Evening star., 1925-06-22
Gitlow Anarchy Case Decision
Is lndorsed by Press Opinion

The decision by majority of the
United States Supreme Court that
New York's criminal anarchy law is
valid and that the conviction of Ben
jamin Gitlow should be confirmed has
resulted in widespread American COM
ment on the limits of free speech.
Gitlow was found guilty of advocating
force against the Government. The
great volume of comment is favorable
to the majority decision. Among
American papers which note the mer-
its of the minority opinion of the court
are the Lynchburg News, the Topeka
Capital and the New York World.
The traditional attitude of the press
on the subject of free speech is up
held by the Chicago Tribune, which,
however, approves the majority opin-
ion of the Supreme Court. We should
like to side with the minority JUS
tices," declares the Tribune. "Jeal-
ousy of any restriction on tree utter
ance is natural in the press. Another
reason why we should like to side with
the dissent is because American lie
is suffering at this time from a pest
of prohibitions. But with any prac-
tical regard for the actual problems
of social order, we cannot think tnal
the principle of free speech covers the
deliberate preaching of g. transforma-
ton Of our institutions by methoos OF
violence. There Is no system which
so ruthlessly tramples down dissent
or criticism or protest, which so tyr
annously denies free thought and ut
terance. as that of the revolutionary
radical. the communist. the maximal-
ist or bolshevik." So also the Duluth
Herald holds that there should be
freedom to advocate change or any
kind whatever, but no freedom to ao-
yocate change by violent methods.
The Herald believes that this surely
Is platform on which free speech
remains undisturbed and all rlght1ul
liberties are preserved.
Nipping anarchy and sedltlon In the
bud lis the only safe ana sane course
saws the Springfield, Mass, Union.
which remarks: lone Gitlow might
NOT he able to cause a bloody reVolu-
tion- hut the harm that might be
caused by a hundred or a thousand
GitIoWs is easy to conjecture. AS to
the right Of revolution. the Fort
worth Star Telegram quotes Daniel
webster to the effect that 1t is "un.
questioned" but adds: 1t must
frankly be admitted to be revolu-
ton, and those who engage In 1t must
not whine II tEey dic SiSA@oo "Ae,i .iAN
punishments made and provided for
such Acts as theirs. That is the
trouble with our revolutionists of to-
day. They want to eat their cake and
have 1t, too"
The contention that every govern
ment, like every individual. has the
right to protect itself from violence
is made by the Omaha World Herald.
"And ours especially" continues the
World Herald, has that right, so long
as the ballot box is open. 80 long as
citizens enjoy the franchise right and
SO long as the right of appeal to rea-
son. from press and forum, Is undis-
puted." The Pueblo Star Journal ex-
plains that 'it would not be illegal to
advocate a monarchy by amendment
OF the Constitution, but 1t clearly
would be reasonable to try to bring
about establishment of a monarchy by
forcible means" Pointing to changes
that take place under constitutional
liberty, the Flint Journal states: Cit
low would take this liberty away from
the people and substitute a tyranny of
his own" He who would with force
and arms invade a single home" de-
clares the Wall Street Journal, must
expect resistance. He who attacks an