This is a big case, counsel says, the biggest case that has ever been tried in this country, but the biggest thing about these big things is from beginning to end it has been a struggle on the one side for ideals and on the other side to suppress those ideals.  This thing was started with Hubbard at its head.  It is being started today with Hubbard at its head in this courtroom, and I don’t believe you will fall for it.

Vanderveer’s Closing Argument

There are only two real issues in this case.  One is the question:  Who was the aggressor in the Armistice Day affray?  The other is:  Was Eugene Barnett in the Avalon hotel window when that affray occurred?

We have proven by unimpeachable witnesses that there was a raid on the I.W.W. hall in Centralia on November 11—­a raid, in which the business interests of the city used members of the American Legion as catspaws.  We have shown that Warren O. Grimm, for the killing of whom these defendants are on trial, actually took park in that raid, and was in the very doorway of the hall when the attack was made, despite the attempts of the prosecution to place Grimm 100 feet away when he was shot.

We have proven a complete alibi for Eugene Barnett through unshaken and undisputable witnesses.  He was not in the Avalon hotel during the riot; he was in the Roderick hotel lobby; he had no gun and he took no part in the shooting.

In my opening statement, I said I would stand or fall on the issue of:  Who was the aggressor on Armistice Day?  I have stood by that promise, and stand by it now.

Mr. Abel, specially hired prosecutor in this trial, made the same promise.  So did Herman Allen, the official Lewis county prosecutor, who has been so ingloriously shoved aside by Mr. Abel and his colleague, Mr. Cunningham, ever since the beginning here.  But a few days ago, when the defense was piling up evidence showing that there was a raid on the I.W.W. hall by the paraders, Mr. Abel backed down.

Why Were the Shots Fired?

I was careful in the beginning to put him on record on that point; all along I knew that he and Mr. Allen would back down on the issue of who was the aggressor; they could not uphold their contention that the Armistice Day paraders were fired upon in cold blood while engaged in lawful and peaceful action.

What possible motive could these boys have had for firing upon innocent marching soldiers?  It is true that the marchers were fired upon; that shots were fired by some of these defendants; but why were the shots fired?

[Illustration:  John Lamb

Logger.  American.  Joined the Industrial Workers of the World in 1917.  Lamb was in the Arnold Hotel with O.C.  Bland during the raid on the hall.  Neither of them did any shooting.  John Lamb has lived for years in Centralia.  He is married and has five children who are left dependent since the conviction.]