Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1917-11-28

Norbet O'Leary. A. G. Townley's
steuogSapher, has furnished the VIII
MAX tribune with the. opening aud
closing portions OF the speech Of Nil.
Lovingly as delivered at Willmar Oct.
IL. anu We publish them herewith as
a matter OF great interest to the thou
SAND odd people who heard him, and
10 many who were unable TO get into
the hau. Here are the extracts OF the
speech in full verbatim, exactly as
Mr.. O,Leary furnished them to US:
-- Speech by --s5s
A. C. WILEY
TUESDAY AFTERNOON. ="
At wll'maS: KsaaiSeh H. County 1:aa Mime
Gabriel stene. Of New London. in chair.
Mr.. Chairman, Ladies and Gentlemen:
very OFTEN crested py large audi audienc ssn
But some OF the citizens of Willmar,
are not in the habit OF seeing so many
l; W. M:,s in one place at the same
But il does not bother me at all. be-
avn While to crowd is sa to
ering-Will some Of You gentlemen let
the lady there have seat?
heartily appreciate such loyal attend
ance.
ana going to assume while I talk,
that most OF you are here, not because
you believe what the st. Paul Dispatch,
or the Minneapolis Journal or Tribune.
have been saying about us: but because
you believe what our friends have been
saying about US, and have come to give
us this opportunity to prove to you that
we have been misrepreSented.
We have had some difficulty the last
two weeks in holding meetings. Much
to our surprise. and sometimes discom-
fort. we nave found it necessary. in one
place to stand in the middle OF the
street on q cold night to talk to. farm
ers. and at two other places. found it
II miles-and part OF the town with 1t
to place where we could hold a
was taught when I was g boy. that
this was as.r tree free country The school
press me with the fact. that this was
the only country in the world where
essy an led to-
exercise certain rights that other peo-
pa Among 'A1 these cons;titSti as na rixhts
that l was taught to understand were
crit as e.
right Of the people freely to assemble.
believe still. that we have here the
7gh 6a OF free te bes1s Rs
everybody in the United states be be:
lieve that everybody in this town-that
free speech. But have learned in the
last ten days. that there are some peo'
daughter and applause).
upon the fact that in these United
not 6siisSs IN the rsSt Of f ssse spsesf
~ a. not make any impression upon this
de meeting. l understand some two Of
OF fa ew SsyR a he'd
%, do to stop this meeting: But they de-
which We all are TO very Ga
en- Now in these United states-in thes,
* democracy, it is necessary that the PEG
e., pie Of these United States. shall civ,
~ up government. Because here in the Unit
I'm men who rule by divine right, but TIL
en- rulers of the land here are the peopl,
of The highest authority in this country
49, in this political democracy. is the vii
-. 10 Of the people themselves.
'es In Japan, China, old Russia, or SOM
od other European countries, the law of tn
it. the people. The law Of the land is $ tn
lrs WIN of one man: ,, Now we az oppose
IN Russia ~ wh RHs' the car was ruling
u it didn't make much difference whethe
nd not. Because they didn't have much o
~" the land was to be--they didn't hav
the right to vote. So over there the!
IN. But in these United States. where tn
men elected to rule the land are electe,
'ss where the law. of the land depends TO
he majority Of the citizens Of this eoun
err but it is your duty as an American citi
zen, carefully to consider the :qualifica
Dol tions of candidates for Office. and care
"a fully to consider the laws of your land
to be a short time until some one. or som
b. fhemsefves p the self appointed raIe9s
,b- the country. and our land instead o
he being a democracy will become an au
BE- that in j. these United states today ar
H." permit them--kindly consent to rui
this this, country country for good long time An
En v0Sr study
~. lens of state, are we able to retain on
no no liberties and our democracy.
for psSSs in
els racy-to intelligently decide upon tn
by merits or dement's Of candidates for Of
ACcs AL O1uSI 4OE Il0 people OF a Oc
mocracy to decide upon whether law
are good or bad; in order for the PEG
IN pie of a democracy to intelligent1y rul
at their own country, 1t is necessary tina
ap- they have first of all, the right OF fire.
ae- assembly and free speech. (Applause)
Free assembly and free speech ar
the foundation stones of any democ
racy. Our constitution guarantees t.
lay the American people, the right Of fire.
,ar assembly and tree speech.
nm Now I do not mean by the right o
y y4 free speech, the right on my part t
~ come before you here and advocate mo-
- violence. I do not mean by the right o
free speech, the right to come befor
you and advocate the breaking of an,
in law. Or the right on my part to com
- before you here and advise you in tim
ie1 of war to give aid to the enemy d.
has not mean by free speech the right o
- any American citizen to do those things
but do mean by free speech the RICH
of every American citizen freely an,
openly to discuss the affairs and tn
N. laws, and the rulers and the candidate
ION for office, of his state, his county o
lys the nation.
at Let me give you an idea Of what
nave been led by the school books an
the copy books, and what little com
Dix mon sense have, to understand to b
res my duty as an American citizen: II
lived in Russia do not believe that
would feel that it was my duty to obe
. the law of Russia. do not believe tina
would feel that it was my duty t