Question

His is an indictment in three counts. the first charges a conspiracy to violate the espionage act of june 15, 1917, by causing and attempting to cause insubordination, in the military and naval forces of the united states, and to obstruct the recruiting and enlistment service of the united states, when the united states was at war with the german empire, to-wit, that the defendant willfully conspired to have printed and circulated to men who had been called and accepted for military service under the act of may 18, 1917, a document set forth and alleged to be calculated to cause such insubordination and obstruction. the count alleges overt acts in pursuance of the conspiracy, ending in the distribution of the document set forth. the second count alleges a conspiracy to commit an offense against the united states, to-wit, to use the mails for the transmission of matter declared to be non-mailable by title 12, 2, of the act of june 15, 1917, to-wit, the above mentioned document, with an averment of the same overt acts. the third count charges an unlawful use of the mails for the transmission of the same matter and otherwise as above. the defendants were found guilty on all the counts. they set up the first amendment to the constitution forbidding congress to make any law abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press, and bringing the case here on that ground have argued some other points also of which we must dispose. according to the bolded lines, what is one reason for schenck's indictment? he tried to send something through the mail illegally. he supported the act of jun 15, 1917. he tried to join the united states navy. he helped others join the military.

Answer 1

A is the only answer that makes sense. He tried to send something the mail illegally is the only that that goes against the law in the answer choices. Supporting an act, joining the US Navy or helping others join the military are not answers because they are not against the law.

Answer 2

The correct answer is A) He tried to send something through the mail illegally.

According to the bolded lines, one reason for Schenck’s indictment was that he tried to send something through the mail illegally.

We are talking about the case Schenck v. the U.S., which was decided on March 3, 1919. The Supreme Court unanimously decided that the Espionage Act did not represent a violation of the First Amendment to the United States Constitution and that Congress had the authority to make it valid during times of war.