7/30/2019 Espionage Act of 1917

1/4

For free speech- petition to congress opposing the espionage bill.

Extension of remarks of Hon. Henry I. Emerson, of Ohio in the house of representatives

Thursday May 24, 1917

signed by nearly 5,000 citizens of Ohio, opposing the espionage bill and in favor of free speech. I

believe this expresses the sentiment of a large majority of the people of the United States.

Ask the congress not to pass any censorship act that shall extend beyond the military and naval

news of value to the enemy.

The whole country is engaged in war, and the whole country should be permitted to know the

truth about the war. It is always dangerous in a republic to withhold from the people full

knowledge of their affairs, or to deprive the press of the right freely to express public opinion.

Assault upon the very foundations of our free institutions- freedom of thought and speech.

un-American, undemocratic, unrepublican, unpatriotic

Violates the spirit if not the letter of out Constitution which provides that Congress shall make

no laws abridging the freedom of speech or of the press

Extension of remarks of Hon. William E. Mason of Illinois In the house of representatives

Friday, May 4, 1917.

While we are spreading democracy in Europe we are making the same mighty thin in the United

States. This section 4 of the Espionage bill leaves the president power to make law, execute the

law, and determine who shall be prosecuted.

Newspapers are a necessary evil and a great blessing. Do not get mad when the roast you, or lie

about you. Very soon they will tell just as big ones flattering you...we had better stand by the

Constitution for free speech and a free press.Declaration made by ex. governor Edward F. Dunne, judges, professional men , and 100 others:

Rights of Irish are not being established, even though purpose of the war was to spread liberty.

The Espionage Bill- Shall the declaration of independence and the bill of rights be deleted

by a censor? Shall the American people be compelled to fight in the dark? Shall the people

be gagged as well as chained?

Extension of remarks of Hon. William J. Cary of Wisconsin in the House of representatives

Friday, May 4, 1917

Voted against war on April 5, 1917.

War has been declared., and once the stars and stripes are unfurled in front of an American army

there is but one path of duty for a patriotic American to follow, and that is to think, talk, act, and

shoot from his countrys side, always and only.

On April 28, 1917, the House of Representatives threw into the discard our time-honored

volunteer army system and decided that this great people could not be trusted to assemble at the

7/30/2019 Espionage Act of 1917

2/4

trumpet call of duty and rally round the flag but must be driven into military servitude instead

of being led into patriotic military duty. Voted against.

A proposition so full of menace to every vital principle of liberty, so contrary to every precedent

and tradition of our past history, and, what is still of more importance, so fraught with peril to

any possible success in our conduct of this war that I am at a loss even on this day of denaturing

representative democracy to understand the mental processes of those who are responsible forthe introduction of this measure.

First Amendment

Hamilton- Federalist #84?

Jefferson

Madison

References speech by Senator Borah on April 19, 1917:

Quotes Jefferson- with Josephus Daniels

Quotes Daniels- for this amendment and the healthy agitation that secured it all men who

believe in a free press will ever hold Jefferson in grateful in grateful esteem. It was contended

that this amendment was wholly unnecessary ...

Borah:

Editorial from the New York American- April 27, 1917- It is neither wise nor right to compel

the American people to fight this tremendous war in the dark.

I say this is an insult to the intelligence of the American People .

Another editorial- May 1, 1917- We have never believed, nor do we ever mean to try to believe

that any national good- military or economic or political- can be achieved by telling lies and by a

general deception of the people.

The fundamentals of liberty are freedom of speech and freedom of printing. These twonecessities and guarantees of freedom are just as essential to the intelligent conduct of war, by a

democracy, as they are essential to the intelligent conduct of peace.

Milwaukee News of April 30, 1917:

The censorship bill, which would muzzle the American Press and stifle all attempts at criticism

that fail to meet the approval of the powers that be, has aroused such a storm of disapproval that

the president seeks to allay popular indignation at this glaring attempt to void Constitutional

Rights, by pledging that he himself will under no circumstances apply the rigid measure to

prevent criticism of himself as an official.

In a letter to a New York editor, he writes, I approve this legislation, but...so far I personally am

concerned, I shall not expect or permit any part of this law to apply to me or any of my official

acts in any way to be used as a shield against criticism.

If this law is not to be enforced, why enact it?

Other officials will use it!

7/30/2019 Espionage Act of 1917

3/4

Extension of remarks of Moses P. Kinkaid of Nebraska in the House of Representatives

Friday May 4, 1917

If it is not the purpose of section 4 of this Bill to override article 1 of the COnstitution, I

respectfully challenge its sponsors to tell what its object may be.

We observe that the first clause prohibits the publication of such matter concerning militaryoperation as is useful to the enemy. ...this evil is amply provided against. Thus the two clauses,

taken together, prohibit both what will be useful to the enemy and what will not be useful to the

enemy; hence, what will be harmful and harmless.

Frederick C. Hicks of New York, In the House of Representatives

Thursday, May 31, 1917.

Let us harken to the mandate of that covenant of Human Rights; let us hold steadfast to the

principles embodied in that immortal document. While we are battling to extend the blessings

of democracy in the Old World, we should not destroy the principles of democracy in the new byundermining the very foundations upon which rest all representative governments.

Freedom of discussion does not mean and can never mean unbridled license to speak or print

that which will endanger the public welfare or violate the rights of others...

Public opinion is a factor in war and will support the effort!

Attacking the patriotism of the people. William Cary- Wisconsin

I am somewhat tired of repelling the unwarranted charges of disloyalty that have so frequently

been made against Americans of German birth or descent...I am a citizen of and the city of my

birth; when they attack the patriotism of the people I have lived amongst all my life

Resolution over a bulletin in a daily publication in the city of Washington, Thursday June 7,1917- L.W. Nieman, editor of the Milwaukee journal, and senator Husting laid before the

president this afternoon evidences of German intrigue in Wisconsin Let the president send

information on what he has found.

Freedom of Speech and of the Press William Gordon of Ohio

May 31, 1917- appex pg 608

Supreme court stated

The preaching of treason and the brewing of sedition must stop. Albert Johnson, of

Washington

Monday June 25, 1917

I desire to call attention to certain things which bode no good for the United States- the

preaching of treason, the breeding of sedition. Some of the aliens, who have been turned into

agitators and revolutionists, may not know it, but this government owes them nothing. They

came here. Our doors were open. We have a right to send them out and away. They have no right

7/30/2019 Espionage Act of 1917

4/4

to ally themselves with an aggregation of anti-Government agitators whose every step is in the

hope of bringing general riot and disturbance in this country They practice sabotage in a

thousand devious ways...their stuff is fearful in times of peace, but when this country is at war it

is downright treason.