Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1920-06-08
GOVERNOR SMITH OF NEW YORK.

We wish to express our approval OF the courage
and common sense of Governor Alfred IL. smlth'
democrat of New York in veoing the six bills passed
bv the New York legislature and known as 'he
Sweet Tusk-Daly repressive bills These bills We're
the result of the prejudces and anXetes created by
the trial and expulsion of the six socialist members
We have already expressed ourselves as opposed 10
the expulsion program which carried through.
The six bills were framed to % bar the socialist
ticket at electisMs (2) to obGe teachers in pubic
schools to pass a loyalty test; CD to prohlot the
CARRYING on of any school of any kind in the state
not licensed by the board of regents ca to create
secret police for the suppression of anarchy 'O'
to modify the procedure under which legislators
elect take the oath of office and co to prevent So
calists from holding public office.
The bills all strike. in one way or another AT
the fundamental doctrine of the right of free speech
and free thought
AS an example the bill which would give the
appellate court the right to strike from the ballot
the names of candidates whom the court believes
TO be of dangerous socalistc tendency would CONFER
despoic power upon the court to repress progress
and would make it political instead of judicial
body Candidates would be elected to a place on the
bench because of their political views instead of their
- judicial skill. .
Governor Smith was right when he said: 1.-THE
voters of this state are entitled to the privilege Of
choosing their candidates and their own Officials
and to enunciate their own platform. No majority
should have the right to exclude any minority from
. its just participation
~ Teachers should of course be loyal. Public SEN
: timent will attend to that. No teacher should be
subject to the stigma of dsoyalty upon the arbi-
e trary decision of a single official. 1t would place
her at the mercy of unfriendy colleagues, pupils or
parents and thus, through fear rob her of her eff
cheney and freedom of thought
Referring to the bill requiring a license from the
board of regents to conduct school, the governor
says: 1t strikes at the foundation of the cardna
institution of our nation. 1t strikes at the right OF
the people to enjoy full liberty in the domain OF
thought and speech. The safety of this government
rests on the loyalty of its people and does not neet
for its defense a system of intellectual tyranny
which, in the endeavor to choke error by force
must of necessity crush truth well. The German
Empire was example of such tyranny"
'aH We are naturally concerned to prevent Red rev
49, olution of the Russian Boshevist type in America
but must do that by public sentiment to a large
degree if we not to carry down our fundamentals
"a of government in effort to save them
To promptly challenge the loyalty of those wht
W. by voice pen advocate revolutions to Immediately
take TO task those who seek to substitute class
hatred malice for reason is American way O.
these questions Being called promptly tt
the bar of public opinion for irrational unjust at
titudes tends to temper the violence of our views,
The sense of the American people ant
not repressive laws, is the great conserving nflu
.. ence which must be salvation