Martin Wehinger told a group of Teamsters, "We had no business sticking our nose in there, and we should get licked for doing so." He served 18 months in Deer Lodge State Penitentiary.

A hundred fifty people were charged under the laws in 1918 and 1919. Forty men and one woman served time in state prison. One man was pardoned in the 1920s after it was discovered that witnesses had lied at his trial.

In addition to the timely reminder that free speech must remain free even in times of war, and even when the speech expresses unpopular opinions, Gov. Schweitzer made the point that laws shouldn't encouraging snitching:

"Neighbor informing on neighbor -- this isn't the American way, it isn't the Montana way, it isn't the cowboy way."

And he made a timely observation that applies to those who condemn immigrants for speaking (or singing) in Spanish, rather than English:

Schweitzer said he felt a personal connection to those caught up in the hysteria of the time. His grandparents came to Montana in 1909.

"They worked hard and kept their heads down. My grandmother never did learn to speak English," Schweitzer said. "It was a time when Germans were forced out of their houses and onto the streets, made to kiss the American flag and sing the national anthem in English."