The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1927-02-23

ture that it mpeach Judge Clarence w Dearth Of
Muncie-
That may sound harsh. 1t is harsh
But it is not as harsh as the attack made upon
the Constitution when newsboys we're seized upon
the streets by policemen, their papers conscated by
a Judge themselves threatened with Jail unless they
pledged themselves to sell copy of the paper
II is no longer question of George Dale the fight
ing editor of Muncie, and the Muncie government
1t is the question of the Constitution and Judge
What Dale has done not done matters little
The people may disagree with his bold attacks upon
courts and mayors and officials of the law. Or they
may applaud his courage.
whatever else may be said of him,
cuses him of cowardice or quitting.
His home has been fired upon at night. He is
under jail sentence, after conviction of crime by
jury, but by summary sentence from this same
judge for contempt of court.
II is a matter of record that when charged with
this contempt he offered to prove every assertion
he had made,
1t may be a shock to some citizens that men
may not print the truth Indiana and stay out of
JAIL But the Supreme Court has said that the truth
is no defense and that point the judge has been
upheld bitter such verdict and such declara-
ton of power may be to the citizen who believes in
real freedom of the press and real freedom of speech
But this latest is different thing. Here physical
force has been used to suppress issue of news
paper before any court had held trial and
demned as unfit for reading by public that needs
such guardianship.
What does free press to the freedom
and liberties of the people?
Suppose that every newspaper should, of neces-
sty and by law, be submitted to the local judge be-
fore it could be distributed?
Suppose that in this land every article In every
magazine and every book should first pass muster
from some judge, elected judges elected,
named judges named?
How long would there be any liberty of any
kind in his land?
--Tyrants in every land have first found it neces-
sary to suppress the press when they seized power.
The holsheviks of Russia knew that they could not
stand against informed people They seized the
printing presses and jailed editors who protested
against their bloody rule. Mussolini of Italy with
his fascist army first captured the editors and then
captured the populace with his armies.
Does the seizure of newsboys the streets of
Muncie seem to you to be small matter?
1t may be the beginning of your enslavement, for
other judges, who may have the idea that they are
SO mighty and powerful that the earth tips when
they tread upon and who step softly lest they
throw the law of gravitation will seize other
hoys Jail their editors suppress other publications
The time to check inroads upon liberty is at the
start, not when they have become imbedded in
precedent and custom. Liberty may be lost by in
a,tion as easily as through revolution
That is the The Times is calling upon
tnoge who love liberty and value freedom to urge
this Legislature to impeach this judge
Let his fate be lessen to all judges that they
c1anot trample upon the Constitution and strange
with their official robes.