The daily Gate City and constitution-Democrat. (Keokuk, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1917-07-23
KEEP YOUR MOUTH
SHUT IS ADVICE
New State Laws Already In Effect
Make It Necessary That Peo-
Pile Curb Their
Tongues.
FOR PATRIOTIC REASONS
Several Months In jail or Heavy Fines
May Result II Ono Is Too
Free With His
Opinions.
FOR PATRIOTIC REASONS

In these parlous times nothing
hut patriotic thoughts should be on
ones mind. Should one accidently
or otherwise happen to think along
unpatriotic lines it would be well for
him to either fasten clothes pin
over his laIial appendages or else
HE himself far from the ears of a
human. Because If he should chance
to drop an unpatriotic remark, the
laws of the state of Iowa beckon
and say: six months in Jail and
one thousand dollars fine"
In the whirlwind windup of the
last state legislature, there were lots
Of bills passed. The legislature
waited not on ceremony and passed
bills and appropriated money. They
passed bills to insure Iowa's due
patriotic course, and then appropri-
ated ample funds for Governor Hard
ing to see that such regulations We're
enforced. Several of these laws have
never come to the attention Of the
public, as they have scarcely been
published. Yet some of them be-
came laws upon publication In some
Iowa newspaper, and are hence al
ready in operation.
Senator Frailey of Fort Madison
was a member of the military affairs
committee and was identified with
the framing and passage Of these
state conduct bills. one of them
being written by him.
Don't Talk.
The most striking Of these laws is
to curb promiscuous remarks. 1t is
already in effect. In part 1T pro-
vides:
"If any person shall incite an in
surrection or sedition amongst any
portion or class of the population of
this state, or shall attempt by writ
ing, speaking, or by any other means
to excite such instruction or sedi-
ton, the person or persons so offend
ing shall be punished by imprison-
m emit in the state penitentiary not
exceeding twenty years and shall be
fined not less than, one thousand nor
more than ten thousand dollars.
"Any person who shall in public
or private, by speech, writing, print
ing, or by any other mode or means
advocate the subversion and destruc-
ton by force Of the government of
the state of Iowa or of the United
States, or attempt by speech. writ
ing, printing or In any other way
whatsoever encourage hostility or
opposition to the government of the
state of Iowa, or of the United
States, shall be guilty of misde-
meanor and upon conviction shall be
punished by Imprisonment In the
county jail not less than six months
nor more than one year and shall be
fined not less than three hundred
dollars nor more than one thousand
dollars.
"Any person who shall become
member of any organization, society
or order founded or formed, or at
tend any meeting or council, or
solicit others to do so, for the pur-
pose of melting, abetting, promoting
or encouraging hostility or opposition
to the government of the state Of
Iowa or to the United States, or
who shall in any manner aid, abet or
encourage any such organization,
society. order or meeting in the pro
pagation or advocacy of such a pur-
pose shall beN guilty Of a misde-
meanor and upon conviction shall be
imprisoned in the county Jail not
less than six months nor more than
one year and shall be fined not less