The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1917-05-14
BY ARTHUR w. DUNN.

Washington, May 14-lSpecial mo
such legislation as the espionage bin
could pass congress under any other
conditions save as a war measure.
This bin has had a tempestuous con
sideration i'm both houses Of congress.
Frankly, men do not like it. II is a
measure which gives the president
more power than has ever been found
necessary heretofore.
Ii is "A result OF war conditions of
the present time rather than of war
conditions in the past. aud nothing i'm
our history shows more clearly the
change that has taken place Ia regard
to- carrying on a wal than In this
measur which has received so much
attention at the hands of congress.
The bin was under consideration
during the closing days Of the last
congress, but no action was taken upon
1t on account of the crowded condition
Of legislation IN the short session of a
congress which was about to expire
IL was debated at some length and
was set aside for what was considered
more important legislation. particular.
~ the armed neutrality bill. which was
defeated aud which has long since
gone into the scrap heap owing TO the
rapid movement of all matters connect
ed with the war i'm Europe.
RevoIved Around Press Censorship.
The most interesting part Of the dis
cussion concerning the espionage bin
%revolved around the proposed censor
snip regarding the press. There was n
great deal of constitutional talk in
both branches OF the legislature, aud
much was said regarding the first
amendment 20 the constitution. which
| provides that there shall be no
abridgement in freedom of speech or
in the freedom of the press.
While debate related mainly 20 press
censorship. many men spoke of the
proposed law I'm its relation to the in
dividual citizen and his right Of free
speech. together with the fact that
censorship OF the press applied to pri
vate and public individuals as well as
the newspapers and other publications.
May Not Be Risidly Enforced.
1t is not believed that any espionage
measure will ever be rigidly enforced.
for 1t IL not likely that the people of
the United States, save in isolated
cases, will do anything to iniure the
government or imperil the lives of the
GnI1fara apI Uaflaru KpIa nv. E4hf4nes
It's battles in the great struggle that is
before us.
Rather may ii be considered as "A
stationary measure. designed largely
TO control those whose personal inter
ests are bound to be with Germany
and who are likely to take advantage
Of the Tree conditions existing In the
republic To give aid and comfort to the
enemies OF the country and who dur
ing the years previous 10 the entry of
the United States into the war abused
their rights as residents Of the United
States to help Germany and Austria
Great Change In Fifty Years.
The most important feature OF the
discussion was bringing out the fact
that conditions have changed mate
rally regarding war in the last fifty
years and that the publication OF in
formation regarding military affairs,
which was decidedly liberal during the
civil var III the United States. is not
allowed In this country even without
the enactment of any law ON the sub
ject. During the civil war there was
practically no military censorship, and
wal correspondents with the various
armies OF the United States were al
lowed to send pretty much everything
they could obtain and were not subject
to any censorship.
General Grant in his memoirs makes
reference to n man who did more or
less eavesdropping around his head
quarters and published the informa-
ton he obtained without regard to the
effect upon military movements.
There is "A story published in the war
records which relates that one CORE
spondent published in a paper in the
north the fact that the Union army
had obtained knowledge of the signal
code of the C~onfederacy and were
using 1t to their advantage. In a day
or two the paper reached the Confed-
eracy, and the signal code was changed.
The correspondent was sentenced to
be shot, but through the Intervention
of personal friends his life was saved.
and up to ten years ago he was quite
a well known Washington correspond
emit.
Nc Such Condition Now Prevails.
No such condition now prevails in
regard to the armies OF the United
States. Even during the Spanish war
every dispatch sent from IA military
command was subject to censorship.
Since then the war department has
adopted regulations which would pre-
vent any correspondent with an army
from sending Information regarding the
movement of troops or any other mill
tary activity until 1t had been approx
ed by the military authorities.
TsM g %