of the anarchist movement, however, was not great in the past, nor does it now play any important part in the revolutionary or seditious movement in this country. Its practical influence upon the affairs of government is limited, being confined principally to political assassinations, such as the murder of King Humbert of Italy in 1900, and President McKinley at Buffalo in 1901, and as more recently illustrated, by the bomb outrages of May 1st and June 2d, last year.

In the United States the activities of the anarchists played no significant part in the development of the radical movement until the outbreak of the war. Their numbers were not great and were confined largely to the foreign elements of the workingclass, notably the Italians, Spanish and Russians.

The ideas of Proudhon, especially as regards mutual banking, have had a considerable following in the United States. The principal followers of his doctrine were Stephen P. Andrew, William Green and Lysander Spooner. A prominent position among the anarchists of the country was acquired by Benjamin R. Tucker of Boston, who started in 1881 a periodical called "Liberty", which advocated Proudhon's ideas in modified form. The anarchism of this American group, however, found little sympathy among the working-class, its devotees being limited to small numbers of so-called intellectuals. Such workingmen in our country as believe in anarchism were anarchist Communists, who rarely knew anything about the theoretical anarchism of the older groups. It is with this type of anarchy that this Com

Imittee has to deal.

Sporadic demonstrations have occurred, notably in the nineteenth century, through the agitation of Johann Most, a German anarchist, who came to America after his imprisonment in England, and established "The Freiheit," an anarchist periodical, in New York City.

The agitation of this period culminated in the Haymarket riots, when August Spies, et al., were tried and executed for murder.

CHAPTER II

Anarchist Communism*

The anarchism with which the American public is most familiar may be classified as anarchist Communism, which is defined in the March 15, 1919, issue of "Freedom" as follows:

"Anarchist Communism.— Voluntary economic co-operation of all towards the needs of each. A social arrangement based on the principle: To each according to his needs; from each according to his ability."

Most prominent among the leaders of this movement in America, so far as prolific propaganda is concerned, were Emma Goldman and Alexander Berkman, who were recently deported to Russia on the steamship "Buford." Their official organs were "Mother Earth" and "The Blast," respectively. The anarchists under the leadership of Goldman and Berkman, took an active part in the pacifist movement during the war, and immediately prior thereto, distributing a large amount of anti-draft and antimilitary literature, and organizing the No Conscription League, with offices at 20 East 125th street, New York City.

It is impossible to give any coherent or comprehensive statement of this movement in the United States, because it is carried on by isolated groups, clustering about individual leaders, in large measure carrying on their work clandestinely.

During the war many anonymous leaflets were distributed, signed "Anarchist," "Underground Press," etc.

On June 15, 1917, Emma Goldman and Alexander Berkman were arrested in the office of the No Conscription League, in the presence of several of their assistants, namely, M. Eleanor Fitzgerald, Carl Newlander, Walter Merchants and W. P. Bales. They were subsequently indicted for violation of the Espionage Act and later convicted.

With the imprisonment of the leaders of this movement the anarchists organized the League for Amnesty of Political Prisoners, with offices at 857 Broadway, New York City.

pose of the league is stated in its literature, and is:

The pur

(1) To educate the public to the fundamental distinction between political offenses and common crimes.

· See Addendum, Part I.

(2) To work for the recognition in the United States of the status of political offenders.

(3) To crystalize public sentiment regarding political prisoners through various activities.

(4) To obtain the immediate release of all political offenders. The secretary of the league at the time of its organization was M. Eleanor Fitzgerald. The finance committee consisted of Jessie Ashley, now deceased, and Leonard D. Abbott. The legal advisory board consisted of Isaac A. Hourwich, the head of the statistical department of the Russian Soviet Bureau under Ludwig C. A. K. Martens, Jessie Ashley, Theodore Schroeder, Harry Weinberger (counsel for Alexander Berkman and Emma Goldman), and Bolton Hall. The general committee consisted of Leonard D. Abbott, Lillian Brown-Olf, Dr. Frederick A. Blossom, Lucy Robins, Helen Keller, Elizabeth Freeman, Prince Hopkins, Margaret Sanger, Rose Baron, Robert Minor, Anna M. Sloan, Stella Comyn, Lincoln Steffens, Alexander Cohen, Roger N. Baldwin, and Rose Strunsky.

From the brief statement of the principles of anarchism which have been given here it will be seen that, although differing in many fundamental respects from Socialism and syndicalism, particularly with regard to the ultimate objective, there are sufficient points in common to make the followers of this group willing and able to co-operate with these other groups in the advancement of the radical movement. Of the many organizations of anarchist Communists one of the most interesting is the Ferrer Association, which is located at the Ferrer Colony, Stelton, N. J.

It was created as a memorial to the Spanish anarchist, Francesco Ferrer. It has branches in many parts of the country. Its chairman is Leonard B. Abbott. The New York branch has carried on a series of lectures at Pythian Hall, 1941 Madison avenue, New York City.

In executing search warrants on the headquarters of the Communist Party in the City of Utica at 704 Bleeker street, it was found that a branch of the association had its headquarters there. One of the trustees of the association and colony at Stelton, N. J., is Harry Kelly. He is also editor of a magazine known as "Freedom," published by the Freedom publishing group at New Brunswick, N. J., the associate editor being Leonard D. Abbott; the business manager, J. Isaacson. This paper was formerly published at 133 East 15th street, New York City, at the same

place where the Union of Russian Workers, another anarchist organization, which will be described later, had its headquarters. The Freedom group is closely identified with the Ferrer Colony. In the June issue, on page 1, we find the following interesting comments which bear upon the attitude of the anarchists toward the other groups representative of the revolutionary movements in this country, or their sympathizers. It says: "It may well be asked, 'Why another paper?' when the broadly libertarian and revolutionary movement is so ably represented by Socialist publications like 'Revolutionary Age,' 'Liberator,' 'Rebel Worker,' 'Workers World,' and many others, and the advanced liberal movement by 'The Dial,' 'Nation,' 'The World Tomorrow,' and to a lesser degree, 'The New Republic,' and 'Survey.' These publications are doing excellent work in their several ways, and with much of that work we find ourselves in hearty agreeThey are, however, either liberal in the best sense of the word, Bolshevik, or Socialist, and we are none of these, even if we look with a kindly eye on all of them. We are Anarchists, because we see in the State an enemy of liberty and human progress; and we are Communists, because we conceive Communism, as the most rational and just economic theory yet proposed. . . . As anarchists we seek the abolition of the State or organized government, and would substitute for it a society founded upon the principles of voluntary association and free Communism. The Left Wing Socialists now advocate the same thing. So our differences are merely in the tactics pursued."

ment.

The method of attack upon the government is to all intents and purposes the same as that commonly agreed upon by the various groups of radicals which have come under the observation and investigation of this Committee:

"Industrial unionism, with the shop as the unit of control, backed by a revolutionary proletariat, is the method of attack we advocate. We are not particular if these shop committees are called Shop Stewards, Soviets or Syndicates; the all-important thing is that industry be controlled at the point of production by the workers in groups that shall be self-governing, for without this, emancipation from wage slavery is impossible."

As a further illustration of the attitude of this association, we quote from a cablegram intercepted on March 2, 1918, addressed to Leon Trotzky, Smolny Institute, Petrograd, from Leonard

Abbott, for Ferrer Association: "Ferrer Association is with you. to the death. Are forming Red Guards to help you defend the

Revolution."

Another cablegram addressed to Lenin and Trotzky, Council of People's Commissars, Smolny Institute, Petrograd, from Rose Baron, one of the members of the general committee of the League for Amnesty of Political Prisoners above referred to, but in this instance representing the International social revolutionary group of 319 Second avenue, New York City, sent on the same date as above, is as follows: "You have our wholehearted faith and support. Ready to organize and send you international revolutionary army from America."

On the same date another cable was sent to William Shatoff, Smolny Institute, Petrograd, by M. Eleanor Fitzgerald, "Mother Earth group with our lives and our last cent are with you in your fight."

The relations of Lincoln Steffens to this group make it proper to refer to the following cablegram, which was sent on the fourth of March to Lenin and Trotzky, Smolny Institute, Petrograd, signed by Louise Bryant and Lincoln Steffens: "Important you designate unofficial representative here who can survey situation, weigh facts and cable conclusions you might accept and act upon. Will undertake secure means of communication between such man and yourself.”

It is interesting to recall at this point that Mr. Lincoln Steffens accompanied Mr. Bullitt on his official mission to Russia.

A cablegram was also sent to William Shatoff, Revolutionary Committee, Smolny Institute, Petrograd, by Leonard Abbott, for Ferrer Association, on February 28, 1918, which read as follows: "Ferrer Association is with you to the death. Will send recruits for the Red Guard."

It is this group which carries on a school for children at Stelton, N. J., under the management of William Thurston Brown, a Yale graduate, and formerly a Unitarian minister. The purpose of the school was made clear by Leonard Abbott in his testimony at the trial of Emma Goldman and Alexander Berkman, above referred to. In answer to the question put by the court, Mr. Abbott said: "Q. Are the Ferrer children taught to disobey the laws of the country? A. It teaches them to criticize all laws and prepare themselves for a free society. Q. When you speak of criticizing laws, do you include the laws of this Government? A. Yes, sir."