The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1920-01-31
What Is Beiug done in America
10 ENCOURAGE Spirit of Revolt

~ r. ~ AN~vVS
were soon abroEated.) It is Just for
such times a. these that the guaran-
tee Of freedom made in. our Constitu-
ton is now essential. When. the spirit
of intolerance is abroad, then efforts
are made to suppress minority Views.
Actual violence and actual conspiracy
can be safely and reasonably handled
without any attempt to forbid free
speech, or to penalize man for his
opinions. Now and at all times I
contend for an absolute freedom Of
speech and press. have introduced
a bill to repeal the espionage act
forthwith: Only in that way do be-
! lieve it possible to check the growth
OF destructive radicalism."
Says the eminent statistician and
| economist, Roger Babson: Even the
! I. w. WIS may be conscientious in
! their position. They see certain
| side OF life which we do not UNDER
! stand. We are not going to cure them
by hitting them ON the head or by
putting them into Jail. The need OF
! the hour Is to show people construct
| i've and permanent remedies
! The Graham bill now before con-
| gress, says the New York World, lis
! probably the most amazing combina-
| ton OF prescription and tyranny ever
! presented to free, people in the form
! Of a statute" This bill to punish Of
| lenses against the existence of the
+, United States and for other purposes
| attempts to define treason contrary to
| the provisions OF the Constitution. The
latter says. Treason against the
United States shall consist only in
! levying war against them or. in adher-
! ing to their enemies giving them aid
! and comfort. No person shall be con-
| vieted$of: treason unless on the testi-
mony OF two witnesses to the same
overt set Or on confession in open
| court"
| The Boston Herald quotes the new
! definition thus: ''Whoever assists in
| the use OF any kind OF force. violence
or terrorism with the intent to change
! the government Of the United States
and the death Of any innocent person
| or persons is caused or results directly
| therefrom, shall be guilty Of treason
| and on conviction shall be punished
! by death, or in the discretion Of the
| court shall DO imprisoned not less
than five years, and fined not less than
+ $4,000 either or both, and shall for
FEVER be debarred from holding office
under the United States,'' and the Her
! aid cbmm ents: "How easy to allege
( intent How expansive term is
"any kind Of terrorism How compre-
| hensive is the word assists How
| hard to define the verb Change
| Would it be possible to continue the
\ national open forum which every po-
! litical campaign becomes? Could la
! Dor and capital challenge any law
seeking to show it to be constitu-
tional? What would become of free
dom Of speech and OF the press ii
such law actually went into opera
ton? Loyal citizens everywhere
! would resent it, and one might add,
i many heretofore loyal citizens would
become less loyal
| Says John Spargo in an lllunirra G
article in the Worlds Work ON why
| the I. w. w. Flourishes:" I'VE have
| permitted these people (foreigners> to
be crowded into slums where they
are herded like cattle: to be victim
ICED and cruelty exploited by the cum
ming and INSCRIPTIONS; to be made
| industrial slaves. When such work.
ers from time to time revQlted and
! protested in the only manner available
to them, or that they comprehended,
too comm only they were depressed and
| silanced in the most brutal manner.
Thus it Is when the flames Of discon-
tent arise that the I. w. W.. comes
! upon the scene OF strife as buzHards
are drawn by carrion. 1t is true, as
| one of the best of our labor lenders
! has said, that I. w. w. employers are
! mainly responsible for the l.. w. w:
unions Agitators OF, the I. w. w.
do not make discomfort, they only
give It leadership. There is q lesson
for America in the saying OF an Eng
| lish statesman, Fools talk of agita-
tors, there is but one, injustice
| says Ray Stannard Baker, after
careful studies at Gary and elsewhere
Of both employers and employees
point. Of view: 1T is the unrest, the
unhealthy conditions which cause tho
Bolshevism: not the Bolshevism which
causes the unrest. Both sides are try
! ing quack remedies; the employers, a
| sure-cure bottle marked deportation,
suppression, and the workers q red
bottle marked 'Bolshevism.' I don't
know which is worse or which will
sooner kill the patient. Why not do
what any sensible man with pain
finally does-learn what the underly-
ing trouble is-the real disease, and
try to reach and cure that?'