The labor journal. [volume] (Everett, Wash.) 1909-1976, 1917-02-23
A MILITARY
CENSORSHIP -
IS PROPOSED
(By Dante Barton)

is legislation now drafted, and ready
in the Army War College, to clamp an
alright military censorship on the
press and on every publicity service of
the United States the very minute that
war or the threat of war may give a
pretext for that action.
"The press, powerful in peace, may
become more so in war;" says an amaz-
ing pamphlet issued by the Army War
College. "By it's editorials and pres
entation of news it may sway the peo-
pie for or against the war and thus
stimulate recruiting and hearten and
encourage the fighting forces in their
work or, by adverse criticism, may
tend to destroy the efficiency of these
agencies"
The pamphlet from which that para
graph is copied was prepared by the
War College as long ago as 1915. 1t
is now being revived for Congressional
attention.
This openly discloses the purpose to
kill off all criticism of the absolutism
which is trying to fasten itself on this
republic. The spirit is rampant to
destroy democracy and develop regi-
mental, class-controlled nation.
If that part of the press and of the
means of publicity which is really for
| l1ryoo1o 1,irrb+c i,,c 81
rights does not get busy in opposition
there will be quickly in America
composite soldier, sheriff, policeman,
private detective and armed guard sit
ting heavy on the safety valve of lib
erty-the free expression of opinion
and the free statement of fact.
Whether nominal peace or actual
war are still the order of the day, the
fight is on in this nation between popu-
lar sovereignty and plutocratic mill
tarism.
From the point of interest of the
people, the greatest enemy threaten
ing United States commerce and in
dustry today is not German subma-
rine or an English battleship, but is
that small yet powerful element in
American citizenship which is ever
ready to make American labor a beast
of burden.
The very first acts projected in the
Congress when the President an
nounced the severance of diplomatic
relations with the German Empire
were acts aimed at American work
ingmen and at the foundations of
American democracy.
The workers were to be disorganized
and made voiceless-even their pro-
tests made crimes.
Padgett of Tennessee put in a bill
authorizing the government to con-
script and draft into the naval es-
Establishment" every worker in a factory
equipped to manufacture ships, naval
guns, or naval war material. Padgett's
bill forbade, with fine and imprison
ment, efforts to unionize workers in
a government factory or factory hav-
ing government contract. 1t pro-
posed to break down the eight hour
day for government work and to undo
practically every benefit achieved in
all the past years for labor. With the
excuse of Communicating factories
and mobilizing industry" it controvert-
ed every fine principle and great act
of Mr.. Wilson's great administration.
The American Federation of Labor,
the labor members of Congress, and
other democratic forces took up the
fight for democracy. With the help
of Secretary of the Navy Daniels Ito
whom in that emergency great credit
was due) the authority to conscript
the workers into the naval establish
ment was stricken out of the Padgett
bill. And the eight-hour principle was
saved by compelling payment of time
and one-half for overtime. The most
vicious strike-breaking feature of the
bill also was eliminated because la
boris representatives and legislative
agents were on guard.
The American labor movement is
performing an historic service not on
ly to American free institutions, but to
what is left of world democracy. But
the struggle is a desperate one and is
just in its beginning.
The perils of war are bringing into
y,,n Al.
peace also holds for the plain people,
the workers.
The powerful few who have their |
reactionary servants in Congress and
in the state legislatures have the nerve
to assume that the workers are I'M
patriotic and that they have to be COM
PEELED to work and that their freedom
and personal liberty must be taken
from them CopnnuIcorv a,,bitra+io,, /