| Show THE PENALTY OF UNLAWFUL ALLEGIANCE Decisions of reaching far-reaching effect in respect to 0 have been handed down by the Sup Supreme eme Court of the United States States- Talkative Red sympathizers to the contrary notwithstanding notwithstanding notwithstanding standing the Supreme Court usually has the last say For Foi that body has upheld the convictions of Charlotte Anita Whitney Whit Whit- Whitney hitney hit ney and William Villiam Burns under California's criminal syndicalism la law law- v It is held in in effect that mere membership in in a group advocating advocating advocating ad ad- violence against existing government is a felony Thus individual opinion is merged into group opinion Many 1 people belong to organizations to the tents of which they do not subscribe subscribe subscribe sub sub- scribe in full and in whose hose acts they would not join in complete accord yet in general principles they believe in the tion But when the existence of orderly government is threatened threatened threatened threat threat- ened or involved there is a duty every citizen owes to forbear allegiance to an organization founded upon unprincipled doctrines doctrines doctrines doc doc- trines of overt destruction destruction- No law ever has or ever will be constitutional constitution l which seeks to or does prevent liberty of thought and expression and freedom freedom freedom free free- dom of opinion But it is to the task of finding the difference between this freedom of opinion which is lawful and the license of criticism that incites and inflames against the constituted processes of government that the Supreme Court has dedicated itself No finer distinctions in legal reasoning could be conceived conceived conceived con con- yet such points must be settled if free government is to tobe tobe tobe be defined and made safe Out of the Supreme Courts Court's rulings the average laymen will not concern himself with shades of meaning nor mentally wrestle with the dictum He lIe is content to know that he can cannot cannot not belong t to the I. I W. W W. W nor the radical Communists and expect expect ex ex- expect to keep out of jail forever |
