The daily banner. (Cambridge, Md.) 1897-2008, 1917-09-13
Stamp Out Disloyalty

Judge William Ii. Harlan. OF the
Third judicial circuit. has set Il good
example 10 the JurlStS OF the country
ny calling tne attention o1 the grand
jury III hi: cOurt III Bclair to their
duty toward those who are diSloyai
to ini, government ana who are do
lug an In tnelr power TO cmbarraSS
il IN the conduct of the war. Judge
Harlan emphasized the fact that not
only ) II the duty OF the Hartford
County Crane jury to inquire into
every such case that comes within its
kuON ledge. but that it is the duty of
every good citizen TO report to the
proper authorities every disloyal ut
tcrance he hears and every disloyaI
acl he sees. Here are some of the
patriotic and timely words spoken by
Judge Harlan in his charge to the
grand jury:
The United States is at war and
in almost every section of the init
ed States there are certain disaffected
people who, while enjoying the Dene-
hts of our government and the bane-
fits of the taxes raised, are now do
ing all they can to prevent the war
that The United States has most just
~ entered upon from being carried
to a successful and carly conclusion.
If there are people in your eigh-
bOrhoOd diSatIected and not doing
their full duty as citizens ii is your
duty TO call attention to it. SO that
We may know those within our coun-
try who are a menace to il. | do not
mean TO intimate that it is up t o this
grand jury to act on these eases. but
1 mean that YOU should let it be
known by your action whether there
are any people in Hartford county
who are not doing their full duty as
citizens OF the United States in the
present crisis"
These words can be applied with
equal force in every county in Mary
land and in every county of the
United States. Such disloyalty can
be found in all parts of the country,
though fortunately it generally keeps
well under cover and has not, as yet,
done any vast amount of harm. The
chaotic conditions that now exist in
Russia give a very clear picture of
what widespread dislOyalty can do
when carried to extremes. 1t has
made that great country, which
should be lighting bravely for the
democratic government it sought to
establish. now an impOtent factor in
the war. the prey of reyolutioniSts of
every sort. 1t has turned RuSsia's
soldiers into towards and slackers,
caused them to give up without
struggle strong positions they had
won by heroic sacrifice and has put
the whole country into turmoil
which makes Germany's advance as
easy as walking along an undefended
road.
The government of the United
States has been very lienient, far too
lienient at times, in dealing with its
disloyal elements. Now, however,it
has begun campaigns against Them
that promise good results and that
proves the government fully alive to
the danger of continued liberation of
these malcontents. The raid last
week on the disloyal leaders of the
l. W. w. and the suppression of
German newspaper in Philadelphia
are notable instances of the present
activity of the government and its
of those who would
lena aid to the enemies of this
country.
IN connection win the chafge
made by Judge Harlan reference can
well be made to the loyal words spo-
ken on the same day by Governor
Harding, of Iowa. He urged creation
of patriotic sentiment through local
organizations and close cooperation
between local, State and Federal au-
thorities in stamping out disloyalty
in that State. This is practical way
of dealing with the problem and can
well be followed in every State. No
good citizen should hesitate to re-
port every case of disloyalty that
comes to his notice, even though the
traitor be a next door naighbor or a
former friend. Disloyalty of every
sort must be stamped out, and all
who love their country must help to
stamp it oW.-American.