South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1920-05-19

has changed this country from one
OF agricultural power 20 one Of in
dustrlal supremacy and that produc-
ton. distribution and consumption
touch American life at more points
today than politics or all the other
processes OF American life com
bined
Business men must exercise a lib
eral policy in their views toward
freedom Of speech. Of the press and
az assembly above all else. he de-
Ciared. stating that the encrOach-
ment upon these rights by the gov
eminent during the war was being
continued TO the stage OF permanent
suppression.
Freedom OF Speech.
We've been thinking that these
were frrevocabIe rights. mem orials
az battles we would never have 20
fight again. but we've been shaken
out OF this belief by the tactics Of
some OF our misrepresentation az
Washington and Albany and else
where. There was never time in
the history OF our country when
freedom OF speech and of the press
were as dangerous and as necessary
as they are today. They are neCes-
sary because under the guise OF pro-
tecting Americanism we are threat
ened with defeat Of AmeriCanism. %
Salient points ne brought out i'm
the advocacy of new ana broader
policy were:
open covenants openly arrived at.
Since we fought Germany for the
purpose Of protecting democracy.
honesty, consistency and faith In
democracy demand that we protect
il in our own borders.
Radical ideas are less dangerous
when expressed than when sup
pressed. Free speech is "a social
safety valve and You can rely on the
Commonsense Of the American peo-
pie 10 accept only that which will
work for their good.
Creative Thinking.
Creative thinking is necessary TO
keep from following traditions
which would keep is stagnate and
creative thinking is impossible with
out freedom OF expression.
Progress depends more on safe
guarding the rights Of heresy than
ON protecting orthodoxy.
The cost Of liberty is less than
the price of suppression. Russia
and Germany took no risks and they
are now in hapless plight. There
are not many congenital revolution
lists. Most men who advocate re-
form either have grievance or
think they have. IT they have. il
should be corrected. III they have
not. the better judgment Of the pub
lie viii not accept their arguments.
To suppress such a man rather than
10 give his argument "a hearing IS
not protecting republic but con-
vincing the man that force is his
only alternative
a man can protect the rights Of
the minority even though he does
not believe their arguments.
IF American people are inCap-
able OF self protection I'm the face of
error. then they are incapable Of
self government
school Teachers.
Safety lies with not more ener-
Eetic policemen but with more eff
Cient school teachers.
American people can listen with
out danger TO advocacy of revoIu-
ton"
Here ne read three passages ad-
vOCaung the rights of the people to
change the existing government
These. he said he read to a New
When a auditor denounced them as
savoring OF the reddest boIshevism.
he made known their origin They
were taken from a letter of Thomas
Jefferson, an address of Abraham
Lincoln and a campaign speech Of
Woodrow Wilson
CONSERVATIVES" ne said. have
more at stake than radicals i'm the
preservation OF free speech. The re-
dictionaries are liable 10 be in the
minority in a few years from now
and then they VIII need what they
are trying To- kill"
Force Cannot Settle.
In summing up his argument. he
declared: Force alone never really
settles any problem. Rcactionaries
by suppressing discomfort only drives
e. under ground Where IL gathers
more strength We must supple
ment the policemans club with a
business craftsmanship which will
remove the danger All force can
do Is TO hack out breathing space
for craftsmanship 20 work in
What we need is a little more
confidence in our own common sense
Hud little less willingness TO believe
that We are "a lair trigger nation
that may be set of 10y any hair
Drained revOlutionist that may come
on the scene
stephen Leacock's humorous writ
lngs carry laugh in every line. but
lis appearance in person is good
tor hours OF hilarious mirth He
opened his talk by explaining that
he would take up where he left off
10y mistake on the occasion OF his
last appearance here. The mista ke
he explained occurred when ne
stopped for a drink OF water and,
the audience left
Humorous Talk.
HIS description OF his campaign
through Canada IN opposition 10 the
Canadian United States reciprocity
treaty was mirth envoking through
put When he rended the modern
motion picture 20 bits in a bit OF
satire entitled The Discovery OF
America as Authorized by the IN
siana Board OF CensOrs' the audi
snce thought he had reached the
pinnacle Of the laugh inspirers lad
der But when ne set upon the
modern sex novel with his humorous
satirical lash he brought forth a
volley OF appreciative applause
which no humorist who has appear
cd before the club this season has
achieved
f1D~ NrTuINrI AM 1TnDC