New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1918-04-05
Watson Quotes His Writ
ings in Debate ON Dis
loyalty Bill
Says Administration
Would Gag Papers
Johnson Declares Measure
is Designed to End Even
Public's Thinking
[Staf Correspondence

Creel's judgment about what is loyal
or disloyal in the public prints came
under. caustic scrutiny to-day during
the debate in the Senate on the House
bill providing penalties of twenty
years Imprisonment and $4,000 fine
for dsloyal acts and disloyal state
ments.
Senator Johnson charged the meas
ure was aimed directly to suppress
legitimate criticism in the press:
Editorials attacking a President OF
the United States, the Senate and hlgh
Roman Catholic prelates, written by Nil.
Creel several years ago. were read by
Senator Watson, of Indiana. as indi-
proposed in the amendments to the
espionage bill should not be voted by
the Senate into his hands.
what kind of democracy are We
fighting to make the world safe for?"
demanded Mr. Watts on-'the kind we
enjoyed before this war broke out, or
the kind Mr.. Creel champions ?"
Senator Johnson Explains
Senator Johnson, of California, went
to some length to make plain that he
favors any legislation to punish most
condignly disloyalty or treason, and to
punish most severely any individual
who in any measure OR in any fashion
retards our progress in this war"
"My words" he said, "are not di-
rected to any individual Senator here.
They were spoken with the full knowl-
edge of the fact that has transpired
again and again, not only in the Sem
ate but all over the land, that any
man who SD not subscribe instanter
to any doctrine, however subversive of
this Republic or of its fundamental
principles, that was presented to him,
by that token and by that very fact, his
disloyalty was demonstrated, and he
was shown to be an enemy of this
country.
"Of course, such doctrine is absurd
and ought to be met only with scorn
and contumely, but it is the fashion,
and has been for some time past, now
with every man ard every representa-
and courageously expressed his opln-
ion. l say that the language of this
bill demonstrates the fact that this is
bill not for the punishment of trea-
son. but it is bill to suppress the
freedom of the press of the United
States OF America, and to prevent any
man, no matter who he is, expressing
legitimate CIttlLiSuI COICSiHiIS tES
present government, the present Ad-
ministratlon, or the administrator
with respect to the war.
would Stop Thinking
at is not only bill designed to sup
press the press of the country ano
make it subservient to those who are
in power to-day, but it is a bill that
seeks to make one refrain from dis
custom or criticism, and even pur-
ports to prevent one from thinking, il
he wishes to think
"Those gentlemen who advocate il
may insist that the qualifying clause
Sin connection with prosecution Of the
war may have some talismanic mean
ing, which, of course, would be some
thing with which we should not dea
at all in the discussion; but all of the
activities of the departments to-day
all the activities of tine various agen
cies which arc dealing with the gov
eminent to-day, are engaged substan
TALLY in the prosecution of the war. 81
we reach finally what would be the ulti
mate construction of this blll-that i
any man said anything substantial.
= in opposition to any department. O
this government or anything which
would cause opposition or resistance
to any particular administrative par
If this government, then he is guilt.
Of crime punishable by twenty year
in states prison."
"The proposition here presented" sal
Senator Reed, ".s whether or not an,
man who has been sowing the seeds 0
discord or scattering the dragons teetl
throughout the land, leading u con
dition in this country to-day of REBEL
ion against the constituted authority
should be given high place under tn
Administration at this time. and pax
ticularly the kind of a position wher
he is to test the loyalty Of other men.
Creel Under Fire
81 want to know if Mr.. George Cree
would not be subject to the provision
Of this bill himself-he, the man who's
hand can altogether write or manu-
facture, as we'll we know, the new
which goes to the people respecting tn
purposes and the events of this war"
81 am wondering" said Senator Wat
son, whether or not, if George Cree
were to write that article now and thi
law were enforced, he could not be sen
to the penitentiary for violating it?"
Undoubtedly he could, and he ough
to be-" Senator Borah, of Idaho, an
swered.
II agree" said Senator Watson
land if that be true, ought Georg
Creel TO be placed in position Of re
sponsibility where he can censor al
the news in regard to the war pro