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Supreme Court — Part 7
Page 102
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568 UN-AMERICAN ACTIVITIES IN CALIFORNIA
Although the ‘‘ciear and present danger’’ standard (applied ix
Schenck v. United States (19195, 249 U. S. 47) was given a somewhat
restricted scope in Guillow v. New York (1925), 268 U. 8. 652, which
upheld the New York Anarchy Act, the more recent decisions in Thomas
v. Collins (1945), 323 U.S, 516; Thornhill v. Alabama (1940), 310 U.S,
88; Schnetderman v. United States (1943), 320 U.S. 118, and Bridges
v. California (1941), 314 U. 8. 252, indicate that the ‘‘clear and present
danger’’ standard must be met in formulating a measure that in any
way restricts or hampers the freedom of religion, speech, press or peace-
ful assembly.
In the case of Schenck v. United States, the defendant was con.
vieted of violating the Espionage Act of 1917 by attempting to cause
insubordination in the armed forces of the United States and to obstruct
the recruiting and enlistment service of the United States while it was
at war with Germany. The defendant had published a document circu.
lated to men who had been called to service and allegedly calculated tu
cause insubordination and obstruction. The court. affirmed the convie-
tion of the defendant and stated that ‘‘The question in every case
[involving freedom of speech] is whether the words used are used in
such circumstances and are of such a nature as to create a clear and
present danger that they will bring about the substantive evils that
Congress has the right to prevent.’? (p. 52.3
The Thomas case involved a Texas statute which sought to regi-
late labor union organizers, In the Thornhill case, the court found that
an Alabama statute prohibiting picketing was unconstitutional.
In the Schneiderman case, the court reversed a lower court deci
sion canceling the citizenship of Schneiderman on the grounds that he
had illegally procured citizenship. It was alleged that Schneiderman al
the time of his naturalization had fraudulently ‘concealed his member-
ship in certain Communist organizations which were opposed to the prin-
ciples of the Constitution.
In the Bridges case, the court reversed the conviction of a laber
leader who had been held in contempt of a state court, for causing the
publication of a telegram from himself to the Seeretary of Labor. on
the ground that the telegram constituted an attempt to influence the
court’s decision since it contained a threat to strike.
The determination of what constitutes a ‘‘clear and present dan-
ger’’ presents the problem most difficult of solution. For, as stated by
the re in Bridges v. California (cited above);
“In Schenck v. United States, however, this court said that there must be
determination of whether or not ‘the words used are used in such circumstances and
are of euch a nature ag to create a clear and present danger that they will brist
about the substantive evils,’ We recognize that this statement, however helpful, dot
not comprehend the whole problem. As Mr. Justice Brandeis said in his cancurt™?
opinion in Whitney Vv. California, 274 U. 8. 357, 874: ‘This court has not yet fixed
the standard by which to determine when a danger shall be deemed clear ; how remult
the danger may be and yet be deemed present.’ * * * ({p. 261.) .
“What finally emerges from the ‘clear and present danger’ cases is a workint
principle that the substantive evil must be extremely serious and the degree of imm'
mence extremely high before utterances can be punished. Those eases do not purretl
to mark the furthermost constitutional boundaries of protected expression, nor de ¥¢
here.” (p. 263.)
UN-AMERICAN ACTIVITL
Ti. Srarurory anpD Jt
In view of the difficulties inheren
ind present danger’’ test, we believe th:
extent of the power of the Legislature
«to examine some of the more significar
gnstruing and applying those statutes,
of the statutes discussed will be found in
at Page 581.
We have not included considerati
«uch a time, the clear and present dan
‘tan in the case of statutory regulatic
of peace.
Regulations concerning subversive
nal forms: First, statutes that directly
datutes that directly affect organizati
if organizations.
A. Svarutrory ReotLations raat D
1, Treason. Treason against the
state, adhering to its enemies, or giving
and punished by Section 37, California
dix}, the definition being derived fro
“tate Constitution. (For text, see Appe
Misprision of treason, consisting |
‘reason without otherwise assenting tc
punishable under Section 38, Califort
Appendix.)
2. Insurrection and Rebellion. Ir
-f active and open resistance to the ai
ment. Section 143 of the California Mi
zes the Governor to declare a state of ir
fied ‘‘that the execution of civil or er
resisted by bodies of men, or that any cr
resist by force the execution of such p
‘ounty or city are unable or have fail
laws’? and he may order into the serv
‘ext, see Appendix.} Section 145 of the
Code provides for punishment of anyo!
the Governor’s proclamation. (For tex
3. Sedition. Sedition may be gen
of mouth, publication or otherwise, di:
nent or the advocacy of its overthrow
Statute which prohibits sedition as sui
meludes criminal anarchy, display of
nent, and criminal syndicalism.
__ & Criminal Anarchy. Statutes 1-
hibit the forceful and violent overthro
Usually such statutes also prohibit the
organized government.
The New York Anarchy Act (for 1
Law, Secs. 160-166) provides, in part.
advise or teach by word of mouth or
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