To the Editor of the Crimson:

Readers of the Crimson have doubtless heard about the sedition and conspiracy trial of CIO local 544 of the Motor Transport and Allied Workers Union in Minneapolis. Because this is a trial for conspiracy, because it reminds one very forcibly of unpleasant labor trials in the last war, and because of the confusing welter of sensational press comment, the Liberal Union wishes to draw attention to the elementary facts of the case.

One section of the indictment is based upon Section 6, Chapter 18 of the United States code, making seditious conspiracy a felony. It was written in 1861 for the purpose of suppressing the rebellion of the South. The other part is based on the recently passed Smith Act which makes it illegal to express an opinion concerning the propriety of overthrowing the United States Government.

The prosecution has found countless tons of Trotskyite literature mouldering in the union headquarters, which literature was seized in a surprise raid by the FBI. The evidence of conspiracy is that the union instituted target practice some three years ago when the Silver Shirts were threatening to raid them. This was done, not secretly, but very publicly, so as to warn off the fascists. If the target practice had been known for three years, the presence of Trotskyite literature has been known for a decade.

But only now has the government decided to act, and the obvious reasons are (1) that local 514 is anti-war and (2) that it has recently left a pro-war AFI, union for the CIO. This case is clearly one involving basic civil liberties, and could be come a precedent for the smashing of all trade unions which do not foe the mark. Executive Committee.   Harvard Liberal Union.