The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1920-05-30
FREEDOM OF SPEECH

out the sustaining hand of self-respect, went
to Hobart and delivered an address, made a
Speech unloaded bundle of political bum
comb after the Hobart post of the American
Legion had wired him a request to cancel his
date in that city.
The members of the Hobart post of the
legion, as Americans, requested Gore to give
that city wide berth, requested him to alb
solve himself from inflicting upon an American
citizenry his excuses for his un-American
votes during the time when true Americansm
was demanded of the members of both houses
in congress.
Republicans of Oklahoma, and republican
sympathizers, will possibly prate of effort
made to deny the Man of Many Promises
the vaunted freedom of speech" which il
one of the inborn rights of Americans under
the provisions of the American constitution
republicans and republican sympathizers will
tell you that Thomas jefferson, the father O.
democracy, taught the doctrine, inculcated
in the minds of his disciples the scripture Of
freedom of speech.
This is all true. The question cannot be
mooted. There is no open grounds for dis
cussion. Freedom of speech is one of the
greatest Of all the great prerogatives of the
American citizen.
But, freedom of speech does not apply to
the man whose inclinations are un-American
and diSloyal. Freedom of speech does not
apply to the man whose utterances are
against the union, against the flag, against
America and all things American. Freedom
of speech does not apply-is not given as a
prerogative to the man, no matter if he was
born under the effulgent rays of an Amer.
can sun. whose inclinations, whose actions.
whose votes have proven him un-American.
Eugene V. Debs, idol of the un-Americar
socialistic element of people who claim the
protection of the flag to which they are dis
loyal Eugene V. Debs, leader of the un-
American clan, is now serving prison term
for exercising freedom of traitorous speech
kind of speech to which there can be given
no freedom, yet Eugene " Debs never gave
utterance to more un-American sentiments
than have been voiced by some of the ma
tional lawmakers of this nation who are now
bowling about freedom of speech and offer
ing and trying to explain to the satisfaction
of an outraged army of democratic Amer.
can voters why their actions and their voiced
sentiments were not of the most loyal kind
Jim Reed of Missouri, fellow obstruction
ist with Tom Gore of Oklahoma, is one Of
those who waves his hands, while in sonorous
tones he shouts of the American constitution
and the rights of free speech, accorded under
the provisions of that constitution to al
American citizens. Yet Berger was oustac
from the lower house in congress and face.
prison cell for having said little if any more
than has Jim Reed said against the admins
tration, against the government which ht
| should honor, even as that government honor
!, him.
No, freedom of speech was not given thos,
who live and are protected by the laws O
, this land, that they might give tongue II
calumnies and villifications against the gov
: ernment; freedom of speech, constitutional
5 freedom of speech, was not given to thos
: who wrap about their forms the silken fold
e of the starry banner and claiming its pro
e lection, while they spit upon the stars an
e rend asunder the stripes, in speech whic
: would cause Benedict Arnold to turn re-
e with shame, and make Judas Iscariot han
himself thrice over.
f But freedom of speech was given, by tn
y American constitution, to an American peopl
y to be used in sounding in clarion tones, prais
e OF the American government praise of tn
r government which has sheltered and guarde