Editors Oppose Press-Muzzling Bills by Walter L. Burgan

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

Editors Oppose Press-Muzzling Bills

By Walter L. Burgan

THE campaign that has recently been conducted in this country against bills introduced into Congress which would restrict the freedom of the press has brought our denomination quite prominently to the attention of the world through the protests that our brethren have had published in the newspapers. Not only have the editors in different States gladly published our views on this subject, but a number of them have published editorials supporting our arguments, and have also urged their subscribers to read the articles by our brethren, and to join with them in their protests.

In commenting on these bills, a daily paper in Montana said, among other things:—

“Legislation that infringes on the liberty of the press is a very dangerous thing for the citizen. He should resent it in his own interest. The truth will triumph, and lies will fail, in every contest between the two if you give them free scope. A press censorship is one of the most fatal things to liberty. We hope the American people will avoid even the appearance of such a thing.”

A paper in New Hampshire, in calling attention to the position taken by one of our brethren through its columns, said:—

“We hope that every one of our readers carefully perused the story in last night’s issue of the Times, giving Elder ——’s interview concerning the measures in Congress, tending toward the destruction of the American press. The bills are arbitrary and entirely tyrannical. They are also astounding in their daringness. It is quite inconceivable to the average fair-minded individual that any one would dare to attack the bulwarks of American independence in so open and flagrant a manner. . . . They cannot be allowed to enter the records of this republic as approved, and every freedom-loving American should join in the giant protest that is going up, the country over, from men and women sincere in their love of America and all the freedom and justice it should typify.”

Thus we see that the newspapers have joined hands with us in the effort to keep out of the laws of this land anything that will curtail the liberties of speech and the press.

WALTER L. BURGAN.