The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-10-06

The belief becoming widespread in
this land that this most fundamental
right is being denied citizens of this
country is fact, the tremendous sig
piticance of which those in authority
have not yet appreciated"
Quotes President Lincoln.
He quoted from the speeches and
writings of Lincoln, Clay, Webster and
Sumner to show their vigorous public
opposition to the Mexican war, and to
President Folks attitude and policies.
Lincoln, Webster, Clay, Sumner"
said La Toilette.
What galaxy of names in American
history. They all believed and assert
ed and advocated in the midst of war
that it was the constitutional right and
the patriotic. duty of American citizens
after the declaration of war, and while
the war was in progress, to discuss the
issues of the war and to criticize the
policies opposed to prolonging the war.
The right of these men is exactly
the same as possessed by every Ameri-
can citizen today in respect to the war
in which we are now engaged
Quoting Lloyd George, La Toilette
showed he had opposed the Boer war,
both before and after its beginning; he
showed how Chatham and Burke OPP
posed the war on the American col
onies, quoting, he said, Ito show that
the principle of free speech was no
new OOGlIlIe DO1 II VI lAAC
of the United States
Opens Attack on Congress.
La Toilette then launched into a
criticism of congress for falling to "eX-
ercise it's power to declare the pur-
pose and objects of the war
''I believe that had congress eXer-
cised this power we would have avoid
ed the present war" continued La
toilette II believe that if we are to
extricate ourselves from this war and
restore this country to an honorahle
and lasting peace. congress must eX-
ercise in full the war powers entrusted
, to it by the constitution.
He asserted that congress has al
lowed the president to abrogate pow
ers not vested in him
To-day the president is regulating
I commerce with foreign nations under
an attempted delegation of power
| from congress and regulating it in
such way as to involve US in serious
| difficulty if not actual war with Hol-
land and the Scandinavian countries,
he said.
tional authority gets no power to de-
/ clare the objects and purposes of any
! war in which the country may be en-
gagged and cannot make treaty OF
peace without the approval of the sem
ate I commend this thought tothose
/ gentlemen both in and out of pubic
office who condemn all efforts either
| nv the people or their representative
| in congress to discuss terms of peace,
| or who even venture to suggest that a
| peace is not desirable until such time
as the president, acting solely on his
| own responsibility shall declare for
| peace.
Urges People into Campaign"
ut is a strange doctrine we hear
these days, that the mass of the peo-
/ v,1n xxbn misery and
blood all the costs of this war out OF
which a favored few profit so largely
may not fl eely and publicly discuss
terms of peace"
In concluding his speech, La Fol
lette called on the people of the coun-
| try to unite in a campaign along con-
! stitutional lines for free discussion OF
/ the policy of the war and its conclu-
sion on a just basis"
Senator Kellogg Makes Reply.
Following conclusion of La Fol-
lette's speech, Senator Kellogg, who
introduced the resolution of the Min
nesota public safety commission de
manding La Folette's expulsion, tool
the floor.
Kellogg discussed La Follette's
| speech at ST. Paul on September 20
1t is because of statements attributed
to La Toilette in this speech that the
| public safety commission demanded
| La Toilette be expelled as disloyal
Kellogg expressed emphatic dissent
from some of the views La Toilette
stated.
After we. have declared war" SAID
Kellogg, 81 believe we should be ex'
| tremely cautious and accurate in stat
| ing the causes of the war.
'I deny that we went to war to Sc
cure the right of American citizens te
ride on ships loaded with munitions
or loaded with explosives in violation
of American statutes.
'.AIisstatement of Facts"
81 deny that we went to war to pro
tect the loans of Morgan & Company
to foreign governments"
! Kellogg reviewed the history of tor.
pedoing of American ships.
| Discussing the demand for free
speech Kellogg said:
''I am as jealous of the right o.
free speech as any member of thi.
body, or any citizen of the land. Blu
this is a question of erroneous state
ment of fact rather than free speech
FROST WAS LIGHT ONE