Margaret Sanger: an autobiography.Sanger, Margaret
History
Margaret Sanger: an autobiography.
Sanger, Margaret
Birth control -- United States -- Biography; Sanger, Margaret, 1879-1966
One other thing I had to do before my trial. _Family Limitation_ simply
must be published. I had at last found the right person—Bill Shatoff,
Russian-born, big and burly, at that time a linotype operator on a
foreign paper. So that nobody would see him he did the job after hours
when his shop was supposed to be closed.
At first I had thought only of an edition of ten thousand. However, when
I learned that union leaders in the silk, woolen, and copper industries
were eager to have many more copies to distribute, I enlarged my plan. I
would have liked to print a million but, owing to lack of funds, could
not manage more than a hundred thousand.
Addressing the envelopes took a lot of work. Night after night the
faithful band labored in a storage room, wrapping, weighing, stamping.
Bundles went to the mills in the East, to the mines of the West—to
Chicago, San Francisco, and Pittsburgh, to Butte, Lawrence, and
Paterson. All who had requested copies were to receive them
simultaneously; I did not want any to be circulated until I was ready,
and refused to have one in my own house. I was a tyrant about this, as
firm as a general about leaving no rough edges.
In October my case came up. I had had no notice and, without a lawyer to
keep me posted, did not even know it had been called until the District
Attorney’s office telephoned. Since Mr. Content had promised me plenty
of time, I thought this was merely a formality and all I had to do was
put in an appearance.
The next morning I presented myself at court. As I sat in the crowded
room I felt crushed and oppressed by an intuitive sense of the
tremendous, impersonal power of my opponents. Popular interest was now
focused on Europe; my little defiance was no longer important. When I
was brought out of my reverie by the voice of the clerk trumpeting forth
in the harshly mechanical tones of a train announcer something about
_The People_ v. _Margaret Sanger_, there flashed into my mind a huge map
of the United States, coming to life as a massive, vari-colored animal,
against which I, so insignificant and small, must in some way defend
myself. It was a terrific feeling.
But courage did not entirely desert me. Elsie Clapp, whose ample Grecian
figure made her seem a tower of strength, marched up the aisle with me
as though she, too, were to be tried. I said to Judge Hazel that I was
not prepared, and asked for a month’s adjournment. Mr. Content
astonished me by objecting. “Mrs. Sanger’s had plenty of time and I see
no reason, Your Honor, why we should have a further postponement. Every
day’s delay means that her violations are increased. I ask that the case
continue this afternoon.”
A change in Judge Hazel’s attitude had taken place since August. Instead
of listening to my request, he advised me to get an attorney at once—my
trial would go on after the noon recess.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account