Show FREE PRESS FIG FIGHT IT REVIVED IN SENATE Seek to Have lave Open Criticism Criticism Criticism cism Clause of Espionage Act Restored By Robert B. B Smith International News News News' Service Staff Correspondent W WASHINGTON April 26 The The senate senate senate sen sen- ate began lining up today for tor an early showdown In the fight over the right of free speech and free press during the war Final action may be put lut off oft until Monday but leaders on both sides were busy today strengthening their defenses and mustering votes for the therol therol rol call on the adoption of the conference conference con con- ference frencE report on the administrations administration's new espionage bill The issue was precipitated by the action of the senate and house conferees conferees conferees con con- in striking out the so-called so France rancE amendment guaranteeing the right to lo speak the truth for tor good motives motives mo- mo tives lives and for justifiable ends The amendment had previously been adopted adopt adopt- ed pd by the senate without even a roll all Senator Hiram Johnson of ot California Califor Califor- nia leading the fight for the rejection of the report and the restoration of the amendment declared the action of the conferees a repudiation of ot the constitutional constitutional right of ot free fre press and free speech Without the th amendment the measure framed originally to suppress disloyalty and pro-German pro propaganda can be interpreted as all a a. gag law to shut up honest of the conduct conduct conduct con con- duct of the war he rears fears Canvasses by leaders today showed the Republicans lined up almost solIdly solidly solidly sol sol- sol sol- idly for the restoration of the amend amend- ment It was predicted also that they would receive the support of ot some Democratic Df senators senatore Administration senators however were confident they could force the adoption of the con- con ferenee report by a safe afe If not large majority |