Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1931-06-04
U. S. SUPREME COURT MAKES UP
FOR LEGISLATURE

The so-called newspaper gag law
enacted by the Minnesota legislature
in 1925 and regarded as interfering
with the freedom of the press by lib
,eral forces all over America as well
as by many conservatives who are
strict IN unfolding the constitution,
comes in this week for national pub
licity.
In his campaign last fall Governor
Floyd B. Olson pledged himself as
against this law and in his inaugural
address to the legislature he recon-
mended that it be wiped off the sta
tute books. AS a member of the legis-
lature the writer supported the gov
ernor on this issue, feeling that he
was absolutely right. The contro-
persy over the Minnesota gag law has
attracted nationwide interest. Enc
mics of the legislation have pointed
out that a single INSCRIPTIONS judge
might apply it to suppress the express
sion of legitimate opinion and put a
newspaper out of business that had
incurred official displeasure.
The repeal, however, failed in the
1881 session of the legislature. 1t
passed the lower house but did not
come to a vote in the senate because
of the opposition of reactionary forces
the same group that was respon-
sible for the defeat of other remedial
legislation in the interests of the peo-
pie. COS E-s ''-'''7''
Monday of tbs week the U. S. SUI
preme court declared the law uncon-
stitutional by vote of five to four.
This decision meets with the approval
of progressive minded men and wom-
en- all over America. Governor Olson
made the following statement upon
learning of the decision:
81 am pleased with the decision
of the supreme court with reference
plishes what the legislature, which re-
jected my request for repeal of the
law, failed to accomplish.
81 had the unusual experience with
the law as prosecuting attorney of
Hennepin county of being obliged to
cations, despite my opposition to it
as an invasion of the rights of free
dom of the press and of speech"
Chief Justice Hughes aligned him
self with the liberals of the supreme
court in the decision on the newspaper
suppression law, as he did in the de-
cision on the Indiana law giving the
state the right to apply progressive
taxation on chain stores. In the Cali
fornia red flag decision Chief justice
Hughes also voted with Justices
Holmes, Brandeis, Stone, and Roberts
who made up the majority in all of
the above three cases. He voted with
Justices Brandeis, Holmes, and Stone
"a minority of four against five-in
the decision refusing citizenship to
Professor Macintosh, theologian, au-
thor, and Y. M. c. A. worker, who was
a chaplain in the Canadian army dur
ing the World war; and Miss Averill
Bland, former, nurse in the Amer
lean army-both canadians and both
war haters.
The decisions of Chief Justice
Hughes are pleasant surprises for the
millions of liberal minded people in
America and likely disappointing to
many of his former associates of very
conservative tendencies. If Mr..
Hughes continues in this trend he no
doubt will continue to gain the re-
spect, love and admiration CT the peo-
pie who today revere that grand old
man on the bench-Justice Holmes
80 years of age, but still mentally
young.