The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1901-12-10

1
regulation of nnarchism be-
~ fore congress- that Of Mr.. Con-
| nell, ii seems to us, Is the
| most practical. We published its text
yesterday. For the benefit of those who
missed reading it we now summarize
| its provisions. Conspiring to Kill or in
| citing another to kill or to assault with
| murderous intent any chief ruler Of any
| foreign state is made an offcnse against
| the peace and dignity of the United
States punishable upon conviction by n
| fine Of not more than $1,000 and impris-
onment for not more than ten years,
either or both, at hard labor or other
wise. If the offender be of foreign
birth he may at the courts discretion
be deported to the country of his birth,
| or from which he last came. or of which
he is or was last q subject and If nat
uralized. his American citizenship shall
| be annulled.
10 publicly advise the overthrow. by
| force. of law. government or the estab-
| lished order of society: to publish
| reading matter to this effect; to organ
ize or help to organize societies having
| for their purpose the PRONUNCIATION of
| such views or practices; or to knowing
| ly suffer any such association, society,
organization. union, group or assem-
blage to customarily meet at any room.
hall. saloon, grove or other place for
| any such purpose shall likewise consti
tute an offcnse against the peace and
dignity of the United States punishable
in this section of the bill is $500 and
the maximum term of Imprisonment
five years. Sentence of deportation in
either case is to be executed by the
marshal of the district at the expense
of the government.
Many of the anti-anarchy bills before
congress are fantastic. Especially so
is that of Senator Hoar, proposing to
dump all anarchists from all the civil
lied nations on an unnhabted island in
mid-Ocean. there to permit them to
practice their vicious theories to their
hearts content Mr.. Connell's bill has
the merit of being simple. plain and
enforcible. There is absolutely no men,
ace in it to any law-abiding citizen.
No man could be punished unjustly by
1t save through perjured testimony or
connivance of the jury-perils that i'm
pend over all prosecutions for crime.
On the other hand. the punishment pro-
vitled for the practitioner or abettor of
anarchy. while not mercless or vindic-
tive. is adequate. Its administration in
Il few conspicuous cases would soon
have Il deterrent influence upon those
notoriety seekers who espousc the doc
trines of annrchism for the opportunity
to exploit themselves.
We see only one possible difficulty in
the enforcement of this measure which
is not inherent in the nature of the
crime. That is foreign objection to de-
portation. Where an inhabitant Of the
United States retains his foreign citiz-
enship, our pathway to deport would
be clear But where he had renounced
all foreign allegiance and assumed
American citizenship, our right to de-
port could doubtless be questioned. The
bill. however. meets this uncertainty by
putting the enforcement of deportation
within the discretion of the judge The
judge could either deport at once or i'm
prison with deportation as a punish
ment in reserve. Failure to effect de-
portation in the first instance would
yet leave open the punishment OF fine
or Imprisonment or both. with hard
l,,I \ t,1a
hole for the culprts escape.