The Imprisonment of Editor Warren
By Editor
The Socialist paper, “Appeal to Reason,” seems to have been considerably injured in its circulation by the conviction and imprisonment of its managing editor, Mr. Fred D. Warren. From all the study that we have been able to give the question, it certainly looks like a persistent, petty persecution on the part of the government. There is no question at all but that Mr. Warren has made rash statements enough, but he certainly was entitled to a fair and judicial trial. He was tried and imprisoned on the charge of offering a reward for the kidnapping of Governor Taylor, of Kentucky. The principal witness against Mr. Warren was Taylor, who testified, under oath, that he was not under indictment at the time that Warren made his offer; while evidence seems clearly to show that he had been under indictment for seven years. In the scales of justice, as well as of governmental proceedings, for the last few years, we see no reason why Editor Warren should have been thrown into prison. One of the real necessities of a free republic is a free press. It may say some things that are not so; it may draw altogether too radical conclusions; and, on the other hand, it may say some things which will drive to cover or desperation some men occupying high places; but the safety of a free nation depends on a free press, and the imprisonment of Warren and the prosecution of the New York World are a denial of the principle.