The Supreme Court affirmed the convictions of five defendants for conspiring to violate the Espionage Act by publishing and distributing circulars urging resistance to the United States in the war with Germany and a general strike of ammunition-factory workers to curtail munitions production.
Supreme Court of the United States, 1919
Published opinions from 1919. The case name opens the case page.
1919 opinions
The Court affirmed Debs's convictions under the Espionage Act, holding that speech opposing the war and recruiting is punishable when the speaker specifically intends, and the speech probably would have the effect, of obstructing recruiting.
A unanimous Court (Holmes, J.) affirmed the Espionage Act convictions of Socialist Party officials who caused roughly 15,000 leaflets urging resistance to the draft to be mailed to men called and accepted for military service.