Los Angeles herald., 1908-02-19
CLEAR. CRISP AND CLEAN
REGARDING FREE SPEECH

TT IS complained that free public
speecb is forbidden in Los Angeles,
Il and that Socialist meetings are m
terrupted, disturbed. forbidden ana
officially broken up. This is ticklish
policy. because. il the motive that inn
pels officials to NEEDLE with Socialist
meetings is the suppression of Social
ism, the experience of every move
fnent in the history of mankind, IN
Guiding Christianity and Americanism'
shows that official interference is
sure way of advertising a cause and,
il 1t possess any worth at all and is
not mere lawlessness, is sure way
helping It, The only reasona e ana
lawful ground for interference with
public or open air meetings OF Social
lists, Prohibitionists, Tariff Reformers'
salvation Army workers or any other
propaga1.dists is proof that treason
against The United States is planned
or meditated in such assembiages. on
this point let us consult the rules OF
the game. The constitution of the
United States says: Treason against
the United States shall consist ONLY
In Ievying war against them. or in adj
herring to their enemies. giving them
aid and comfort" Surely the word
.oNLYn is explicit enough. Many
honestly misguided officials think that
treason against the United States con-
sists in advocating radical govern
mental changes. They are wrong. or
else the north was wrong during the
war of the rebellion. A mans best
friend will stop him on the street 10
tell him he has a smudge on his lace.
A mans bitterest enemy will let the
ssnudge pass unrebuked. And again
the constitution says: Congress shall
make no law respecting an establish
ment of religion, or prohibiting the
free exercise thereof or abridging the
freedom of speech or of the press or
the right of the people peaceably to as
senlble and to petition the government
for a redress of grievances"
The phrase freedom of speech
protects Socialist meetings. But IL
that should not be enough, the Social
lists will probably hereafter at each
meeting frame a petition asking the
government for a complete restoration
of liberty and the pursuit of happiness
the greatest good for the greatest
number, the abolition of privilege, and
asserting the equal right of every
American man to the opportunity TO
earn money to support his family, ana
the equal right of every boy ana glrl
in the United States to a complete ana
uninterrupted public school education.
Authority with law behind it is in
vincible and invulnerable. 1t cannot
be disputed. But authority should be
careful to avoid even the appearance
of evil: should be careful to see to IL
that officers of the law do not become
disturbers of the peace by interfering
with the right of American citizens TO
meet freely and to speak freely That
great grievances against the majority
OF the people of the United States at
present exist has been asserted by
President Roosevelt, Mr.. Taft and Mr..
Bryan. Such marvellous concord OF
opinion should make the police chary
and wary of attacking citizens who,
up to date. have not been heard saying
anything that the foremost Americans
in public life have not said. All kinds
Of takers" az allowed to conduct OPP
erations and campaigns publicly in
Los Angeles. The police do not inter-
fere with patent medicine men who
occupy vacant lots near busy streets
and, with the help of monkeys. parrots.
drums. cymbais and steam hoot-or.
zaIls, attract crowds. Since freedom
Of screech is allowed IN Los Angeles
whv not freedom Of speech?