The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1919-01-03

date end to all forms and degrees OF
censorship Against the principle OF
censorship an enlightened and a ro-
bust democracy must make an unre--
lentinp and uncompromising war, and
be intolerant of all arguments and
excuses that are advanced in favor OF
its continuance in times OF peace.
A concrete instance of the creations
developed by the emergency that
ought to be forthwith terminated is
that of the National Security league,
which is being investigated by con-
gress. This league claims a semi
judicial status by reason of working
with the federal department of justice,
although it is of purely voluntary
origin and has no power save such as
it exerts by private pressure. The
reason it is being investigated is be-
cause of having used its influence in
the recent campaign for or against
various candidates., members of con-
gress making complaint of having
been attacked because of their votes
which were cast, as they say, consci-
entiously and in the public interest,
although perhaps not in accordance
with the views of the directing head
of the league The league announces
that it proposes to continue its activi-
ties in the future and it probably has
a right to do so, but if some means
should be found of diverting it, and
other like war organizations, OF its
governmental connection and the
prestige of it's previous functions. The
original purpose of the league was
that of espionage, to find something
that might reflect on the loyalty OF
citizens and to hold everyone, even
members of congress, to its own con-
ceptions of right and wrong in the
relations growing out of the war. The
league did not and could not discrim-
mate upon the various arbitrary,
prodigal or futile measures presented
by the Washington bureaucracy for
enactment into law, in order to en-
nance its own departmental power
and prerogative, but demanded i'm
plicit support by congressman of all
such measures, under penalty of start
ing backfires at home against men,
bers who opposed or questioned any
of such proposals. Some members
were strong enough to resist, to tell
the truth, to demand the truth and to
hold the bureauracy responsible for
its wicked wastes, negligences and
subterfuges. and as result the ma
ton procured better service and better
results and has been spared countless
lives and some part of its natural
heritage and its opportunity. If this
league, however. may have accom-
plished some trifle of good by discov-
ering some latent pro-Germanism and
BY REFRESHING potential error, infatua-
ton, folly or ignorance in that direc
ton, such time has passed, There is
no place left on this continent for the
perpetuation of such organizations.
policies or purposes. 1t is time that
citizens, their business and their char
acter should be restored to the protec
ton of the law and of the properties
and no longer be made the football of
various sotrs of sentimentalists and
crusaders, or worse, the war has
brought to the front and to whom it
has given leave and license. 1t is
time, as Senator Borah says, to wipe
from the statute books every arbitrary
measure and every imperious prece-
dent. and to see them forgotten as
precedents and eliminated from our
political system.