The Sentinel=record. (Hot Springs, Ark.) 1900-current, 1914-09-26
CENSORSHIP FOR
WIRELESS STATION
CONTINUED FROM PAGE ONE.

uueslloHS luG IlSHb VI bhO DN"i SV'-'
of the navy to institute it and invites
argument as to the legality of the
right asserted.
"The president of the United States
is at the head of one of the three
great coordinate departments Of the
government. He is commandments
chief of the army and the navy In
the preservation of the safety and IL
tegrity of the United States and the
protection of its responsibilities and
obligations as a sovereignty, his pow
ers are broad. In the words OF JUS
tice Miller in re Neagle QS90), l35
u. S., "a, his power includes the en-
forcement of the rights, duties aud
obligations growing out Of the consFl
tuition itself, our international rela-
tions and all the protection implied
by the nature of the government
under the constitution
IF the president is of the opinion
that the relations of this country
with foreign nations are or are likely
to be endangered by actions deemed
by him inconsistent with due neu-
trality, it is his right and duty to
protect such relations; and in doinS
so, in the absence of any statutory
restrictions, he may act through such
executive office or department as APP
pears best adapted to effect the de
sired end. The act of such eXecu-
tive office or department in such
case is the act of the president,
denial of the officers authority is
denial of the presidents power.
The powers above outlined are noe
novel: they have been exercised in
numerous emergencies by presidents
Of the United States, and whenever
their exercise has been attacked in
legal proceedings their validity has,
with hardly an exception, been up
held by the courts. Such powers
entrusted to the president are of
fundamental nature, eXerted to main
tain or preserve the security Of the
nation and subject to that high re-
sponsibility to which the executive ~
held by the American people; they
are not likely to be abused and not
without the grayest reasons are the
courts likely to withhold their sane
tioa
The act of August Is, 1912 C37
Stat, 302), known as the radio act,
provides additional authority for the
use or control of any radio station by
any department of the government II
time Of war or public peril or dis.
aster.
1T is unnecessary to comment 90
the periis of the present inter1a-
tional situation and it is easy to sec
that an agency such as the Wireless
stations a on4 our coast is capable OF
creating International complications
of the gravest character. Their use
is novel, their possibilities. are extra
ordinary and the ease with which
belligerents can be instantly notified
OF the movement of vessels AID given
other important information is per.
fectly apparent.
The system Of censorship hereto.
fore adopted seems reasonable and n
fair solution of critical situation
1t iIterferes but slightly with the op.
GRAFTON Of the plant and the Marconi
company should cheerfully bear with
this inconvenience in recognition Of
its own interest in the general wei.
fare.
In case il becomes iaadvisable,
for any reason, to continue the Ger
sorship, ] do not hesitate in view of
the extraordinary conditions existing
to advise that the president, through
the secretary of the navy or any
other appropriate departments may
close down or take charge of and op-
crate the plant in question should he
deem it necessary in securing obedi.
ence to his proclamation of neu-
trality"
Although the navy department has
taken no cognizance of the Marconi
Company's application for an iniunc-
ton, the department of justice is ex-
pected to oppose it in court.
In the meantime the government
may reopen and operate the Siascol-
set station and keep such funds as
exceed the cost of operation in trust
for the Marconi Company.
-------- o.