The Washington times., 1920-01-18
BLOW. TO
FREE SPEECH
Congressman Huddlestone AS
serts Big Financiers Back
Sedition Laws.

A nution- wide propaganda backed
by big hnancieial interests centerins
In New York city is responsible for
the effort 20 put drastic sedition legis-
Iatiou through Congress, Congress
man seoTge Huddleston (DemD OF
Alabama. declared in merry speeeh
In the House yesterday.
A careful study OF the bill reported
out by the House Judiciary Committee
as "A substitute for the Sterling Dill
passed in the Senate. Mr.. Huddlestoh
said, discloses that the real intent Is
to strike at the right OF freedom OF
speech.
Exinting laws are entirely ade-
quate, he added TO deal with persons
who attempt to bring about insurrec-
tlon or rebellion. The claim that ad-
legislation Is needed ne
charged, is nothing more than an eh-
cuse TO enable special interests TO
continue their nefarious practices Al
the expense of the humber and less
influential citizens.
Nationwide Propaganda.
For months" said Mr.. Huddleston.
"a nationwide propaganda for the
passage of drastic laws aimed at the
freedom of speech has been carried
on. This propaganda originated with
big financial interests centering in
New York city. 1t has been support
ed by ample funds. Cloaked as
II has met with
success.
''The reactionary press took up the
cry and IL has been echoed by many
illiberal bodies of business men. Its
fruits are now about to be gathered.
Congress Is about to respond. The
House Committee on Judiciary has re-
ported a bill and II is quite obvious
that within few days we Will be
called upon to vote on this measure.
The measure is being brought
forward upon the plea that 1t Is
necessary to the preservation of or
der. Their pretended purpose is to
prevent insurrection and forceful re-
sistance to our laws. The excuse for
them is that existing laws are mad
cquate to prevent insurrection and
the use of force. | assert that we al
ready have adequate laws for such
purpose and that careful study of
the measure proposed discloses the
real intent is to strike at the free
dom of speech"
Certain Laws Sufficient.
vised Statutes were cited to substan-
tiate his assertion that existing laws
are adequate. Section 1884 makes 1t
a crime to incite or engage in ANY
rebellion or insurrection" against the
authority of the United States. Sec
ton 1886 makes ii n crime to conspire
to overthrow the Government OF the
United States. -
The proposed law. predicted the
Alabama member, Will be used to
"terrorfze the people, to intimidatc
free opinion and to invade the sacred
American rights which have made of
our country great republic. He
continued:
The right to advocate change,
to criticise public officials and meas
ures. to denounCc error and wrong
when found in our laws and their
administration belongs by tradition
TO every American. Without this
Eight he will consider his liberty a
myth and hence his love for country
will be undermined.
Reactionnry Hysteris.
at is amazing to observe the cham
pions OF the reactionary hysteria
which Is part OF the aftermath Of the
war charging furiously at paper
OHS, CilllhS ''N' "''N
radicals They beat their tom-toms
and shout: from their noise one would
think there was a real conflict. For
their personal or class advantage they
work upon the peoples fear.
but all this is mere stRge-play.
There is no danger of revolution in
America. Not one man out of ten
thousand has the desire to do vio-
lence to our Government, not to
speak of being ready to engage in
the attempt. This is not Russia. but
a land of free and intelligent people
Mr. Huddleston said the serious OBJ
lection to legislation of this character
is the opportunity it affords for the
intimidation of radical opinion and
the restraint on criticism and educa-
tion for proper change and develop
ment. He went on:
Fears for Poor.
"The profiteer, who would escape
unscathed; the war contractor, who
would stand secure in his mask OF
patriotism; spectators, big financiers,
imperialists, and those who would
gain money and place out of the
agony of the world-they would
strike at their critics and those who
impeach their methods and their
system.
"It is for the poor and humble that
I fear, for the ignorant, those who
have cause for discomfort, for they
will be bullied and Inundated in their
efforts for redress of their wrongs"
The proposed law, 1t was charged.
Is aimed "at partisan criticism and
partisan opposition, at Socialists,
radicals, liberals. and what-nots, all
puually bad in the ewes of the reaC-
tionaries."
But the real radicals in the United
States, Mr.. Huddleston declared, are
4 l. ..i1l lnIrlnla L.