The sun., 1918-04-05
SPY DEBATE IN
SENATE TURNS
ON PRESS GAG
Walsh Amendment At
tackled as Making Presi.
dent an AutOcrat.
CREEL ALSO IS SCORED
johnson. Reed and Watson
Bitterly Attack Muzzling
of Public Voice.
CREEL ALSO IS SCORED

WAsHISGroN, April 4.-Denunciation
espionage act. coupled with an cxco-
Ration OF George Creel. chairman OF the
Committee on Public Information fur
nished two hours Of intense excitement
in the Senate to-day. In the course OF
the debate Senator johnson California;
charged that the measure was designed
to place in the hands OF the Admins
tration completely autocratic powers
over the press OF the country denying
It's constitutional prerogative Of freedom.
Senators Reed ,Missouri). Democrat.
and Watson Indiana). Republican. at
lacked Mr.. Creel.
Senator johnson made it plain that
he favored any legislation to punish
most condignly d!sloyaity or treason
and to punish most severely any indi-
vidual who in any measure or In any
fashion rctards our progress In this
war"
But" he went on. u say that the
language OF the bill demonstrates the
fact that it is not for the punishment
Of treason. but it is q 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 criticism concerning the
present Government, the present Admin
istration or the Administration with re-
spect to the war.
Seeks to Prevent Criticism.
81. is not only a hill designed 10 sup
press the press OF the country and make
il subserv!ent TO those who are in power
to-day but IL is a bill that seeks tG
make one refrain from discussion OF
criticism. II even purrorts TO prevent
; one from thinking. II he wishes 70 think
| Those gentlemen who advocate it may
insist that the qualifying clause in con-
nection with prosecution Of the war
may have some talismanic meaning
hut all the activities of the departments
, to-day. all the activities Of the various
, agencies which are dealing with ths
| Government to-day, are engaged sub
. stant.ally in the prosecution o: the war
So We reach finally what would he the
! ultimate construction Of this bill. tina
! IL any man said anything substantial!
! in opposition 20 any department OF thi.
, Government or anything which woult
! cause opposition or resistance to m,
particular administrative part OF this
Government then ne is guilty Of Q Grim.
punishable by twenty wears In stat,
prison"
! Senator Reed arose at once To carr,
, forward the attack lie had Spoken
! hardly Atty words however. before II,
had cited Mr.. Creel as typical Of th,
sort Of. publicists Who properly wou!t
ha ,p ,.l, lau S'of In,
! as that proposed In the pending measure
Asks II Creel Is Included.
: The proposition here presented" sal,
! Senator Reed IS whether or rot an,
/ man who has been sowing the seeds O
d.scord or scattering dragons teetl
throughout the land leading to a con
dition in this country to-day OF Rebellion
! against the constituted authority shoult
| be, given high place under the Admins
| tration at this time, and PARTICULAR,
| the kind OF a position where lie IL +
test the loyalty of other men. wan
to know II George Crecl would not b
, subject to the provisions OF this bill
himself--he. the man whose hand cal
altogether write, or manufacture az wei
| we know. the news which goes TO tn
, people respecting the purposes and tn
events OF this war
Senator Warren read into the recor,
number Of editorials written by tn
| chairman OF the Committee on Publ
, Information In ante-war years In whc
! the entire Government was attacked
most especially the President and tn
| Senate held up as despotic bod
against which the people were powerles
| to defend themselves,
Il am wondering continued Senate
GanIiuued Qac4.aLd