Morris U. Schappes has passed 11 months of an 18- to 24-month sentence arising from the 1940 Rapp-Coudert investigation of subversive activity in the New York City schools. Morris Schappes told the committee he had been a Communist. They demanded the names of all the Communists at City College. Morris Schappes named three others, who, with himself, were known as Communists. He said he knew no others. The committee said there were over 40, not 4, as Morris Schappes testified. They called Morris Schappes a perjuror. He was convicted. This was the crime! Even the most exacting will concede that Morris Schappes, whom even his enemies never accused of harming or even desiring to harm a single human being, has suffered enough. We are engaged in a war against the barbarian who would impose the philosophy that an individual life is cheap. We are affirming in terrible battle that a single life is precious. We say further, Mr. Governor, that 2 years of a good man's life are precious and not to be taken away lightly. The last years of agony have taught us that the conscience must never sleep. What is done to the least of us is the concern of all. That is why we cannot in good conscience fail to raise our voice against this injustice in our midst. That is why we appeal to you, Mr. Governor. To you and you alone American justice provides power above and beyond the Courts the power of the chief executive to pardon. We ask you to use this power to pardon Morris U. Schappes. The deed would find favor in the eyes of the people, who love justice. Prof. Thomas Addis, Stanford Univ. Prof. Frank Baker, Pres. State Teach- Prof. Fred A. Barnes, Cornell Univ., Prof. Marion Bauer, New York Univ. Prof. Jos. W. Beach, Dept. of English, Rabbi Solomon Bersel, Philadelphia, Prof. Dorothy Bethurum, Connecticut Rev. Dr. Kalil A. Bishars, Syrian Rabbi Maurice J. Bloom, Temple Beth Prof. Bart Bok, Harvard Univ., Cam- Rev. Lester L. Boobar, Bangor, Maine. Union Theological Seminary, New Prof. Edw. S. Boyer, Religion & So- Prof. Joseph Bressler, Brooklyn Col- Prof. J. P. Brets, Cornell Univ., Ithaca, James L. Brewer, Attorney, Rochester, Prof. Dorothy Brewster, Columbia Rev. Edward H. Brewster, Nannet, Rev. Archie B. Bedford, Syracuse, N. Prof. Edgar S. Brightman, Theological Y. Bishop W. Y. Bell, Halsey Institute. Dr. W. A. J. Bellrock, Pres. N. A. A. School, Boston, Mass. Louis Bromfield, writer. Rev. Oliver Hart Bronson, D. D., Summerland, Calif. Father Benedict, Church of the Cruci- Prof. Chas. F. Brooks, Blue Hill Obfix, New York City. Milly Brandt, Legislative Chairman, Prof. Raymond T. Birge, Chairman, servatory, Harvard University, Cam- Dr. Charlotte Hawkins Brown, Pres. Van Wyck Brooks, writer. Rev. Robert Evans Browning, Vicar Henrietta Buckmaster, writer. Edwin T. Buchrer, Editor, Journal of Liberal Religion. Benjamin J. Davis Jr., Councilman, N. Y. C. John W. Davis, Dean of Wesleyan Univ. Prof. Henry M. Burbage, Univ. of North Rev. John Warren Day, Dean of Grace Carolina, Chapel Hill, N. C. Cathedral, Topeka, Kansas. E. A. Burdick, Dean of Students, Conn. Rev. John De Benedetto, Baltimore, Md. Rev. Bates G. Burt, Rector, Pontiac, Senator Chas. C. Digges, Detroit, Mich. Prof. John L. Buys, St. Lawrence Univ., Theodore Dreiser, writer. Witter, Bynner, poet. Rev. Fred L. Cairns, Needham, Mass. Rev. Raymond Calkins, Minister Emeritus, Cambridge, Mass. Prof. Alexander E. Canes, Mass. State College, Amherst, Mass. Prof. Nathaniel Canter, Univ. of Buffalo. Rev. Francis C. Capossi, Wind Gap, Pa. Edith F. Claflin, Columbia University. E. N. Comfort, Dean of Oklahoma School of Religion. Rev. Kieth Connins, Detroit, Mich. Rabbi Jonah E. Caplan, Cong. Beth El, Long Island. Rev. J. Russell Carpenter, Lyons, N. Y. Rev. Ruthven S. Chalmers, Boonville, N. Y. Alvin B. Christman, State Director, Penn. Farmers Union, Philadelphia, Pa. Rev. Merrill F. Clarks, New Canaan, Conn. Rabbi Henry Cohen, Galveston, Texas. Chas. H. Collins, Exec. Secy., Negro Labor Victory Com. Aaron Copland, composer. Rev. Arthur Dumper, Dean of Trinity Will Durant, writer. Rev. J. Earl Edwards, Queens Village, Prof. Ruth Emerson, Dept. Medical Social Work, Director Social Service Dept., Univ. of Chicago. O. E. Enfield, County Attorney, Ellen Henry Epstein (former), Solicitor- Jane Evans, Nat'l Fed. of Templehood Rev. Judson E. Fiebiger, Utica, N. Y. Rev. Arthur W. Farnum, St. Mary's Parish, Asheville, N. C. Prof. Henry P. Fairchild, New York University. Dorothy Canfield Fisher, writer. Prof. Fred A. Courts, Univ. of Missouri. Mrs. Mitchell Follansbee, League of Pascal Coviei, publisher. Prof. Philip W. L. Cox, N. Y. Univ. Rev. Chas. E. Crak Jr., Pastor. Emmanuel Episcopal Church, Louisville, Ky. Rev. Frank B. Crandall, Salem, Mass. Abraham Cronbach, Hebrew Union College, Cincinnati, Ohio. Prof. Ephraim Cross, College of City of Margaret Cross, Director, Georgetown Joseph Curran, Pres. Nat'l Maritime Union, C. I. O., N. Y. Greater Industrial Union Council. W. C. Dabney, Editor, Cincinnati Union, Cinn., Ohio. Prof. George Dahl, Prof, of Old Testament, Yale Divinity School, New Haven. Thelma M. Dale, Pres. Nat'l Negro Congress. Henry W. Longfellow Dana, writer. Prof. Margaret Darkow, Hunter College. Women Voters, Evanston, Ill. Prof. Frances A. Foster, Vasser College, Poughkeepsie, N. Y. Waldo Frank, writer. Elizabeth P. Frasier, Religious Educator, Protestant Episcopal Church, Phila., Pa. Rev. Stephen V. Fritchman, Boston, Mass. Rev. J. Shubert Frye, Syracuse, N. Y. Prof. Wendell Furry, Harvard Univ. Rev. Lee Alvin Gates, Pastor, South Presbyterian Church, Buffalo, N. Y. Eustace Gay, Editor, "Philadelphia Tribune." Rev. Palfrey Perkins, Kings Chapel, Boston, Mass. Wm. I. Gibson, Managing Editor, AfroAmerican Newspapers. Rev. Carlyle Glams, Editor, The Presbyterian Tribune, Utica, N. Y. Leonard E. Golditch, Attorney, Chairman. Nat'l Council to Combat AntiSemitism. Sol Goldman (Del. to Amer. Jewish Con- Prof. Erwin B. Goodenough, Dept. His- Rabi Robt. Gordis, Rockaway Pk., L. I. Dr. David Graubart, North Park Congregation, Shaare Tikvoh, Chicago, Ill. Rev. Chas. S. Gray, Stamford, Conn. Prof. Rowland Gray Smith, Prof, of Philosophy, Emerson College, Mass. Rabbi Louis Greenberg, New Haven, Conn. Rabbi Simon Greenberg, Phila., Pa. Rev. Stanley Gutellus, Rochester, N. Y. Rabbi Sidney S. Guthman, Chelsea, Mass. Rev. Herman J. Hahn, Buffalo, N. Y. Rabbi Harry Halpern, B'klyn, N. Y. Mrs. Anton S. Harrington, Farmers Rev. Edler G. Hawkins, N. Y. C. Ben Hecht, writer. Hulan E. Jack, New York State Assemblyman. Sam Jaffee, actor. David D. Jones, Pres. Binnell College, Greensboro, N. C. Matthew Josephson, writer. Rabbi Mordecai M. Kaplan, Society for the Advancement of Judaism. Prof. Raymond Kennedy, Dept. of Sociology, Yale University. Rockwell, Kent, artist. Judge Dorothy Kenyon, New York. Freda Kirchway, Editor, "The Nation". Rev. Stephen L. Kiser, Richmond Hill, N. Y. Harold V. Knight, Editor, North Dakota Union Farmer. Rev. Carl Knudson, Plymouth, Mass. Rev. C. Franklin Koch, New York City. Prof. Michael Kraus, College of City of N. Y. Rev. Alfred M. Lambert, St. Monica's Rev. John Howland Lathrop, Church of John Howard Lawson, screen writer, Canada Lee, actor. Prof. Paul Lehman, Bibical History, Wellesley College, Wellesley, Mass. Ray Lev, pianist. Prof. Norman Levinson, Mass. Inst. of Technology. Rabbi Israel Herbert Levinthal, D. D.; D. H. L., B'klyn Jewish Center. Rabbi Benj. A. Lichter, Cong. B'nai Israel, Pittsburgh, Pa. Louis Lipsky, Amer. Jewish Conference & Del. to Amer. Jewish Congress. Rabbi Emmanuel Lederman, Denver, Colorado. Frank Marshall Louis, Assoc. Negro Rev. Moses B. Lovell, B'klyn, N. Y. Rev. Clifford W. Hilliker, Middletown, Harry L. Lurie, Former Dir. Council N. Y. Mary E. Holland, Exec. Secy. Children's Aid, Denver, Colo. Dr. Eugene C. Holms, Howard Univ. Rev. Kenneth E. Hoover, Hobart, N. Y. Prof. Harold Hotelling, Columbia Univ., N. Y. C. Charles H. Houston, Attorney, Washington, D. C. Daniel Howard, Supt. of Schools, Emeritus, Windsor, Conn. Rev. Lee A. Howe, Jr., Oneida, N. Y. Rev. Duncan Howlett, New Bedford, Mass. Langston Hughes, writer, poet. Mattie Hunter, Nat'l Council of Negro Women. Joseph Hyman, Jewish Federation, Indianapolis, Ind. Jewish Fed. & Welfare Funds, New Florence H. Lascomb, Civil Liberties Rev. Dr. John A. McCallum, Philadelphia, Pa. Bishop Francis J. McConnell, Lucasville, Ohio. James H. McGill, McGill Mfg. Co., Valparaiso, Ind. Rev. Chas. F. MacLennan, Cleveland, Ohio. John T. McManus, Movie Critic, New York City. Rev. Walter Henry MacPherson, S. T. A., Past Pres. of the Universalist Church of America. Prof. W. H. Mainwaring, Emeritus, Stanford Univ., Calif. Rabbi Jerome Malino, Danbury, Conn. George Marshall, Nat'l. Fed. of Consti- George Matis, Farmers Union, St. Johns- Prof. F. O. Matthieson, Harvard Univ. Rev. Harry C. Mesine, Buffalo, N. Y. Julian Morgenstern, President, Hebrew Prof. H. Nethercot, Northwestern Univ. Rev. Chas. C. Noble, Syracuse, N. Y. Rev. Delos O'Brien, Wilmington, Dela ware. Judge Patric H. O'Brien, Detroit, Mich. H. A. Overstreet, Prof. Emeritus, C. C. Ruth H. Page, Stowe College Alumni, St. Rev. George L. Paine, Cambridge, Mass. ington Pension Union, Seattle, Wash. Elizabeth L. Porter, Case Supervisor, Dr. Henry B. Robins, Colgate-Rochester Divinity School, Rochester, N. Y. phy, Cornell Univ., Ithica, N. Y. Rabbi Max Shapiro, Miama, Fla. Dr. Guy Emery Shipler, Editor, The Prof. George H. Shull, Princeton, Univ., Eva Smill, Exec. Secy., Family Service Mason Smith, Editor, "The Interracial Rev. F. Hastings Smyth, Superior, The Society of the Catholic Common- Mrs. Samuel Spiegel, Nat'l Women's J. Stanley Stevens, Chaplain, U. S. N. Donald Ogden Stewart, writer, Holly- Prof. Dirk J. Struik, Mass. Inst. of Rev. Harold C. Swezy, Church of Holy Prof. Jessie M. Tatlock, Mt. Holyoke, Prof. Alva Taylor, Secy., Southern Conf. ice, Presbyterian Hospital, N. Y. C. Rev. Joseph H. Titus, Jamaica, N. Y. Rep. Nicholas Tomassetti, Rep. from New Britain to Conn. General Assembly. Rev. Edwin McNeill Poteal, Rochester, Judge Edward V. Totten. Dr. Adam Clayton Powell, Jr., Editor nee. Rev. Irving E. Putnam, Association of Michael J. Quill, N. Y. C. Councilman, Prof. Walter Rautenstrauch, Columbia Rev. Daniel Lyman Didont, Phila., Pa. Paul Robeson, actor, singer. Rabbia Joshua Trachtenberg. Mark Van Doren,, writer. Prof. Harry F. Ward, Union Theolo- M. Moran Weston, Chairman, N. Y. Prof. F. W. Weymouth, Stanford Univ. Prof. George F. Whicher, Amherst College. Rev. John C. White, Bishop of Spring- Doxy Wilkerson, Exec. Editor "Peoples Robt. Wilkerson, Exec. Secy., Negro Dr. Abraham Wolfson, Pres., Jewish Prof. Henry N. Wrieman, Prof. of Phi- linois. Rabbi S. M. Zampowsky, Cleveland, Rabbi Samuel Wohl, Cincinnati, Ohio. Wm. Zorach, sculptor. Organizations listed for identification purposes. 500 names unlisted for reasons of space. EXHIBIT No. 7 [Daily Worker, February 10, 1938] LEADING CITIZENS LAUD ISAACS' STAND ON GERSON Condemning the "witch-hunting campaign" organized against Borough President Stanley M. Isaacs for his appointment of S. W. Gerson, former Daily Worker reporter as an assistant on his staff, 47 prominent citizens last night signed a letter to the Borough President supporting him in his determination to appoint competent persons to office. The letter, released for publication by Tom Cassidy, vice president of the American Newspaper Guild and Daily News staff writer, carries the names of outstanding liberals, trade-unionists, educators, and clergymen. The text of the letter and names of the signers follow: Dear Mr. Isaacs: We, the undersigned, citizens of different shades of opinion, emphatically condemn the witch-hunting campaign organized against you for the appointment of Simon W. Gerson to your staff. We look upon the current inspired agitation against you-which bears the earmarks of some of the propaganda so discredited and overwhelmingly repudiated in the last election-as a threat to the whole merit system in public service. It is the first step which leads to the institution of political qualifications within the entire city service. If the present agitation is successful, the next logical step is the institution of a system of political discrimination within the Civil Service system. How far is that from the malodorous method of choosing public servants from political clubhouse backrooms? |