The Detroit times., 1917-10-06

hose conflicting this campalsn O
throw The country into a state o
terror, 10 c0erce public opinion, q
gtIfe criticism ard suppress discus
sion OF tho great Issues involved u
tllis war.
since the declaration Of war The
triumphant war party has pursued
those senators and representative.
who voted against war with ma
IlciOus falsehood and klefsly
libelous attacks going 20 the tx
IRENE limit OF charging them with
treason" IaFCllette said haY.
before me newspaper clippings
some Of them iibele against me
alone. some directed as well against
other senator's One OF these new s..
raper reports. most widely circulat.
I'd. represents a feueral judge al
saying 10 a charge of grand Jurors
hat certain distinEui senators.
among whom have the honor 20
be included should De stood up
against "A wall and given what they
deserve Implying of course. Thar
we should be shot II this we're "a
single or exceptional instance OF
defamation. I should not trouble me
senate with o reference 10 &C.
Il find other senators. accused oi
the highest crimes ~ which any
man can be guilty and OBS.
LOYALTY, accused not only Win no
evidence 90 support the accusation.
Int without the suggestion that such
evidence anywhere exists
but Il Is not alone members oi
congress the war party in MS couh-
Try has sought 20 intimidafe me
mandate has gone forth 20 The SOW
ereign people thar they must Or
silent while those things are ofihs
done BIZ their goyernmeht Whl'
most vitality concern their well pt
ing. their happiness and their llFt
Il think AL men recosnize that I'D
tina 81 war the citizen must sur
good. But the right o. control theif
own government according O. rnnssl
tutionai forms lH nat one 2i ihe
rights that The citizens ~ tsia cor
try are called upon 20 surrender IN
@Rather In time 81 war the citizen
L. ~ 1--- L.
ton OF his right 20 control rs gov
eminent He must be WatcnIul ~
the encroachmsnt OF the military up-
on evil power. T.e must beware ~
those preceNents IN support - 8rDt-
trarv action By Administrative ufh-
ciais. which excused on the plea or
necessity In war time. become tAe
liked rule when the necessity mas
aMors than all the citizen n war
time must retain his right a free
speech. I believe 7 an now toucning
the country--the right ~ the citi-
sens 20 discuss in an orderly way
publicly and frankly and without
fear. from the platform and thru their
publications avery important phase
81 this war: its causes, the manner
in which Il should be conducted. and
The Ter ms Upoh Wn1CU pFAce s7IQ 10
be made. The belief becoming wide
spread In this land. that this MOST
fundamental right Is being denied
the tremendous significance Of which
those IN authority have not yet ap-
preoiated'
He cited the Paris economic confer
ence as evidence OF what war fever
viii do.
'~The Allies entered into a compact
OF commercial vengeance % be eXecI-
ted against me Central powers after
peace shall be declared, he said. ~
believe no single act has done 80
much 10 solidify the resistance or
the Central powers and secure the
determined support II their peoples
as this one act. The people of the
Central powers reason that Y they
are 20 face commercial slavery after
the war. they may as well die tght-
ing"
He quoted from the speeches and
and Sumner 20 show their vigorous
public opposition 70 the Mezican wa.
and 20 President Folks attitude and
policies.
.LlncoIn. webster. Clay. sumner
said LaFcliette. What a GALAXY -
names in American history, They
all believed and asserted and acvo-
Gated In the midst OK war that -
was the constitutional right and the
patriotic duty OF American ciizens.
after the declaration % war, onf
while tho war was IN progress. %
discuss the issues OF the war and ~
criticize the policies opposed 20 pro-
longing the war.
"The right OF these men r. exactly
the same as possessed, by every Am
war in which we are now engaged
Quoting Lloyd-0eorge, LaFcllette
showed he had opposed the Boer war.
both before and after It's beginning
he showed how Chatham and Burke
opposed the war on the American
colonies. quoting. no said. ito show
that the principle Of free speech was
no new doctrine born % The c1nstitu-
ton OF the United States
LaFolIette then launched into =
criticism OF congress for falling 20
exercise its power % declare the
purpose and objects of the war"
II believe that had congress ovfr-
cised this power we would have
avoided the present war" continued
LAFoliette Il believe that we
are 20 extricate Ourselves from this
war. and restore this country % nr
honorable and lasting peace. congress
must exercise I'm fuil the war pcwera
entrusted 70 II by the coustlfut on
He asserted that congress has .af-
lowed the president % aprrGrriHfr
powers not vested In hum
To-day the president Isl reRglatfnr
commerce with foreign nations uo-
der an attempted delegation ~ power
from congress and regul8fing ~ tu
such war "a 90 Involve as IN rcri-
pps difficulty N not actual war with
Holland and Tho Scandinavia rnun.
tries" he said
The president. under his constitu-
tionsl authority. gets ~ power 90
declare the objects and purposes ~
any war In which the country MAY
be engaged. and cannot make n frcafs
or peace without the approval % fhe
senate ] commend this thot ~ those
gentlemen both in and ont ~ public
office. who condemn af efforts either
BY the people or fheir renrosrrfa-