Main Content
×

Error message

  • Notice: Undefined index: node in eval() (line 128 of modules/php/php.module(80) : eval()'d code).
  • Notice: Undefined index: node in eval() (line 129 of modules/php/php.module(80) : eval()'d code).
  • Notice: Undefined index: node in eval() (line 130 of modules/php/php.module(80) : eval()'d code).
  • Notice: Undefined index: node in eval() (line 130 of modules/php/php.module(80) : eval()'d code).
  • Notice: Undefined index: node in eval() (line 131 of modules/php/php.module(80) : eval()'d code).
  • Notice: Undefined index: node in eval() (line 131 of modules/php/php.module(80) : eval()'d code).
  • Notice: Undefined index: node in eval() (line 133 of modules/php/php.module(80) : eval()'d code).
  • Notice: Undefined index: node in eval() (line 142 of modules/php/php.module(80) : eval()'d code).
  • Notice: Undefined index: node in eval() (line 149 of modules/php/php.module(80) : eval()'d code).
  • Warning: Invalid argument supplied for foreach() in eval() (line 149 of modules/php/php.module(80) : eval()'d code).

Sedition Trial of 1944

On January 3, 1944 thirty opponents of American involvement in the war against Germany went to trial for charges of violating the Smit Act of 1940. The charges stemmed from their involvement in fascist movements and from cooperation with German forces. The defendants opposed war against Germany and espoused rabid anti-Semitism. A high percentage of the defendants came from California, including Noble, Jones, Schwinn and Diebel.

The trial began April 17, 1944, but the prosecution had a difficult time proving specific intent to undermine the morale of the armed forces or to cause armed revolt. The defense attorneys denied the government's contention of an overall Nazi plan to undermine the military's morale. This trial led to the reexamination of our freedoms and our responsibilities. Left wing liberals supported the trial but later this attempt to suppress civil rights undermined their fight for freedom of speech and press. The trial ended in tragedy and farce. Public opinion turned in favor of the defendants and due to the death of the judge, a mistrial was declared November 29, 1944.

In Los Angeles during December of 1941, the Friends of Progress, led by Robert Noble and Ellis O. Jones, held a series of mock trials impeaching President Franklin D. Roosevelt. The Proclaimed, "The President was convicted as traitorous to the American people for getting us into the war and giving away our Nazi and so forth." On December 16, 1941, they were arrested with F.K. Ferenz (film distributor for the local Bund) for violating the Espionage Act of 1917. However, within weeks charges were dropped. U.S. Attorney General Biddle had pledged to protect the right to dissent of American citizens.

Biddle came under attack from local community leaders for delaying charges against the Friends of Progress. State and Federal agents worked diligently during the early months of 1942 to gather evidence against the leaders. Noble, Jones and Ferenze were eventually convicted of violating the California Subversive Organization Registration Act and the Federal Espionage Act of 1917. In 1945, the state conviction was overturned for lack of proof while the federal conviction withstood appeal.

Previous exhibit page Next exhibit page
Newsletter page for the American Nationalist Confederation
Bill of indictment for the Sedition Trial
Montage with photographs of various seditionists
Illustration for the Committee on Un-American Activities
Letter from John Rogge to Joseph Roos
Letter from J. Edgar Hoover to Joseph Roos
Hanbill from America First, Last, and All The Time
Book cover for A Trial on Trial: The Great Sedition Trial of 1944
Handbill for the Liebesbriefe aus dem Engadin
Photograph of Nazi paraphernalia seized in a raid
Newsletter from the Friends of Progress
Card from the Continental Book and Art Shop
Handbill criticizing Roosevelt about unemployment
Poster titled WANTED: William Dudley Pelley
Photograph of Ellis O. Jones and Robert Noble
Wanted bulletin for Rheinhold Rudolf Barth
Wanted bulletin for Joseph Schmidt
Newspaper page titled Betsky Russ
Newspaper page titled Don't Let America Down
Letter from the Anti-Defamation League