The silver state. [volume] (Winnemucca, Nev.) 1909-1925, 1917-03-06

some phases Of il for many reasons
but l am more strongly opposed {
t the insidious effort. Of which this Pre-
posed legislation is the opening wedg.
to repeal or to emasculate Article
of the amendments to the Constitutiol
OF the United States, which provide
that there shall be no abridgement o
the freedom of the press.
1t is an age-old fight, my friends
this insistent effort to prevent the ex
crcise of honest criticism of men anC
measures. 1t had its beginning in the
dim, dark days when tyranny was
rule, when kings could do no wrong
and when he who tremendously raised
his voice in complaint or criticism OF
those occupying the seats of the
mighty paid for such i%ndiscretion
with his life. Six centuries after the
charter of human rights had been
wrested from the hands of John ON
the field of Runnymede, to be fol-
lowed by the towering of knowledge,
the hand of repression was again
raised against freedom of speech and
criticism under Charles l of England.
Arose then John Milton, champion of
liberty, master iogician, who. from
out the one of eternal night. hurled
into the teeth of suppressionists his
Ar~eopagitica, an unanswerable de-
Tense of freedom of speech and right
to publish, pregnant of truth and
righteousness.
Do we need another Milton now
Are we approaching an Armageddon
today that calls for a renewed Areo-
pagitica? Gentlemen of the Associ-
ated Ohio Dailies, the battle is on.
There is eve now not alone a govern
mental censorship of the press. but
the first Shiny tentacles of an inqui-
sition have been thrust m~enacingly
and with sinister purpose toward COM
plete official domination and control
Of editorial u~tterance.
Let US read a letter received by the
editor of an Ohio newspaper with
which most Of you are familiar:
Sir:-There has been submitted to
this Office a copy of an editorial en-
titled Why Not Regulate Every
thing% p~urporting to have been pub
llshed IN January 4. 1917, issue Of
your publication, with the suggestion
that it was published for a valuable
consideration, and should, therefore.
have been marked as an advertise
ment, in accordance with the provis-
ions OF the Act of August "a, 1912. n |
copy Of which is inclosed.
This Office would be pleased to have
/ statement from you in regard to the
Respectfully.
(Signed) A ~ DoCKERY,
Third Asst. Postmaster-GeneraI
The editorial referred to is as fol-
ows:
Why Not Regulate Everythingl
Opposition of the board OF cover
Tors Of the Cincinnati Advertisers
Tub to the Randall advertising bill
pending in Congress is timely and
sensible. This measure, if enacted
.to law, is to withhold from the mails
my publication or printed matter adj
'ertising intoxicating liquors for sale
Enactment of this bill into law will
stablish a precedent which quickly
nd easily may lead to governmental
censorship of all printed matter. If
/ becomes unlawful to publish adver-
Using relating to the sale of intoxi-
ating liquors, il will be but a stem to
.rohibit the advertising of tobacco. or
Underwear, or stockings, or of any
Their commodity in which a large por-
ion OF the public is interested. Ii
would almost appear that a law so
Irastic in its operation would be In
o~ntravention of the constitutional
guarantees to the press. Not because
he bill in question relates to to adj
ertlsing of alcohol, but for the broad
r reason that it impinges upon per-
onal rights, members of Congress
hould study the measure seriously
'efore committing themselves to its
upport.
You have before you indisputable
violence that an inquisitional govern
nent is watching with lynx eyes every
Itterance in opposition to enactments
II laws TO throttle the press. Con
GUrR rpEEVd nwWnn