Evening star., 1923-05-01

prison bars. There is no pretense OF
q cause Tor any such treason or un-
rest. 1t appeals to nobody except a
nandiui OF adyenturers and cannot
OF whom are busy at higher wages
than ever known before
Is it not time to quit temporizing
with such agitators and letting them
understand that this government pur-
poses to maintain peace and order
and Is tired of sedition? While pa
thence is virtue, il may encourage
ignorant agitators to mistake it for
weakness and in the end require
more severity to suppress the nuI-
sance OF their mouthings than II
taken in hand more rigidly from the
first. There are evidences that If
the authorities do not suppress the
picketfng of the White House by
, men in sympathy with the l. w. w.
agitation it is likely to lead to vio-
lence.
Unless the uniform of the American
soldier is respected by Americans, the
morale of the Army, Navy and Ma
rines Will fall to the ground. If the
uniform be used for cloak for un-
tworthy acts. such as when worn by
pickets before the White House seek
ing pardon of seditioners, indigna-
tion follows in the minds of both
civilian and military citizens: but
when it is worn legitimately. and
while the wearer is actually in the
service or his country, it should be a
protection against indignity or abuse.
In Frederick sburg. Va, geceutly,
two marines from Quantico, in full
of the city, and accused by police
men with being drunk They were
arrested, and, it is alleged, they We're
seriously assaulted by the arrcstins
policemen and beaten up
Gen. Butler, in command at Guam
tico. demanded that the policemen
be dismissed from the force, but the
mayor of Fredericksburg las re-
fused. Gen. Butler then asked has
men how much they could raise a d,
defense fund, and within a few hours
with which they have employed an
attorney of high standing to prose
cute the police. This is done mainly
to establish the fact that the United
States uniform is not badge of dis
grace and must be respected Fred
ericksburg is put "out Of bounds" by
order of Gen. Butler, and boyCotted
by the marines.
In Chicago Gen. "Hell-and- Maria
Dawes has started a new organiza-
tion-the Minute Men of the Consti-
tution-whoSe object is TO defend the
Constitution against the encroach-
ments of bolshevism and socialism.
In Washington Mr.. Wade II. Ellis. in
an address before the Chaumont Unit.
American Women'S Legion, advocated
the formation of central commit
tee composed Of representatives OF
patriotic societies throughout Amer
lea, with the sole object of safe
guarding the nation against the IN
sidious bolsheyistic and CommunlStic
propaganda with which it is being
flooded"
Mr.. Ellis proposes to counteract
triotic propaganda, and where the
reds have d soapboA agltator, de
claiming against the government, the
patriotic organizations should nave
speaker explaining its virtues lie
pointed out that the radicals already
operate 400 newspapers and period
icals, with a combined circulation of
{, ,O00. 900, published in thirty Ian
guages. These publications have
news service of their own.
Americans are jealous of their con-
stitutional right of free speech and
free press, but it has often been
pointed out that that gives no license
to seek to undermine the government
nor arouse disturbance of the peace
Perhaps the promised May l out
break-futile as it is bound 10 pc
will bring an awakening of patriotic
Indignation and wrath which viii re-
suit in official action to put a stop
to loose talk Of the seditionists
(Copyright 1873, by 7. V. COliins.N