The Butler County press. [volume] (Hamilton, Ohio) 1900-1946, 1917-05-25
FOR FREEDOM or
SPEECH PRESS
Spirit OF Intolerance Must Not
Prevail In America.
WOULD IMPAIR RIGHTS

Workers of the Nation Are Fully Pre-
pared to Do Their Part For the Pres
ervation of Our lnstitutions-Labor
Must Oppose Tendency Toward Au-
tocracy.
Samuel Gompers, president of the
American Federation of Labor, has is
sued the following pronuneiamento de-
nouncing the gag rule provisions of the
espionage bill:
AS our nation rapidly swings through
changes necessary for the transition
from peace to war basis there is de-
veloping the beginnings Of an attitude
totally at variance to the genius and
the institutions of democracy spirit
of intolerance
As we are torn from the moOrings of
peace and face the unknown dangers
Of fight for national rights and the
rights Of humanity there are not lack
ing indications of failure to descrimi-
nate between measures Of protection
gives our republic meaning
In order to protect ourselves against
dangers suspected and feared an effort
is being made to pass legislation which
would impair fundamental rights, the
basis for all our freedom.
An Espionage bin is now under con-
sideration Ly congress, which would
sweep away freedom of press and
speech The people of this country
have Il right TO know the general plans
and purposes OF those to whom they
have intrustcd the conduct Of the war
OF course the details OF military and
naval strategy, in order to be effective,
must bc kept with a degree Of secrecy,
but the people who must give their serv-
ices in order to make these plans ef-
fectiye have the right 10 general In
formation, aud they have a right to ex-
press their opinions and convictions
thereon.
We cannot protect our country against
insidious foreign instiga ton Of plots
and intrigues by depriving all of our
people of their fundamental constitu-
tionai rights. Defense and maintenance
of America institutions do not depend
upon drastic resolutions completely al
tering the very nature Of conditions
and regulations.
If we turn back the pages Of history
to the early years of our republic we
find that the country passed through
similar trial The different elements of
nationality were even less welded to-
gether in composite whole than they
are at present
There were then fewer traditions and
ideals in common, All OF Europe was
at war There were foreign plots to
force this nation to take sides in the
contest Our congress passed the dras-
tic alien and sedition laws.
These laws were not effective in pro-
tecting US against foreign intrigue, but
they did react disastrously TO institu-
tions Of freedom in this country. They
were taken advantage of by that ele-
ment that desires to fasten upon the
masses of the people uufreedom, be
cause people denied their rights are
more easily made to serve the selfish
interests of others
There are now wanting in this couu-
try evidences Of this same spirit. Tn
der the guise or national necessity pro
posals have been made TO hold the peo-
pie, particularly the working people in
a position where they cannot interfere
with existing stable conditions. The
plea is that national necessity must
make rigid the relations between EN-
ployer and employee and this has
been interpreted to mean even refusal
to consider redress Of wrong or higher
wages Notwithstanding constantly in
creasing costs of living
The result OF such legislation would
defeat the very purpose assigned as
reason for the legislation. 1t would
produce a static equilibrium TO meet the
changes developing with Industrial life.
1t devolves upon the masses of the
people to defeat this tendency toward
autocracy and to maintain standards
that will permit of human liberty and
progress Let every member Of organ
ICED labor feel responsibility develop
ing upon him to guard carefully against
such aggression on the part Of reaction
and to register an emphatic protest
against all proposals and policies that
would establish autocraey and militia
rism to supplant our free republic.
The working people are fully prepared
to do their part for the preservation Of
the ideals and Institutions of the re
public, both industrial and military.