The menace. [volume] (Aurora, Mo.) 1911-1920, 1917-06-09
lMERICA'S GREATEST EDUCATIONAL i
FREE PRESS DEFENSE LEAGUES VICTORY STUNNING BLOW PRO- PAAPA CENSORSHIP
THE PATRIOTS Of SAGINAW MICHIGAN REJOICE OVER DECISIVE COURT VICTORY THE AUDITORIUM CASE

the establishment Of the Saginaw
Auditorium, will say that it was our
intention and wish to have built for
the use of ALL the citizens of the
city a peoples forum in which
every question, from every angle of
view or thought, might be discussed
in public or other meetings, called for
the purpose.
"It was our desire and understand
ing to have constructed for the use
of EACH AND EVERY CITIZEN,
who should make proper compensation
therefor, a building in which, under
the principles laid down by the Con-
stitution of the United States, there
would be no question as to the
right Of the people to peaceably as
semble,' or to enjoy perfect freedom
of speech The constitution of the
state of Michigan also, which it was
my honor to assist in compiling, de-
clares along similar lines, viz: The
people have the right peaceably to
assemble and further that mo money
shall be appropriated or drawn from
the treasury for the benefit of any
religious sect or society," nor shall
property belonging to the state be ap-
propriated for any such purpose
(viz: public holdings not to be given
away nor so used without regular
rental or other financial payment
therefor) and further that every per-
son may freely speak, write and pub
lish his sentiments on all subjects
and further mo law shall be passed to
restrain or abridge the liberty of
speech or Of the press
Forming our conclusions for the
project on the above basic principles
and desiring five hundred twenty-five
cent seats set aside in the buildings
large capacity for those who can i'll
afford to pay more for high-class en-
tertainment, thus permitting working
people to enjoy some of the advantages
heretofore presented only to the rich,
we made it possible from our private
means for Saginaw to have the splen-
did auditorium as complete in every
feature as any building of its class
in the United States. / care not
whether any political party, any re-
ligion, any cult, or any association OF
citizens be not in accord with my per-
sonal views or in fact positively op-
posed to them, but / ask for said
party, religion, cult, association, or
individual citizen, positively the same
rights, as l would for those ideas or
principles which I may follow or with
which may be directly connected or
concerned. Any other position would
be ridiculous and untenable and would
be an admission of fear in any or
ganization or on my part that what
said organization, or /, advocated or
stood for would fall disastrously in
the limelight of discussion or ex-
posure of methods. 1t is only by
freedom of speech, of gathering, and
OF. press, that the best thoughts of
mankind have been brought out in the
centuries gone and the greatest re-
forms and advancements of modern
civilization thereby accomplished.
"As to the management of the audi
torium for the past nine years, cover
ing its operation and finances, have
no criticism to make, as it would
seem to have been carried on in an
economical way that at a minimum
cost has secured from those actually
using it just sufficient funds for its
ordinary maintenance and improve
ment, and at the same time extend
ing conveniences and hospitality with
out charge to those visitors from
without our city, who in convention
or otherwise, meet here as 'Saginaw's