Newark leader. ([Newark, Ohio]) 1917-1946, 1919-12-12
UNCONSTITUTIONAL CENSOR
SHIP OF PUBLIC MEETINGS

When the Civil War ended in the
triumph of the Union cause, the men
who fought to save the life of the
Republic formed an organization,
which was intended to perpetuate the
spirit of comradeship born of the
participation in the perils faced in
the defense of the country. The Grand
| Army of the Republic, as that organ
ization was very appropriately named,
fostered a spirit of patriotism among
it's members and helped greatly to
infuse the same spirit into those who
succeeded them on the stage of life.
The G. A. R. was in this way an es-
sentially patriotic organization
against which no charge Of un-Ameri-
canism was ever brought.
The ranks of the veterans of the
Civil War have been diminished by
the passing years, but the survivors
who now make up the membership
of the G. A. r. are as loyal to Ameri-
can ideals as they were in their lusty
manhood when they risked their lives
on many a hard fought battlefield
that these ideals might not go down
in defeat They furnish eXemplars
worthy of imitation by the young
Americans who served in the late
World War. The survivors Of that
war have formed an organization
similar to that which the veterans of
the Civil War founded fifty odd years
ago. The name selected for the new
organization is colorless and unsug-
gestive. The Grand Army of the
Republic is a title which carries with
it meaning. The American Legion,
the name assumed by the new mill
tary society, is far from being so sig
nificant as is the Grand Army of the
Republic. But names are of small
consequence in comparison with prin-
ciples. The American Legion is only
a few months old and already things
have been done in its name, which
will not meet with the approval Of
Americans who are loyal to American
traditions.
Now, freedom of speech and the
right to assemble peaceably consti-
tute part of our American heritage.
Both are guaranteed US in express
terms by the Constitution of the
United States. By the supreme law
of the land Congress is prohibited en-
acting any law denying the exercise
Of these rights. The first amendment
OF the Constitution reads: Congress
shall make no law respecting an es-
tablishment Of religion, or prohibiting
the free exercise thereof; or abridg-
ing the freedom of speech; or of the
press; or the right Of the people
peaceably to assemble, and to petit
tion the Government for redress OF
grievances" 1t is to be regretted
that some members of the American
Legion have manifested a disposition
to ignore both the letter and the
spirit of this constitutional provision.
In one place an eX-member of Con-
gress was prevented by representa-
tives of the American Legion from
delivering a speech against the Cow
enant of the League of Nations. In
Reading, Pa, Socialists were not al
lowed to hold a public meeting on ac
count Of the opposition of the Am
erican Legion. In Portland, Ore,
some pinheaded members of the Am
erican Legion ordered the flag Of the
Irish Republic to be removed from
the automobile in which President De
Valera rode. The Portland post of
the American Legion had the good
sense to condemn this action.
The American Legion cannot afford
to permit such acts to be done in its
name No organized body should in
terfere with rights guaranteed to
every American citizen by the funda-
mental law of the land. The uncor-
stitutional censorship Of public meet
ings by the American Legion will not
be tolerated by the American people.