effect of their former opposition. In conclusion let me say in case you have any doubt concerning my attitude toward the war, I enclose a short extract from the May number of my magazine, “Upton Sinclair’s.”
Very truly yours,
Upton Sinclair
Original Format
Letter
To
Coffey, Francis J.
Files
Collection
Citation
Sinclair, Upton, 1878-1968, “Upton Sinclair to US Federal Attorney,” 1918 May 31, WWP25038, World War I Letters, Woodrow Wilson Presidential Library & Museum, Staunton, Virginia.