Arizona republican., 1917-05-25
The Flag and the Censorship


 Jane Addams tells the story of a play written by some boys and girls of Chicago and put on" by them at Hull House. It related the history of the American flag. The first scene dscloses two Conti officers in attitude of intense discourage nent. One of them is G. Washington who observes to his companion, Gee it's fierce we can't fight aint flag In other scenes this remark Gee, it's fierce ain't no flag" was constantly re- peated. But in the final the situation is lieved and the flag is supplied. The curtain rises upon a little girl. Betsy Ross, rocking baby. G. Washington enters and exclams lugubriousy, Gee, Betsy. it's fierce we aint got flag"
 "Is that so?" Betsy replies; just hold the baby. George and I'll make one"
 Gee, it's fierce, we ain't got no censorship yet We can't go with the European until we get one and the administration is determined that shall have it, if not the kind of censorship first demanded, kind of censorship something that can be called censorship. Whats the use of going to war unless equipped for it with all the parapher- nala of war? England has a censorship; Germany has one and so has France If get into this without censorship will be conspicuous as man in top hat and dress suit hog killing. We just got to nave censorship.
 Very we'll The newspapers and others who felt that the original censorship clause the espionage bill blow aimed at the constitutional privileges of the press certainly object to the censorship provision with which the president now says he will be content It only forbids the publication news that will be helpful to the enemy. Of course there will be such news and it will work no hardship on the press publish anything does not hear about. So, if this censorship clause is going to be in any way helpful the prosecution of the war by all means let us have it.
 We would be willing go even farther than this in the surrender of the privileges press to the needs of the government at We would accept more drastic provision aimed the liberty of the pess, that would authorize the censor to forbid under the penalty of the usual punishment inflicted for treason any publication perncious doctrine that the is composed of green cheese.
 The censorship clause proposed fully pro- tects all the rights of the newspapers It specifically reserves the right to them to- comment upon and criticse their hearts content the government or any of it's representatives from the president down. for any blunder misconduct real or imaginary in the conduct of the As bunders and misconduct have characterized all of the wars in which we have ever been engaged, and this promises to be especially prolific in that respect as if the newspapers could keep themselves pretty busy during the conflict
 With this power definitely reserved to the press it can yield to the government empty, harmless cen sorshp without inconsistency with decision of the late Mir Justice Davis the United States supreme court, who said:
 The Constitution of the United States is law for rulers and people, equally in and peace and covers with the shield it's protection all classes of men, at all times, and under all circumstances No doctrine, involving perncious consequences was ever invented by the wit of than that any of it's provisions can be suspended during any of the great eMgencies of government. Such a doctrine leads di- recty to anarchy despotism the theory of nec- essity upon which is based is false; govern ment, within the Constitution has all the powers granted to it which necessary preserve its ex lstence as has been happily proved by the result of the great effort to throw off it's just authority"