New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-06-01
House Defeats
Press Gag Bill
By 1874 to IA
Its Action Expected to Check
Any Further Efforts to
"Muzzle" Newspapers
drastic Section
Is Called Illegal
Loyalty Of Nations Alarm
Clock" Defended Naval
News Suppressed

and free press triumphed to-day when
censorship was beaten in the House by
the decisive vote of 1874 to IA.
This defeat probably will check any
further immediate efforts on the part
of the Administration to muzzle the
press. In the final rollcall many mem
bers who had previously voted in favor
of censorship voted in the negative.
Representative Gard, of Ohio, whose
generalship put over" the censorship
amendment TO the espionage bill in the
House when the bill was up originally,
switched around to-day and declared
the provision reported by the conferrees
was far too drastic to command his sup
port and that he would vote against 1t.
Representative Gordon, also of Ohio,
was another member who changed his
vote to-day. He declared that, while he
voted for the censorship amendment re-
Gently introduced by Representative
Graham, he could not see his way clear
to support the amendment agreed to in
conference.
Purpose of the Constitution
"Where do you get any authority TO
pass any laws abridgng the freedom OF
the press ?" asked Representative Cor
don in opposing the amendment. "The
press can be punished under existing
laws for giving aid to the enemy" He
said the provision written into the Con-
! stitution forbidding the enactment of
any laws abridging the freedom of the
press was intended ito protect the peo-
pie against Congress as we'll as any
body else"
: T representative Gard declared that he
wa, opposed to giving the President
absolute power to withhold all informa-
tion about the movements, number, dis
trbution and other matters about the
army and the navy. "In all honesty to
myself, | cannot accept the language
Of Section 4 of this conference report,
: he said.
Representative Graham, OF Pennsyl-
vania. in urging the defeat of the CEN
/ sorship provision, declared that he and
I the other members on the minority
side would support the President in
every way they could in his efforts to
bring about a speedy conclusion Of the
war. But, he said, the censorship pro
vision was not calculated TO help in
bringing about this result.
He invited the attention Of the House
TO the fact that not once during the
war between this country and Germany
/ had the newspapers printed anything
which might give aid or comfort TO the
enemy. Although the newspapers were
I aware of the sailing of the destroyer
b fleet for Europe not one word of this
/ information appeared in the press Of
the country. II was not until word was
cabed to the United States that Ber-
! lin knew Of the sailing OF the destroy
ers four days before their arrival in
! british waters that the American pub
/ lie knew the facts.
Loyalty of Press Defended
"Why question the loyalty and patri-
otism OF the press of this country
/ demanded Representative Graham.
/ "They have voluntarily refrained from
I II
! be helpful TO the enemy, so why the
l need Of this censorship provision? The
} newspapers are just as patriotic, just
as loyal. as any member Of the House"
; "Do not strike at the alarm clock
/ of the nation" fairly shouted Repre-
sentative Fecht, of Pennsylvania, in
denouncing the efforts of the Admin
/ istration to gag the press.
"The difficulty with which We are to
deal" said Mr.. Mccormick, "is that Of
Z drawing a censorship section which will
meet the exigencies in the case, to find
/ language that will protect, without en-
dangering. the men enlisted in the army
and navy of the United States"
Mr.. Mccormick referred TO news
paper articles appearing earlier in the
week 10 the effect that the American
feet is in splendid fighting trim.
/ "Now, think am not transgressing
/ the bounds of discretion" he said,
"when | say that the fleet is far less
ready for action to-day than when it
came from Guantanamo
Declined to Give Details
Representative Butler, of Pennsyl-
vania, asked him 10 give his reasons,
! but he declined to go into details. How
ever. he said:
"The sick bays are overfowing, the
hospitals are crowded, making IT neces-
sary TO bring men here. am Informed
AT one point men are herded in sheds.
At another point they had no bedding
except such as was supplied by private
/ charity
In closing, Mr.. Mccormick said that
the men who favored striking out the
/ censorship section agreed TO by the
conferrees were just as "solicitous'
for the welfare of the enlisted men
and the success of the army and navy
as those who support the section.
The Democrats voting with the Re-
publicans TO recommit the bill we're:
Ashbrook. Ohio: Bell. Georgia Borland.
/ Missouri: Brand. Georgia; Brodbeck, Penn
! sylvania Burnett, Alabama; Church. Cali
! fornia: Claypoo Ohio: Connolly. Kansas
Crosser. Ohio: Dill. Washington. Dominick.
, south Carolina: Evans Montana. Gallagher.
! Illinois. Gard and Gordon Ohio: Harili.
/ New Jersey; HiIard. Colorado: kuddleston.
| Alabama; Humphreys. Mississippi. keating.
/ Colorado Kelly, Pennsylvania Larsen. Geor-
! uia. Naher, New York Olney. Massa-
! chusctts Overmyers. Ohio Overs;reet. Geor-
gia: Rouse. Kentucky: Seully. New Jersey
Sherwood. Ohio Sisson. Mississippi: Slayden.
T.xas: Charles u. Smith. New York
Thompson Oklahoma: Van Dyke, Mime
sofa Vinson. Georgia White. Ohio.
Republicans voting against the mo-
, tion TO recommit were:
Dyer. Missouri Elston. California: Fuller.
Massachusetts Griest. Pennsylvania. James.
Michigan; Kipc Illinois Little. Kansas
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