The Daily Missoulian. [volume] (Missoula, Mont.) 1904-1961, 1918-02-09
\ LIMIT TO LICENSE.

| While the special session Of
1.-THE legislature is on we are like
In to hear from Helena high
blown talk about the rights OF
personal liberty. and of free
speech. II is hardly to be pre-
sumcd that the promoters Of dis
order in this state will stand idle
dnring The effort to enact a law
that will define disloyal and Sc
ditious speech and provide a pun
lishmcnt for the violation.
The |. w. w. and the radical
Headers of the Non-Partisan
league have mistaken notion
that they should be permitted to
speak and act about as they
please. When restriction is pro-
posed. they clamor ovcrmuch of
the danger to personal liberty.
Former President Taft tells rs
| that when he went to the Philip
pines as governor there was the
Istcrncst resentment on the part
| of the natives against the attempt
to enforce rules Of health. The
Filipinos were wholly unused to
restrictions with regard to quar-
lantine and the use of water and
food. They said frankly that they
Ihad not been used to such things
land thought we did not know the
first principle of liberty. They
isneered at American freedom. A
law that personal liberty should
he limited to safeguard the health
Iof an entire community was
something wholly beyond their
understanding.
| 1t is hardly necessary to men
ton various necessary restric-
tions that must be put upon any
man's liberty to do as he pleases,
mo man is allowed the right TO
cough or spit in public places,
where the germs in the dried
|sputum may be carried to endan-
lger others. No girl has a right to
|go into an office SO thinly clad
that she will deprive others OF
The ventilation which they need
I'VE might go a long way in defin-
ling other restrictions, but we
have especially i'm mind that
(which relates to free speech in
WAR time.
| We do not think that any hon
lest patriot who loves his country
land has sound sense will serious
ly question the judgment and pur-
lpose of The governor and the leg
islaturc in framing any law that
Ithcy deem necessary to safeguard
1.-The lives of citizens. Indeed, we
think We may seriously question
1.-THE interest Of those who are
istartlng agitation against such q
measure. What is it they wish
tn discuss, that they fear restric-
Itiuns? Do they seriously think
there is danger of the Legislature
lmnzzling the people Of this state
Ialong the lines that prevailed in
Russia under the government OF
the late ear, or as now prevail
lin Germany? Surely no citizen
with understanding can think
THAT.
! We feel assured that 4 law OF
somc sort will be passed. but W,
larc solicltiOu> that it be framed
M such a way "a 10 meet the enc
|dcSlred and he without flaws fol
Illegal attack. This is Il matter thai
iconccrns the wcll-bring of every
Icitizen. We can think of no NOR,
urgent duty NOW than to impress,
upon our own legislators as wei
us others the very great imp0r.
ltanee Of making it "a complete job
| 1t is quite likely that the ]. w
W. think that their personal lib
erty will be restricted, if they ar,
not permitted TO practice som,
form Of sabotage, such as the,
have used in the lumber camp.
lof this state. They must be mad,
to understand that their handful
, OF disturbcrs are not to be permit
: tied TO endanger the safety O
the people. We have Job O
some dimensions to keep tn
j country from getting into tn
hands Of the kaiser and his sa
traps. and have little patienc
d with disturbers in our own CON
Whose interests
81 This war are entirely secondary
g the promotion of their own al
!, .archistic ends.