The sun., 1908-04-10
MESSAGE ON ANARCHISTS
PRESIDENT SUGGESTS FURTHER
LEGISLATION.

submits an Opinion by the AttOrney.Ci eneFal
JustlfylnE the Exclusion Of Anarchlstlc
Publications From the Malls-Says the
Anarchist Il the Enemy Of Humanity
WASHINGTON, April s.-Presdent Roose-
welt sent to Congress to-day a message Of
lA7 words In which he advocated additional
legislation to enable the Government to
adopt drastic measures for the suppression
Of anarchy in the United States. In the
message the President maintains that eK-
isting law permitted him to prohibit the
use Of the mails for the advocacy Of crime
accordingly, he makes no definite recon-
mendation, but submits for the con-
sideration Of Congress a long opinion from
Attorney General Bonaparte in regard to
the case OF La OusStions Socidls, the
anarchist newspaper Of Paterson. N. j.,
which was recently excluded from the
mails by order OF Postmaster General
Meyer. The text Of the message follows;
To the Senate and House OF Representatives.:
! herewith submit a letter from the De-
partment Of Justice which explains itself
Under this opinion hold that existing statutes
give the President the power TO prohibit
the Postmaster General from being used
as an instrument In the commission Of crime,
that Is. 10 prohibit the use OF the mails for
the advocacy Of murder, arson and treason,
and shall act upon such construction.
UnQuestionsbly, however, there should
be further legislation by Congress in this
matter When compared with the sup
preston Of anarchy every other question
sinks into insignincance. The anarchist IL
the enemy OF humanity. the enemy Of all
mankind and his is deeper degree Of Grim
inaity than any other, No emgrant
is allowed 10 come TO eur shores II be Is an
anarchist and no paper published here or
abroad should be permitted circulation
In this country II IL propagates anarchistic
opinions THEODORE ROOSEVELT.
The White House. April Q. 1905.
In his opinion, which is dated March 81,
the Attoney-Ge quotes the Presi-
dents letter OF March 20, directing the
Attorney General to use every effort to get
at criminal anarchists under the Federal
law. The Attorney General quotes also an
article from the Paterson anarchist publi-
cation adv coating violent measures against
Authorized Government. If this publca-
tion,' he says, does not come within the
class Of periodicals entitled TO transpor-
tation in the mails as maiable matter In
the second class for reasons other than the
sentiments il expresses or the illegal or i'm
moral character Of it's contents, the Post
Office Department has ample authority to
deny II admission to the mails, and | am
informed that in fact this has been done for
reasons altogether independent Of the
peculiar characteristics Of the alleged article
called to your lthe Presidential attention
The Acknowledgement says also; 'Tbe
article in question, supposing It to have
been accurately translated. constitutes a
seditious libel and it's publication in my
opinion is undoubtedly crime at common
law
The Attorney General after reviewing
various legal authorities applicable to the
case says,
Il am obliged to report that can find
no express provision Of the law directing
the exclusion OF such matter from the
mails or rendering its deposit in the mails
an offence against the United States. There |
ran be no doubt, however, that the Congress |
uds lull pONSI uHhCl NHo NOuSliNuNiOH W |
exclude such publications from the nails
Further on the Attorney General says:
while therefore, in the absence OF any |
express provision Of law or binding adjudi- |
cation on this precise point, the question is
one Of doubt and difficulty, / |
advise you that in my opinion the Post
MASTER General will be Justified In excluding
rom the mails any issue Of any periodical
otherwise entitled TO the privileges Of
,econd class mail matter which shall con-
tain any article constituting a seditious
libel and counselling such crimes as murder,
lrson, riot and treason