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Threatening the Freedom of the Press

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Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Jan 27, 1916

FromReview and Herald, Vol. 93, No. 5.

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Threatening the Freedom of the Press

THE introduction into the Sixty-fourth Congress of a bill looking toward the restricting of the freedom of the press has called forth several striking comments from religious journals. The Word and Way of Dec. 30, 1915, refers to this bill as follows:—
On the first day of the Sixty-fourth Congress there was a renewed attack upon the free press of our country. The bill presented in the House by Representative Isaac Siegel of New York was not a surprise. Ever since the close of the preceding Congress, Catholic papers and speakers have been giving notice that a bill restricting the freedom of the press would be introduced at the present Congress. The bill provides that “whenever a complaint in writing shall be filed with the Postmaster-General that any publication making use of, or being sent through, the mails contains any article therein which tends to expose any race, creed, or religion to either hatred, contempt, ridicule, or obloquy, he shall forthwith cause an investigation to be made under his direction, and shall within twenty days after receipt of such complaint, if the facts contained therein are true, make an order forbidding further use of the mails ‘to any such publication.’”
It will be observed that this measure is comprehensive, covering “any publication.” This embraces books, papers, tracts, pamphlets, printed circulars, etc.
To Roman Catholics there is only one meaning to the words “hatred, contempt, ridicule, and obloquy,” as applied to cases of this kind. Anything said or printed that is out of harmony with the teachings of the Roman Catholic hierarchy or its dogmas will be interpreted as a violation of the law. A law of such character as that proposed by Mr. Siegel would keep a large proportion of Protestant literature from the privilege of mails, and it would impose upon the Postmaster-General a tremendous burden and responsibility. We fondly hope that this plot carried on in Congress to abridge the freedom of the press will be exposed and defeated.
A similar reference is made by the editor of the Western Recorder in his paper for January 13. Quoting the bill, this editor says:—
It will be readily seen that this is one of the most drastic and far-reaching bills that have ever been introduced in Congress. Purposely, we presume, the author of this proposed legislation uses the words, “any publication,” so that it will include books, periodicals, and all printed matter going through the mails.
Were it not for the subtle, sometimes pernicious, and always persevering activities of some semireligious propagandists, we should be disposed to treat lightly this tantalizing attempt to rob us of our Constitutional rights.
Speaking of the protection already afforded by existing laws against slanderous attacks, the editor says:—
It would be well for the backers of this bill to bear in mind that there are laws against libel in every State of the Union, and these laws offer ample reparation to all who have been wronged in this regard. It is not likely that our Postmaster-General will be made judge and jury in such matters. To give to one man the right to forbid the use of the mails to any publisher or publication, is too preposterous to merit serious consideration. Should such a law be passed and a Roman Catholic appointed Postmaster-General, the result may be easily foreseen.
Free speech and a free press have gone far to make America what it is; and suppression of free speech and a free press have made some other countries what they are.
We earnestly hope that this bill will meet with the same fate as its predecessor in the Sixty-third Congress. It shows, however, the spirit which is behind some of the attempted legislation at the present time, and the extent to which the abettors of the bill would go if they had the power of suppressing everything out of harmony with their religious convictions. These, and similar outcroppings of the spirit which is now at work in the religious world, should admonish us to be vigilant in improving present opportunities of making our fellows acquainted with the principles underlying these movements.