The War On News

A record of government actions against journalism and fact-based reporting, from the first press laws to today

Incident

United States convicts Mother Earth editor Emma Goldman of draft conspiracy and bars her magazine from the mail

United StatesRSF 2026 rank: 64th of 180

Engraving of an empty press briefing room with a lectern and rows of chairs

Emma Goldman, editor of the anarchist magazine Mother Earth, was convicted with fellow anarchist Alexander Berkman of conspiring against the newly enacted Selective Draft Law and received the maximum two year sentence and a ten thousand dollar fine. Postal authorities then withdrew Mother Earth's second class mailing privileges, and Goldman was deported from the United States in 1919.123

What happened

Emma Goldman had edited and contributed to Mother Earth, an anarchist magazine published in New York since 1906. After Congress enacted the Selective Draft Law on May 18, 1917, requiring men to register for military conscription, Goldman and fellow anarchist Alexander Berkman were arrested in New York within weeks on charges of conspiring to induce men to refuse to register. A jury convicted both, and the trial court imposed the maximum sentence available under the conspiracy statute: two years in prison and a ten thousand dollar fine. The Supreme Court of the United States, hearing the case as Goldman v. United States, affirmed the conviction on January 14, 1918, rejecting arguments that there had been no evidence of guilt to submit to the jury. After Goldman's conviction, postal authorities denied Mother Earth its second class mailing privileges, cutting off the inexpensive postal rate the magazine needed to reach subscribers nationwide, and the magazine was suppressed. Goldman served her sentence, and in December 1919 she was deported from the United States.415623

What reason was given

Stated justification

The government charged that Goldman and Berkman conspired to induce men liable for the draft under the Selective Draft Law of May 18, 1917, to disobey the law by failing to register.415623

What changed for reporting

Mother Earth, the magazine Goldman edited, was suppressed after the Post Office withdrew its second class mailing privileges following her conviction.45

Timeline

1917

1917
United States convicts Mother Earth editor Emma Goldman of draft conspiracy and bars her magazine from the mail

Outlets and journalists

NameKindRelation
Mother Earthoutletaffected

Sources

  1. Emma GoldmanEmma Goldman, 2009, reporting. Source record
  2. Goldman v. United States, 245 U.S. 474 (1918)Goldman v. United States, 245 U.S. 474 (1918), 1918-01-14, primary. Source record

Claims and evidence

Each numbered claim quotes the source it rests on.

  1. Goldman was arrested with Alexander Berkman within weeks of the Selective Draft Law's enactment, and both were convicted of conspiracy against the draft and given the maximum two year sentence and a $10,000 fine.Arrested, along with fellow anarchist Alexander Berkman in New York less than a month after the enactment of the act, the two were found guilty of conspiracy against the draft and received the maximum two-year sentence and a $10,000 fine.Emma Goldman, Emma Goldman, 2009.Claim 944, checked 2026-09-26.
  2. The Supreme Court of the United States heard Goldman's appeal on December 13 and 14, 1917, and decided the case on January 14, 1918.No. 702. Argued Dec. 13, 14, 1917. Decided Jan. 14, 1918.Goldman v. United States, 245 U.S. 474 (1918), Goldman v. United States, 245 U.S. 474 (1918), 1918-01-14.Claim 947, checked 2026-09-26.
  3. The indictment charged that Goldman and her co-defendants conspired to induce persons required to register under the Selective Draft Law of May 18, 1917, to disobey the law.unlawfully conspired together and with others unknown to induce persons who by the Selective Draft Law of May 18, 1917Goldman v. United States, 245 U.S. 474 (1918), Goldman v. United States, 245 U.S. 474 (1918), 1918-01-14.Claim 948, checked 2026-09-26.
  4. Goldman was at times an editor and contributor to Mother Earth, an anarchist magazine published from 1906 until it was suppressed in 1917.Goldman was at times an editor and a contributor to Mother Earth, an anarchist publication active from 1906 until it was suppressed in 1917 under the Espionage ActEmma Goldman, Emma Goldman, 2009.Claim 943, checked 2026-09-26.
  5. After Goldman's conviction, the postal authorities denied Mother Earth its second class mailing privileges.After she was convicted, the postal authorities denied Mother Earth second-class mailing privilegesEmma Goldman, Emma Goldman, 2009.Claim 945, checked 2026-09-26.
  6. Goldman was deported from the United States in 1919.Emma Goldman was deported in 1919 and moved to Great Britain in 1921.Emma Goldman, Emma Goldman, 2009.Claim 946, checked 2026-09-26.