The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1912-05-12

1
genship,' was the comment today of
William McDevitt, former socialist
candidate for mayor OF San Francisco,
and now member Of the city election
commission. on the decision Of Unit
ed States District Judge Hanford, de-
priving Socialist Leonard OLSON of his
citizenship papers because he was a
socialist and believes in radical con-
stitutional changes.
when Lincoln. In Boston, In 1860
I before the civil war broke out, said,
4 This snake OF slavery must be killed,
not scotched he was advocating some
thing contrary to the constitution
which at that time sanctioned slav-
cry" continued McDevitt According
to Hanford's decision, he ought to have
been deported as an undesirable citi-
zen.
"If the majority cannot change the
law by the ballot then republican gov
eminent falls
/ Cameron H. King, vice president Of
the San Francisco labor council, said:
The act of disfranchising a foreign
born citizen for participating In a
strike and being socialist, is one OF
unmitigated tyranny. 1t shows the
absolute need of amending the laws
governing the federal judiciary so that
judges OF the puny mental calibre OF
Hanford can be recalled. If an OPP
pressed people cannot express its dis
content through the ballot, it will
through the bomb
Big Len OLSON.
TACOMA, Wash. May 11.-Blg.
blonde and pleasant looking, with
his shirt open at the throat, his arms
tanned by work in the sun, Leonard
OLSON, disbarred from citizenship in
the United States yesterday by Judge
Hanford because of his views on the
constitution, today rested during the
noon hour from loading lumber on
the schooner Helen at the Old Town
mill and gave out his first interview
on the case as he ate his frugal noon
lunch
81 can't carry the fight up he
said, 81 have no money. / make
barely enough to live on. l hope to
have enough later.
II cannot understand the judges
decision The constitution guaran-
tees political freedom. The declara'
ton of independence guarantees the
right Of the people to change their
government. | do not see why, If any
man is not satisfied with the consti
tuition he should not be allowed tic
agitate for changes in It.
~ am member of the socialist la
Dor party and have been for years
My principles are its principles If
am not entitled to citizenship. then nc
other member of the party is. Yet
the party Is recognized and has beer
on the official ballots Of the United
States for years.
OLSON came to the United States
from Sweden eight years ago with his
sister Hilda, now living in New
Haven, Conn.
| Most Outrageous!
| OREGON CITY, Ore, May II. :
| EVERY member of the socialist part
| is made an outlaw and may lose hi
l rights as citizen at the order O
| any federal Judge by this decision,
said w. S. U'Ren of Oregon City
| today in commenting on the ruling o
| Federal Judge Hanford of Seattl
/ bv which he cancelled the c1tizenshi
| papers of Leonard OLSON, socia'
| list. because he was member of
party which advocates acts which, &C
Il cording to Hanford are violation o
i the constitution.
Il This is the most outrageous de
Il cision I have ever heard of. 1t is ia
II worse and of greater import than wa
II the bred Scott decision made prio
II to the civil war.
II why, If this decision Is upheld,
means that every member of the sc
cialist party may be- disfranchised an
declared an outlaw. Not only this. bu
II 1t means that every man who favor
changing the constitution in any wa
Immediately becomes an outlaw.
- This means that the constitution
and the laws of the country must b
eternal.
o The very corner stone OF the ne
ton is the rights of the people t
: change their laws as they see fit. Thi
RS is embodied into the declaration of il
dependence.
le "Hanford is crazy with stand-pa
s ism. He is a survivor of the dar
ID ages"
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