The Oakley herald. [volume] (Oakley, Idaho) 1908-1961, 1917-04-06


last annual meeting OF tho Associated
Ohio Dailies, w. F. Wiley. editor OF tho
Cincinnati Enquirer. delivered an ad-
dress thai has become = classic In edi-
torial circles.
MIR. Wiley startled his audience OF
editors when he proved to them that
the Wanted freedom Of the press II 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 ~ surely ~ the
glacier grinds it's resistless way down
mountain slopes. sweeping before 1t
all life and growth and development,
50 there il sweeping down on the
press Of America the relentless, cold.
merciless un-American avalanche Of
governmental censorship.
1t Is inconceivable to my mind that
Russianization OF the American press
will be permitted to 20 on UNDECIDED
and unchecked And yet the end OF
the effort to throttle US IL not in sight.
To the local efforts of Alabama, West
the sale or circulation Of newspapers
containing advertisements Of certain
character Is added now the proposal
of the congress of the United States
to prevent the carrying by mail any
where of newspapers containing such
advertising matter. That proposal
has already been endorsed by the SEN
70 ho holf 1
will receive also the approval OF the
house OF representatives.
There Is pending. too. In the senate
. resolution, declaring that United
States district courts shall have no
power to declare an act OF congress
unconstitutional.
| / am not here to make \ defense Of
the liquor traffic. nor to plead for
those newspapers and other periodic
ais that carry tho advertising of this
business. Personally. l have no in
terest In the business direct or In
direct, nor have / ever defended 1t.
Speaking to you tonight as man to
man, l may add, even. that l am per-
sonally opposed to some phases OF 1t
for many reasons, but l am more
strongly opposed to the insidious ef-
fort, OF which this proposed legisla-
ton is the opening wedge. to repeal or
to emasculate Article l Of the amend
ments to the Constitution of the
United States, which provides that
there shall be no abridgement Of the
freedom of the press.
II 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 wronH
and when he who tremendously
raised his voice In complaint or criti
clsm OF those occupying the seats OF
the mighty paid for such indircretion
with his life.
Gentlemen Of the Associated Ohic
Dailies the battle is on. There Is even
now not alone a governmental censor
ship OF the press, but the first Shiny
tentacles Of an inquisition have beer
thrust menacingly and with sinister
purpose toward complete official dom
ination and control OF editorial utter
ance.
Let us read a letter received by tn,
editor OF an Ohio newspaper will
which most Of you are familiar:
Sir:-There has been submitted to Thu
Office copy Of an editorial entitled "Wh.
Not Regulate Everything" purporting t.
have been published In Jan. T. 1911, issu
OF your publication. with the suggestion
that 1t was published for valuable con
sideration and should, therefore. hav'
been marked as an advertisement II
accordance with the provisions OF TIL
act of Aug "a. 1912 a copy of which 4
tnclosed This office would be pleased Z
have a statement from you In regard Z
the matter.
Respectfully.
A. NJ. DOCKERY.
Third Asst Postmaster General
The editorial referred to follows:
Why Not Regulate Everything,
Opposition Of the board of governors @
the Cincinnati Advertisers club to tn
Randall advertising bill pending in con
Kress is timely and sensible. This meas
ure. II enacted into law is to Withhold
from the mails any publication or printe
matter advertising intoxicating liquor
for sale.
Enactment Of this bill into law wi
establish a precedent which quickly an
easily may lead to governmental censor
ship OF all printed matter. II II become
unla wful to publish advertising relatln
TO the sale OF intoxicating liquors. II wi
be but step to prohibit the advertiser
Of tobacco or underwear. of Stocking!
or Of any other commodity In which
large portion of the public 10 interested
1t would almost appear that law q
drastic In It's operation would be in con
traventlon of the constitutional gusrar
tees to the press Not because the bi
in question relates to advertising of alec
/ hoi, but for the broader reason that
impinges upon personal rights. member
of congress should study the measure ser
ousiy before committing themselves to II
support.
You have before you indisputabl
evidence that an inquisitional govern
ment is watching with lynx eyes ever
utterance in opposition TO enactment
of laws to throttle the press. Coz
gress, led by fanatics, or under tn
domination of paid zealots. is going I
enact these laws, and II will go flu
Their. Having tasted the blood froI