Document 3

In 1919, 15,000 leaflets urging resistance to the draft were sent to men who had been drafted by the US Army. The leaflets were traced to Socialist Party headquarters, specifically to Charles Schenck, the General Secretary of the Socialist Party, who publicly and vocally had opposed United States participation in World War I. This took place during a period known as the First Red Scare, during which concern over the spread of communism was high in the United States.

LONG LIVE THE CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES

Wake up America! Your Liberties are in Danger!

The 13th Amendment, Section 1 of the Constitution of the United States says: “Neither slavery nor involuntary servitude, except as a punishment for crime whereof the party shall have been duly convicted, shall exist within the United States, or any place subject to the jurisdiction”

The Constitution of the United States is one of the greatest bulwarks of political liberty. It was born after a long, stubborn battle between king-rule and democracy. In this battle the people of the United States established the principle that freedom of the individual and personal liberty are the most sacred things in life. Without them we become slaves… The Thirteenth amendment to the Constitution of the United States embodies this sacred idea of personal liberty...this idea is violated by the Conscription Act. When you conscript [force a person to join the military] a man and compel him to go abroad and fight against his will, you violate that most sacred right of personal liberty...A conscript is little better than a convict. He is deprived of his liberty and of his right to think and act as a free man. A conscripted citizen is forced to surrender his right as a citizen and become a subject. He is forced into involuntary servitude. He is deprived of the protection given to him by the Constitution of the United States. He is deprived of all freedom of conscience in being forced to kill against his will...Write to your congressman and tell him you want the law repealed. Do not submit to the intimidation. You have a right to demand the repeal of any law. Exercise your rights of free speech, peaceful assemblage and petitioning the government for a redress of grievances!

Based on this document, identify the point of view of the United States Socialist Party concerning the Conscription Act.