The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1917-10-06
La Toilette PLEADS
FOR FREE SPEECH



the highest crimes OF which any
man can be guilty -4trenaon and
dialoylAty. accused not only with
no evidence to sunpart tho accuse.
ton, but without the suggestion
that such evidence anywhere ex'
lists
nut II IL not alone members Of
congress the war party In this
country has sought TO intlmldate
The mandate has gone forth To the
sovereign people that they must be
silent while those things are be
Ing done by their government,
which most vitality concern their
we'll being, their happiness aud
their iives
Civil Rights Violated
To-day and for weeks past. hon
est and law.abiding cltlxena Of this
country are being terrorlsed and
outraged in their rights by those
sworn to uphold the laws and pro.
,eet the rights OF the people | have
In my possession numerous attida.
Wits establishing the fact that PEG
pie are being unlawfully arrested.
thrown into jail. held lncommuni.
eado for days. only to be- eventual.
~ released. without ever having
been taken into court. because they
have committed no crime
Private residences are being In
vaded. loyal citizens OF undouhted
Integrity and probity arrested.
crosse examined. and the mos,
sacred International rights guann.
teed to every citizen are being con.
tlnually violated.
Charges Terror Campaign
II appears 20 be the purpose OF
those conducting this campaign %
throw the country into state OF
terror. to eocrce public opinion. 10
stlfle criticism and suppress discus
sion OF the great iBAuea involved In
this war.
Il mink that all men recognize
that IN time OF war the citizen must
surrender some rights for the pub.
tic good. Hut the right 80 control
their own government according to
constitutional forms IL not one OF
the rights that the citizens are call.
ed upon 10 surrender In time OF var.
Free Speech Needed
Rather 10 time of war the citi.
zen must be mere alert 20 the
preservation OF his right to control
his government
More than all. the citizen In war
time must retain HIS right of free
speech. believe ! am now touch
Ing upon tho most important qneA'
ton in the country the right OF
the citizens to discuss Ia an orderly
way. publicly and frankly and ~iih.
ont fear. from the platform and
thru their publications. every im'
portant phase OF this war. its causes
the manner IN which 1, should be
conducted. and the terms upon
which peace should be made. The
belief becoming widespread In ihA.
land. that this most fundamental
right e. denied citiEena q this eonn'
try ia a fact. the tremendous slg
nificancs Of which those In author
ity have not yet appreciated"
Quotes Lincoln
He quoted from the speeches and
writings os Lincoln. Clay. Web
sier aud Sumner 20 show their via
orous public opposition 10 the Mex
can war and TO President Folks al
tl,udc and policies.
Lincoln. Webster, Clay and
Sumner" said la Toilette. What
a galaxy Of names. They all be
Il.ved and asserted and advocated
i'm the midst of war that u was
the constitutional right and the
patriotic duty Of American citizens
after the declaration OF war and
whsls the war was IN progress. "a
discuss the issues of the war and
crliicix. the policies opposed 70
prolongtng the war.
The right OF these mon u ex
aeily the same IA possessed ny
every American today In respect 70
the war IN which We are engaged.
Quotes Lloyd George
Quoting Lloyd George. Ia Fol
lette showed he had opposed the
poer war, both before and after itF
beginning. he showed how Chat
ham and Burke opposed the war on
the American colonies. quoting. he
said. TO show that the principle
OF free speech was no uew doc,
trine. born OF the constitution o.
the United States"
La Toilette then launched into o
criticism Of congress for falling 70
"exercise its power TO declare the
purpose and objects OF the war
Could Have Avoided War
II believe that had congress ex
ercised this power We would have
avoided the present war. said la
Toilette.
II believe that N We are 10 extri'
cate ourselves from this war and
restore this country to an honor
able and lasting peace. congress
must exercise In fun the war pow
era entrusted to II by the consti'
tuition"
He asserted that congress- has al
lowed the president TO assume
powera not vested I'm him.
To-day the power Is regulating
commerce with foreign nations IN
der an ATTEMPTED delegation OF
power from congress and resulat.
ing II in such way ns to Involve
ua In serious trouble II not actual
war with Holland and the Seandi'
navian countries.
"The president. under his au-
thority. gets no power to declare
the objects and purposes OF any
war in which the country may be
engaged and cannot make n treaty
OF peace without the approval Of
the senate commend this
Ten Years.
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