On May 22, 1917, Woodrow Wilson sent a letter to the Chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, Representative Edwin Y. Webb, to drum up support for a press censorship amendment to the Espionage Act – which was essentially designed to crush protests over World War I under the guise of national security and preserving patriotism. It said:
"I have been very much surprised to find several of the public prints stating that the administration had abandoned the position which it so distinctly took, and still holds, that authority to exercise censorship over the Press to the extent that that censorship is embodied in the recent action of the House of Representatives is absolutely necessary to the public safety. It, of course, has not been abandoned, because the reasons still exist why such authority is necessary for the protection of the nation.
I have every confidence that the great majority of the newspapers of the country will observe a patriotic reticence about everything whose publication could be of injury, but in every country there are some persons in a position to do mischief in this field who can not be relied upon and whose interests or desires will lead to actions on their part highly dangerous to the nation in the midst of a war. I want to say again that it seems to me imperative that powers of this sort should be granted."
The amendment was voted down, leaving the poor authoritarian Woodrow Wilson no choice but to arrest people for sedition instead.
Reminders, such as this are somewhat scary, however, thus far we have always persevered. Our hope is to “believe that man(kind) will not merely endure: (s)he will prevail”!
Seems that what goes around comes around again! Of course, the current occupant wants the authority to restrict ANY stories that are ANYTHING LESS then 100% complimentary to his authoritarian rule!
Trump and the GOP led congress don’t want the public to be frightened by harsh terms like “climate change”, “rising ocean levels”, “rising CO2 levels”, etc. It’s not really suppression , if they’re just trying to prevent our being frightened, is it?
Having had my early education in the ’50s, I learned that Wilson was a scholarly man of high moral character, nearly a saint for his efforts for the League of Nations. You have caused me to amend my studies of him and some of the scales have fallen from my eyes. Who Knew?
I’m currently reading G.J. Meyer’s “The World Remade: America in World War I”. It is an excellent book. Wilson was a much smarter man, but he had many unfortunate personality quirks that are frighteningly similar to Trump’s. Wilson was insecure, was convinced he knew best and would not seek advice or consultation with others, was a sucker for flattery, was thin-skinned and couldn’t take criticism, was a racist, was contemptuous of Congress (including members of his own party), and had an authoritarian bent. The Espionage and Sedition Acts were two of the most unconstitutional laws ever passed and implemented in the history of the United States. Just voicing criticism of the war, the draft, or Wilson, even privately, could land a citizen in prison for 20 years. Wilson may have been our worst president because he was competent – and dangerous.
Brian Carroll creator almost 6 years ago
On May 22, 1917, Woodrow Wilson sent a letter to the Chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, Representative Edwin Y. Webb, to drum up support for a press censorship amendment to the Espionage Act – which was essentially designed to crush protests over World War I under the guise of national security and preserving patriotism. It said:
"I have been very much surprised to find several of the public prints stating that the administration had abandoned the position which it so distinctly took, and still holds, that authority to exercise censorship over the Press to the extent that that censorship is embodied in the recent action of the House of Representatives is absolutely necessary to the public safety. It, of course, has not been abandoned, because the reasons still exist why such authority is necessary for the protection of the nation.
I have every confidence that the great majority of the newspapers of the country will observe a patriotic reticence about everything whose publication could be of injury, but in every country there are some persons in a position to do mischief in this field who can not be relied upon and whose interests or desires will lead to actions on their part highly dangerous to the nation in the midst of a war. I want to say again that it seems to me imperative that powers of this sort should be granted."
The amendment was voted down, leaving the poor authoritarian Woodrow Wilson no choice but to arrest people for sedition instead.
happyhollow almost 6 years ago
Reminders, such as this are somewhat scary, however, thus far we have always persevered. Our hope is to “believe that man(kind) will not merely endure: (s)he will prevail”!
Masterskrain Premium Member almost 6 years ago
Seems that what goes around comes around again! Of course, the current occupant wants the authority to restrict ANY stories that are ANYTHING LESS then 100% complimentary to his authoritarian rule!
superposition almost 6 years ago
Trump and the GOP led congress don’t want the public to be frightened by harsh terms like “climate change”, “rising ocean levels”, “rising CO2 levels”, etc. It’s not really suppression , if they’re just trying to prevent our being frightened, is it?
Dani Rice almost 6 years ago
Anyway you slice it and dice it, Woodrow Wilson was NOT a nice man. He’d have brought back slavery if he could.
Gary Williams Premium Member almost 6 years ago
I have to wonder has the Sedition Act ever been repealed?
Fenshaw almost 6 years ago
Having had my early education in the ’50s, I learned that Wilson was a scholarly man of high moral character, nearly a saint for his efforts for the League of Nations. You have caused me to amend my studies of him and some of the scales have fallen from my eyes. Who Knew?
Jesy Bertz Premium Member almost 6 years ago
I’m currently reading G.J. Meyer’s “The World Remade: America in World War I”. It is an excellent book. Wilson was a much smarter man, but he had many unfortunate personality quirks that are frighteningly similar to Trump’s. Wilson was insecure, was convinced he knew best and would not seek advice or consultation with others, was a sucker for flattery, was thin-skinned and couldn’t take criticism, was a racist, was contemptuous of Congress (including members of his own party), and had an authoritarian bent. The Espionage and Sedition Acts were two of the most unconstitutional laws ever passed and implemented in the history of the United States. Just voicing criticism of the war, the draft, or Wilson, even privately, could land a citizen in prison for 20 years. Wilson may have been our worst president because he was competent – and dangerous.
https://www.amazon.com/World-Remade-America-War/dp/0553393340/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1527818332&sr=8-4&keywords=woodrow+wilson+and+world+war+i
Spun_G almost 6 years ago
Not to worry! We Americans love our Free Press almost as much as we love our GUNS! This is because
A) we love to get the dirt on somebody (ref Don Henley’s ‘Dirty Laundry’, or Joe Jackson’s ‘Sunday Papers’) and
B) we want to to be able to shoot somebody if we REALLY don’t like the dirt we got on ’em.
I would imagine that most “War on the Press” will take on the form of economic pressures, to give it a bit more covertness….