New Britain herald. [microfilm reel] (New Britain, Conn.) 1890-1976, 1918-04-25
JOHNSON HITS At
FREE SPEECH GAG
Denounces Handling Of Sedition
Bill by Conferees

senate conferees on the sediton bill
to task for having eliminated an
amendment to exempt from it's pro-
visions any individuals who utter
what is true, With good motives and
for justihable ends The amendment
was adopted by the senate after a, long
debate so as to exclude from punish
ment as seditionists those who in
duIge in what the senators called
honest criticism.
The California senator argued that
the elimination of the amendment
which was offered by Senator France
of Maryland, meant in effect an
abridgment Of free speech.
THE act of the conferees Is a
stroke at a privilege that has been
ours since we became a republic"
said the senator. at was with the
feeling of the greatest delight and of
the greatest security, too, that l read
the wise and statesmanlike letter of
the president putting upon the So
called court martial measure the
stamp of his disapproval. He put it
upon that bill because it was in his
opinion, wholly unnecessary as well
as unconstitutional.
IF this bill to suppress sedition is
necessary it is also necessary that we
preserve, at the same time, the right
of honest, decent, legitimate, loyal ex-
preston, SO that a man, with honest
motive may speak the truth. What a.
travesty it is for us today to refuse
to permit the people of the union to
speak what is true with good motive
md fo& iRoo hi i,, f.-oS
land of ours. I hope the senate will
insist on this amendment being put
back in the bill, so that the right of
honest men to speak plainly and
truthfully shall not be stif1ed.'
Curb on Setiitious Talk Needed.
Senator Overman, who handled the
sedition bill in the senate, insisted
that the privilege Of free speech was
not imperilled by the measure. He
had read into the evidence a letter
from John Lord O'Brian Of Buffalo.
special assistant attorney general to
Representative Webb, one of the con-
ferees in which the necessity of put
ting a curb upon seditious utterances
was impressed. Mr.. OBrian urged
the elimination of the France amend
ment by the conferees, arguing that 1t
"Oulu serve OIly W lllipeuS lllc OpSId-
ton of the sedition bill against spy
propagandists. In his letter Mr..
OBrian said:
THE experience Of the depart
ment justifies the conclusion that
there is far more danger to the coun-
try in pro- German propaganda than
there is in mere outspoken disloyal
utterances.
n Ia n a q
shape of open abuse of the United
States or open advocacy of the cause
Of Germany, and it is seldom, if ever,
possible to prove that the propagan-
da has a German source, i. e. to prove
that the financing of it comes from
Il German source. On the contrary
this dangerous propaganda. of which
there is a great deal in the country
OF it's face generally shows motive
entirely legitimate.
Espionage Act Fairly Effective.
THE Espionage Act has proved
fairly effective weapon against prop
Uganda, and if amended as requested
by the department by making at
tempts to obstruct enlistment impos-
sible, there is every reason to be-
lieye that it will be thoroughly eff
fective. Its effectiveness for the pur-
pose of killing opaganda, however,
has come from the principle that
motives prompting propaganda are
irrelevant.
",The proviso referred to would
make the question Of motive not only
relevant but essential, and would in
troducc an element of proof, which
would greatly increase the condition
of successful prosecution and greatly
decrease the value of the Espionage
Act as a deterrent of propaganda.
For example, the most dangerous
type of propaganda used in this coun-
try is religious pacifisnl: i. e., opposi-
ton to the war on the ground that it
is opposed to the word of God. This
is the type of propaganda which was
extensively used in weakening the
Italian armies. The statements used
in it generally consist of quotations
from the Bible and various interpreted
tons thereof. Convictions against this
type of propa ganda are only possible
where the motivee is irrelevant and
where the motive is irrelevant and
intent from the natural effect of the
propa ganda. Another class of propa-
ganda extensively used is that OF
slowing down production or opposing
the war on the ground that this war
is one between the capitalists and the
proletariat This is the type of propa-
ganda which produced the most seri-
GUS results in Russia. IT contains
! however, assertions OF fact: on it's face
the motive is not reasonable: OF
| where a reasonable motive exists !,
| would be difficult to prove it. A third
/ type CT propaganda now apparent In
the South is that affecting the status
of the negro in connection with the
war. Here again few facts are stated
the facts which are stated are general
w true and it is difficult to disprove