The Ward County independent. [volume] (Minot, Ward County, N.D.) 1902-1965, 1915-08-19
STREET SPEAKING TO
|. Be ALLOWED IN FAR
GO, n. D. IS DECISION
COMMISSIONER OF POLICE TO
DESIGNATE PLACES FOR
GS-ARGUMENTS WERE
HEARD.

Fargo, N. ID. Aug. 2O.-A resolu-
ton offered by Commissioner Blake
more that it be the sense of the city
commissioners that the ordinance of
the city in regard to holding meetings
in the street was not intended to re-
strict freedom of speech and author
izing the commissioner of police to
designate one or more streets in which
such meetings could be held without
unreasonably obstructing traffic, was
unanimously adopted by the city com
mission in session yesterday morn
ing.
Crowd Attends the Meeting.
The adoption of the resolution came
after crowd Of men packed the
council chambers to place before the
commission for consideration the
question of allowing the streets and
public places in the city to be used
for public meetings. 1t in part had
it's inception in the ordering of Harry
Rice, Socialist speaker, off one of the
streets here last week.
Meetings Held in Equity Hall.
At mass meetings held in a local
hall, prominent people, who, while not
adherents to the Socialist party, yet
believe in free speech, desired the &C
ton of the commission and adopted a
resolution urging that "the inalien-
able right of free speech" be restored
to the city of Fargo. Addresses and
the sentiment in favor of free speech
was strong.
Violation of Rights Believed.
At the session of the commission
yesterday morning, some of the speak
ers took the position that the state
and federal constitutions, giving the
right of free speech and a free assem-
bly,, also secured the right to use the
streets for such purposes.
Judge Amidon Speaks.
Judge Charles F. Amidon was
among the many present and he was
asked for his views on the subject.
He explained that the right of free
speech and of free assembly did not
compel the city to furnish a place to
exercise those rights. The streets be-
long to the city, he said, and the city
has unquestioned powers to forbid
streets entirely.
A Question of Wise Use of Power.
"It is not question of power" said
Judge Amidon, "but of the wise use of
power" He said that if anybody was
permitted to hold meetings in the
streets, then the right should be open
to all upon the same terms. "It
ought not to lie with the police de-
partment," said the judge. "To say
to one group of people that they could
hold meetings in the streets and to
another group that they could not"
Recalls barrow Incident.
at ought not be possible" he con-
tinued, "for the Salvation Army to use
the streets for public meetings and
to threaten person like Clara L. OAR
row that she would be arrested if she
attempted to hold a meeting in the
streets. Neither ought it to be pos
sible for a political meeting to be adj
dressed by William Jennings Bryan.
and block the streets for two or three
hours, and deny the same right to
speakers claiming to represent the
cause of labor. Nothing brings the
law so into odium as it's unequal adj
ministration. If you want the consti-
tuition to be respected you must res
pect it yourself, and secure to all
equal rights under it,
Amidon Suggests Plan.
Judge Amidon thought it would be
better for the commissioner of police
to designate one or more places where
public meetings could be held and
where public traffic would not be OBJ
structed, claiming it was safer to al
low these people to discuss their griev-
ances, either actual or fancied, than
to repress them.
Not Supporting Any Group.
In advocating this right, Judge Ami
don was very careful to state that he
did not wish to be understood as sup
porting the doctrines of any group of
people who wanted to use the streets
but said it was simply question of
wise policy. He was also emphatic
in his address that no person should
be allowed in public speech, either in
the streets or in any other place to
incite others to acts of violence or
crime.