The menace. [volume] (Aurora, Mo.) 1911-1920, 1913-01-04

Al its annual session In New Or
cans, Nov. s-12, last. tho Farmers
National Congress. having especially
b mind the provisions In the post
nee appropriation bill that became
Nv August "a last. that require pub.
.hers Of periodicals to publish the
mes OF their creditors and the num-
Der Of paid subscribers TO their pub
Iications, and after discussing these
provisions and other legislation aud
especially rulings of the postofice de-
partment affecting periodical publiea-
tons, unanimously adopted the fol.
loving resolution:
sResolved. That free and fear
less press ia Of such great Importance
In safeguarding our liberties that no
legislation abridging the freedom OF
the press should be enacted by con-
gress, and no legislation should be
enacted BY congress unless II has
been duly referred TO and acted on
by the proper committee Of both
houses and opportunity has been had
for free debate thereon In both the
house and the senate"
The last half Of this resolution re-
fers 10 the explanation given by sew
erai members Of congress OF the pro
visions in the act OF August "a last,
requiring publication OF creditors and
number Of subscribers. These mem
hers OF congress say that these pfo'
visions were not fully consideredtby
the postofice committees OF the two
houses and were not freely debated
In either house.
The Farmers National Congress is
not composed OF publishers, but OF
practlcal farmers. At the session In
New Orleans there were present dele
gates from 36 states. commissioned by
the governors OF those states on the
Recommendation Of the agricultural
examinations Of each state. Duly &C
credited delegates were present from
states as widely separated as Massa'
chnsetts and Arizona. Minnesota and
Texas, Montana, Utah, Georgia and
Florida. Every state lying between
the states mentioned was represented
BY delegates.
Tho Farmers National Congress is
well aware that liberty is not II.
cense. II was the FIRST national or
ganization to pass a resolution
more than twenty years ago-calllns
On the publishers Of all periodical
notifications to eliminate from their
columns all fraudulent and immoral
advertisements.
But the Farmers National Congress
Is alert II knows that free press is
The best safeguard Of our liberties and
Institutions. II has observed that for
some years there has been subtle
movement TO abridge the frsedom Of
the press. A little has been done
here. q little has been done there. to
hamper unnecessarily and without
any adequate gain for the public good,
the business Of publishers Of perl
pdical publications. Most Of this has
been done BY the rulings Of the post
once department. but some has been
done By laws enacted By congress.
II is advisable to have this resoiu.
don printed before the supreme court
gives fts decision on the consHtu.
tianaiity Of the obiectionSbls provis.
ions IN the act of August "a. 1912; hut
whatever that decision may be. Il
viii not be en- the real heart Of the
matter. for Il win deal only with the
constitufionality Of these provisions,
II WIN not touch the FresSem Of the
Press Right here Il may not be
auiss TO point out that the provisions
inst named Will not result IN any