New Britain herald., 1927-02-15
Is DENVER WORSE THAN MEXICO?

HtN hIAfNo.
 In some parts of the United States conditions have arrived at the point where a mere discussion, a debate. so irritates self-appointed guardians of the public conscience that they see wit to break the law in trying 10 break up the discussion. Such a spectacle as that which occurred in Denver, where several persons of criminal mentality severely flogged member of an organization spon- soring debate between Judge Lind say and minister of the gospel on the question whether the marriage relation can be improved, is a case in point.
 There are those who say the American people are by nature law less; that the tendency 10 take the law into ones own hands is a tra- clifton; that the person who has a grouch wants a law passed to fit his ideas, and the other who doesn'1 like law won't obey it. There is much 10 buttress this contention, as witness the lynchings which year after year have disgraced certain sections Of the country; the night riding, the floggings. the lawlcssness of tho ku klux 1<lan and others who think by this way to force oth- CTS to do their bidding. Then there is our crime record as a whole. the shootings in Illinois, Kentucky and elsewhere. All of these seem 10 bear out such a contention.
 The episode in Denver was a dis reputable means of attempting to prevent an entirely legal event. Citi- zens are privileged to hold 1abates upon any possible subject; as q rule such affairs are educational and ap- peal to an intelligent understanding of topics. No one need accept the statements of q debater as untarn- ished fact; listeners-and readers of the published statements-will be swayed to accept those declarations which appear the most substantial. But in Denver, so Intellectually stultificd were a half dozen or so of men, that they seemed to fear this discussion by accomplished speakers and thinkers. Their best thought was to beat somebody they didn't like and to threaten others.
 Mob violence is not sign Of hackwardress in Mexico, Nicagagua, Chili or Honduras and sign of cul- turc in the United States. We send Marines to various isolated and backward countries to keep order;" yet what natives do down there is no whit worse than such episodes as occurred in Denver: life in Mex leo or Central America, according to travellers, is safer than in Chi cago or some other points on the American map; people who use masks in Costa Rica-if any ever were so cowardly there as to thus hide their identity-are no more ruffianly than Americans who wear them while engaging in an act of hooligdnism.
 We are prone to look down upon the Chinese, for instance, if dis patches relate that a dark deed was committed in the interior. usually by bandits who do not claim to be civilized and law abiding; We look with horror upon the misdeeds of the terrible Turk in regions far away. But what we need to do most carefully is to register indignation, and enough of it to bring the shame that will retard the acts, right in cur own great and free and liberty loving country. 1.ynchers, night riders. floggers, gunmen. criminals these form the most disgracing elements of our civilization. The time is long past due when a com mon shame at the spectacle they give will result in their elimination.
 The debate in Denver not only will be held, but it will now attract much more attention than otherwise would have been the case. That is 'hc story of all attempts 10 stiflc free speech, flee asscmblage. free press. Not only is a ruthless crim- inal act ineffective, but il usually is q boomerang. The disgrace that goes with such an act, however. goes town in the records. alongside with the la"ge total of lawlcssncss al ready weighing them down.