The Daily Missoulian. [volume] (Missoula, Mont.) 1904-1961, 1918-02-15
The DAILY nSSOULIAN
eSTAelisHEp 1879
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY IS, 1918.
THE GOVERNORS MESSAGE.

point in the few, but highly inn
portant recommendations. If the
legislature will follow the spirit
and purpose of the governor,
there should be no delay in en-
acting into law, the measures as
outlined.
We are convinced that the
great majority of our citizens
stand squarely behind this pro-
gram, and we are quite as GER
tain that all Legislators who Of
fer resistance will be subjected to
q good deal Of criticism from
their constituents. They should
keep especially in mind that these
are war times, when the lives,
honor and property of the peo-
pie are at stake and that the gov
ernor's recommendations must be
regarded from that viewpoint
alone.
In time of peace, some of us
might reasonably view with con-
Germ and, perhaps, suspicion, a
bill that was suddenly offered to
restrain the unlimited right Of
speech. We could well inquire
into the purpose of such a meas
ure at such "a time. There have
been instances in history when
the arbitrary restraint Of assem-
blage, free speech and a free
press have been followed by most
tragic results
Do we need an effective, well
defined law on that subject in
Montana now? Most certainly We
do. Why?i Because it has lately
been decided by a judge of the
federal court that a man or Wom-
an with d. traitors heart, may
stand on the housetops and with
out restraint or punishment, pro-
fanely insult the president of. the
United States, call him a CRATER
and express the hope that Ger
many will win the war.
Does that talk help to win The
war? We think not. II not, why
should there not be law to stop
II?
Frank Little called the soldiers
OF the United States army ''Uncle
Sans scabs." United States Dis
trict Attorney Wheeler said-there
was no way to stop that sort OF
treason. Unless you agree with
Titles followers that the fine
Montana boys of the Tuscania
who sleep in foreign graves
should be Nailed "uncle Sans
scabs,' yoB will be heartily III
sympathy With the move for a
law to stoR seditious speech.
The argument that we have Of
fered applies in but slightly diff
ferent form to recommendations
for a law OH sabotage and to pro-
vide a home. guard and for legal
izing the State Council of Defense
SO that its benefits may be Ell.
larged.
Hardly had our part in the wal
begun, before congress, by an al
most unanimous vote, gave to the
president tile most extraordinary
powers ever conferred upon al
individual by a free people. THESE
powers We're given for exercise
during the war alone, and are re
movable with the declaration OF
peace. The purpose is too obvious
to discuss, but the example is
worthy of notice at this time
when skulking, political dema-
gogues seeking favor, and GER
tain organizations of disturbers
are raising a camouflaged cry of
cndangering the liberties of the
people. They know full we'll that
these measures, which have been
demanded, will, if enacted, be
used solely for the purpose out
lined.
The point which should not be
lost is that those who claim the
greatest anxiety as to depriVa-
ton of the rights of free speech,
are the ones in open alliance or i'll
sympathy with those who have
condoned, and even defended
such outrageous Violations Of
speech as we have instanced.
We take II that there Will be no
differences in the discussion and
wisdom OF tie governors recon-
mendatlons With regard to laws 10
aid the farmers in securing seed,
to provide a fair moratorium for
our fighting men, All amendment
to the law bsr absent voters and
law providing Montana white
fish for usei in the markets.
Attention is also called to the
national prtahihitinp apeud,nant