The Ocala banner. (Ocala, Marion County, Fla.) 1883-194?, 1917-03-23
OTHER SIDE Of THE STORY
Will the Censorine of the Press Know Where Stop? Is
the Freedom of the Press in danger?
w. r. WILEY, Editor Cincinnati Enquirer.

Columbus, O.-(SpeciaD = At the
Ohio Dailies, w. F. Wiley, editor of the
Cincinnati Enquirer, delivered an ad
dress that has become a classic in edi-
forial circles.
Mr.. Wiley startled his audience of
editors when he proved to them that
the Wanted freedom of the press is no
more. Here are excerpts from Mr..
,Wiley's address, which is considered
one Of the most fearless public utter
Auces of the day:
More swiftly and as surely as the
glacier grinds its resistless way down
mountain slopes, sweeping before it
ali life and growth and development,
30 there Is sweeping down on the
press OF America the relentless, cold,
merciless un-American avalanche OK
governmental censorship.
1t Is inconceivable to my mind that
Russianization of the American press
will be permitted to go on unheeded
and unchecked And yet the end OF
the effort to throttle us Is not in sight.
To the local efforts of Alabama, West
Virginia. and other states to prevent
The sale or circulation of newspapers
containing advertisements of certain
character is added now the proposal
OF the congress of the United States
20 prevent the carrying by mail any
where of newspapers containing such
advertising matter That proposal
has already been endorsed by the SEN
ate, and if reports may be believed, it
will receive also the approval of the
house of representatives.
There is pending, too, In the senate
q resolution, declaring that United
States district courts shall have no
power to declare an act of. congress
unconstitutional.
am not here to make a defense OF
the liquor traffic, nor to plead for
those newspapers and other periodic
ais that carry the advertising of this
business. Personally, have no in
terest in the business direct or in
direct, nor have / ever defended it.
Speaking to you tonight as man to
man, / may add, even, that ! am per
sonally opposed to some phases of it
for many reasons, but l am more
strongly opposed to the insidious eff
fort, of which this proposed legisla-
lion is the opening wedge. to repeal or
TO emasculate Article / of the amend
ments to the Constitution OF the
United States, which provides that
there shall be no infringement of the
freedom of the press.
1t is an age old fight, my friends.
this insistent effort to prevent the eX-
ercise of honest criticism of man and
measures. 1t has its beginning In
the dim, dark days when tyranny was
rule, when kings could do no wrong
and when he who tremendously
raised his voice in complaint or criti-
cism of those occupying the seats of
Che mighty paid for such indiscretion
with his life.
Gentlemen Of the Associated Ohio
Dailies, the battle is on. There is even
now not alone a governmental censor
ship of the press, but the first Shiny
fentacles of an inquisition have been
thrust menacingly and with sinister
purpose toward complete official dom
inaticn and control of editorial utter
ance
Let us read a letter received by the
editor OF an Ohio newspaper with
which most of you are familiar:
Sir:-There has been submitted to this
office copy of an editorial entitled why
Not Regulate Everything?" purporting to
have been published in Jan. 1. 1917. issue
of your publication. with the suggestion
that il was published for valuable con
si5cration and should. therefore, have
teeN marked as an advertisement, in
accordance with the provisions of the
act of Aug. a. 1912. copy of which is
Enclosed. This office would be pleas ed to
have statement from you in regard to
the matter.
Respectfully
A. NJ DOCKERY
Third Asst. Postmaster General
The editorial referred to follows
Why Not Regulate EverythIno7
Opposition of the board of governors Of