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A Word About the Free Press Hearing

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Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Feb 11, 1915

FromReview and Herald, Vol. 92, No. 8.

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A Word About the Free Press Hearing

By A. J. S. Bourdeau

FREEDOM of the press and other American and Protestant principles were fully vindicated in the Capitol building, Monday, February 1, at the public hearing on the three bills aimed at freedom of the press. Representatives Fitzgerald and Gallivan, authors of the bills, appeared in their behalf, as did also Representative Maher, of New York; all three being Roman Catholics. After these, nine different speakers, representing various orders and organizations, appeared in opposition to the bills.
The members of the House Committee on Post Office and Post Roads seemed favorably impressed with the arguments presented by the friends of free speech and free press, whereas the three Roman Catholics appearing for the bills made it very apparent that it was the Roman Catholic hierarchy that was behind these measures. By order of a member of the committee the clerk was asked to present each member with a copy of the Free Press Extra of the February Protestant Magazine. The members were glad to get this document, as it contains a lengthy quotation from the Chronicle (a Protestant Episcopal magazine) for January, 1915, which was read by Rev. R. H. McKim in the course of his remarks.
The room was packed long before the hour of the hearing, the audience standing three deep around the large committee table, and both doors being also packed, those in the hall outside standing on chairs to get a glimpse of the proceedings. The Lord certainly blessed his servants in their opposition to these un-American measures. As these or other similar bills will surely be introduced at the next session of Congress, let all work faithfully and hard in the circulation of the Free Press Extra and in securing signatures to the petition to Congress. Next week's REVIEW will contain a more complete write-up of this remarkable hearing.
A. J. S. BOURDEAU.