Evening capital and Maryland gazette. (Annapolis, Md.) 1910-1922, 1917-10-12

FRIDAY, OCTOBER y. 1917
ORR MASTERS POWER.

son, as now Established a5 NAdA "a tAAS
press. says the American Press His
powers are unlimited He may tell
as what IS the truth and decide what
Is lie. lie may announce this state
menl TO be beneficial to the country
or that statement to be destructive
oil the government policy
he may decide what is seditious Mt
terance. and say what statements are
III or unfit for the public eye. He is
the grand high cockalorum Of the re-
public. Newspapers and magazines
which In his opinion are seditious may
be denied the use OF the mails. When
this Is done it becomes q criminal Of
tense to distribute them by any other
means. Newboys. news companies.
express companies ali come under the
van Thus, any publisher in the coun-
Try may be brought to ruin overnight
by Administration decree.
Mr.. Burleson assures publishers
that the censorship thus established
will not be used in political sense.
We hope not.
But there is limit" says MIR
Burleson. And that limit is reach
ed when newspaper begins to say
that this government got in the var
wrong, that it is in for wrong pur7
poses, or anything that viii impugn
the motives of the government for go
ing into the war They cannot say
this government is the tool Of Wall
Street or the munitions makers. That
Kind OF thing makes for insubordina-
ton in the army and navy and breeds
"a spirit of disloyalty through the
country. II is a false statement, lie.
and 1t win not be permitted. -
No one may dispute these stat
ments with safety, of course for Mr..
Burleson arrogates to himself The
right to decide what is true and what
is not true. II statements of fact dis
pleasing to the government be made
they may be officially pronounced I'M
true, and as the law stands the pub
Usher who thus offends may be
brought to financial ruin instantly
This situation involves even more
than freedom of the press. which, OF
course under such circumstances no
longer exists 1t involves the funda-
mental rights of the citizen. it per-
mits of punishment before guilt is
proven. II strikes AT the very founda-
lion of Justice II is the most pre-
posterous legislation in the history Of
the world.
No man can or would wish to de-
fend the publication of reasonable
matter. either in time of peace or in
time OF war The propounders of a
seditious press merit the severest of
treatment. But what of men who
would force upon the country legisla.
ton that places in the hands of an
Administration official the power of
financial ohliteration. that strips
from the people their right to free
expression and that places in the
hands OF an interested individual the
right to decide whether public opin-
ion be for the public veal or for the
public woe?
Mr.. Burleson's sweet song to the
contrary Notwithstanding, govern
ments. both State and National, have
been known to link their arms with
Wall Street. What if such q govern
ment should now come into power?
Governments change.
Is it for Burleson TO have the
right TO drive into bankruptcy any
man who dares to hint at public
wrong? In the light of this thought
MIR. Burleson's statement that he does
not intend to use his power in
political sense viii send the red blood
of every newspaper publisher tingling
through his veins in hot resentment,
The press of this country may need,
but certainly ii does not want and
viii not tolerate dependence for life
or death on the generosity of heart
or the honesty Of purpose on the head
of the postolfice department or any
other political dependent The Post
master is n public servant or, rather
he was until be was made the public
master. What il we shall find sit
ting as dictator Of the press in new
administration one of these cheap
pettyfogging Congressman whose sole
thought and whole ambition is to
soak the newspapers What is to
happen then?