Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1918-05-14
1 TIME FOR A RECKONING

year.
TIME FOR A RECKONING
Judge Kenesaw Mountain Lands
impulsive utterances never lack in
terest, and his rebuke to the l. w. W.
agftators for circulating printed
threats in his court room where w. D.
Haywood and iii other I. w. w. lead
ers are on trial is exactly the sort of
scoring he would be expected to de.
liver.
Judge Lands himself read excerpts
from the I. w. w. literature with
which the court room had been flood
ed. and the chief OF counsel for the de-
Tense created a diversion by threat
ening to withdraw from the case I'M
less the distribution Of the propaganda
should cease.
The l. w. w. trial has been inter
rupted by three occurrences which
tend to uphold the contention which
Senator Chamberlain urged In his ar
guments for the bill he proposed pro
viding for court martial trial Of per.
sons accused Of sedition and sabotage.
First, Judge Lands dismissed an en-
tire jury panel when It was discovered
that socialists, working in the interest
Of their allies, the defendants, had
questioned prospective Jurors as to
their political views. Thenla bottle of
nitroglycerine camouflaged with a
druggists label, was used to blow a
hole in the jail where the I. w. w.
Now it Is revealed that threats are be-
ing made to court and jury in an effort
to prevent conviction of the defend
ants
President Wilson undoubtedly had a
strong argument on his side when he
objected to the Chamberlain bill on the
ground of unconstitutionality, but 1t is
worth considering that the constitution
already had withstood some pretty de-
finite jolts since America went to war.
There is serious basis for the argu-
ment that American institutions and
interests would be better served by en-
actment Of Mr.. Chamberlain's pro-
posed law than by permitting pro-
fessed enemies of the government to
parade their contempt Of the courts in
which the government is compelled to
prosecute them for alleged violations
Oh tUc laws WHICH dlS IL ohlCu Aoi ehS
nations protection.
One article, credited to H. L. Var.
ney of st. Louis, refers to the trial as
the farce at Chicago" attacks Judge.
jury and prosecutors. declares Eve
can expect no justice" and adds:
There are 100000 of us over the
country. We ask you to think before
sending w. D. Haywood and our other
brave boys to prison. You Of the gov
erpment, our enemy, will be to blame.
Regardless of your verdict there will
be 100000 of u.s. We will remember"
II Mr.. Varney and the 112 prisoners
for whom he pleads could be hailed be-
fore a military court the speed with
which their trials would be conducted
and the length Of the sentences that
would be imposed would go far toward
discouraging the disloyalty Of the I. w.
w. and kindred socialistic clans. The
government and it's constitution would
be much safer from assault than they
are now, and no loyal American would
be heard in protest against the sum.
mary manner Of dispensing justice.
America has huge task on hand.
VII IIc OutCOulC vi lIAC "oA NSP>A@NS
not only the permanecy OF our 1nstltu.
lions but the future of civilization and
of the human race. We who remain
at home owe 1t to those who are fight
ing for us and for our common coun-
try to repulse every attack from the
rear with the same determination that
the American army's
defense Of the allies line on the west
ern front.
The I. w. w. agitators and their so
cialistic allies are enemies Of the Unit
ed States government, as thorough
going in their role as is the most des-
perate regiment Of German shock
troops. Certainly congress should pro-
vide some statute which would bring
them to book for their disloyalty and
discourage those who escape impris-
onment from risking their freedom.
II the new anti.s edition law will pro-
duce the desired effect, well and good.
II 1t proves too weak a stronger weap-
on must be provided.