Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1910-03-01
INTERFERING WITH FREE
SPEECH.

There are a number of people IN
Atlanta who are opposed to vaccina-
ton for small pox. Their opposition
may be unreasonable, it may not be
based on any scientific knowledge on
their part. They may be absolutely ig-
norant of the disease and unaware of
the great work that vaccination has
done in modifying its effects and
holding down its effects and holding
down its spread. Their opposition
may be found in ignorance and be nur-
tured in senseless prejudices. Yet
they have a right to their convictions
on the subject, even though they may
be compelled to submit to vaccination.
and they have a right, if they so desire,
to hold a public meeting to give PROP
er vent to their views. And they have
a right to hold that meeting without
annoyance or interference.
If there is anything above all things
that this government stands for it is
the right Of free speech. If there is
anything that should be carefully pro-
tected from usurping officialdom it is
that asme right. Free speech is not a
privilege conferred by mayors and al
dermen, or health officers. 1t is one of
the basic liberties of every American
citizen. And the man, or the men. who
wish to meet and discuss vaccination
and express their condemnation of it,
have legal right to do so without
fear and without interference.
At the Atlanta meeting, though. the
Health Office thrust himself on the
scene with number of policeoficers
and with threats of vaccinating all
resent practically broke up the meet
ing. This was a clear usurpation Of
authority on his part, a violation of
the rights of the citizens in public
meeting assemble, that he should he
condemned for His spirit of over-of-
hcloUs zeal does not excuse him for
this act. The fact that he was oppos-
ed to the views of those at the meeting
had no bearing on their rights and
does not mitigate the injustice of his
conduct. He should be taught to re-
spect the rights of free speech on the
part OF others before he goes further
in his campaign.
There is too much tendency alto
gether in this favored land of ours for
officials, police officers, health officers
and others, to exercise just such iIIeg-
al power as this Atlanta official at
tempted to use. If the public proposes
to tolerate it the public in the end will
find itself in the position of having it's
setting themselves up as the
authoritative critics of what public
shall be held, what subjects
shau be discussed, and what action
shall be taken. If this Health officer
can take police officers with him and
practically break up a meeting that is
considering the question of VAGINA
ton in perfectly orderly way, then
ne can break up any other meeting
called to discuss health matters with
whose purpose he doesn't aggree.
1t is time to call a halt This action
may seem to some a piece of smart
ness, the boarding of the anti-vaccina
tlonists in their dec with an armed
body to support him. But to any one
who studies the tendency of public Of
metals to usurp powers that do not
belong to them, to negative the rights
Oh citizens in more ways than one, it
does look as though this act calls
more for condemnation than for ap-
prevail.