The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1908-05-24
(By Ralph M. Whiteside.)

(By Ralph M. Whteside.)
Washington. May 23.-Not long aft
er President Roosevelt sent his mes
sage to Congress urging more string
ent laws for the suppression of an
archy it became apparent that his sug-
gestion for Legislation was to be bur-
led without funeral Grafton. The
President said at the time that he con-
sidered that matter so important that
must other questions about which
Congress has been botbering, sink into
insignificance in comparison.
Nobody asked for hearing on the
question, and it is apparent that no
one has it in mind TO do so during the
short time left for business. The
President stated in his message that
he had been advised by the attorney
general that the present statutes war
ranted the suppression of certain an
archistic publications, but this was
not enough.
"Unquestionably there should be
further legislation by Congress in this
matter" he said.
The suggestion went to the commit
tee on the Judiciary, hence to the sub
committee. There are a number Of ia
cetious statesmen who declare that
these committees are Speaker Can
mons Congressional cemetery. AS a
rule bills involving legislative expert
ments are started in this direction,
which is about as far as they ever
get. Only the keenest of public inter
est and loud clamor brings them out
Of this committee.
1t is rather puzzling to learn just
how the members of the Judiciary
committee regards the appeal for iron
laws against that arch nspirator
against liberty and anarchy. One
member, when asked what the com
mittee intended doing, replied: Il
don't know. You see we haven't had
anything quite like it before. We've
given some attention to the anarchy
question, however, for we've had
hearings on the bill to amend the
Sherman Antitrust law. That bills
enactment into law would breed as
much anarchy as any incendiary pub
locations which might find circulation
through the mail
This man was not joking. He meant
every word he uttered and he was not
lacking for words to define why he
thought as he did. That the bill was
strongly supported by Seth Low, Prof.
jerks and other representatives of
the National Civic Federation did not
alter his opinion.
But as to the crusade against an
archy, if congress does not do some
thing there may be another way open
to secure more stringent regulation.
1t is likely that the power Of the post
master general will be broadened con
siderably, which will have a healthy
effect on the class of flaming trash
that creeDs into the mails under the
guise of educational literature.
When William S. Borah. of Idaho
arose in the senate in defense of the
course taken by the president in the
Brownsville affair, there were few
present who knew that the speaker
naQ earned tne TlSnL W DIOCIdllll ullll
self defender of the negro race at the
risk of his life. Senator BOrah is by
nb means an old man, and the incident
referred to still fingers in the minds
of his constituents. But for his cour-
age the body of a negro would have
dahgled at the end of a rope and the
town of Nampa, Idaho, would have
tha reputation of having had a lynch
ingi
Senator Borah was plain Bill Borah
in those days. He was one of the lead
ing lawyers at the bar Of Boise. There
hSs been a ball game between teams
representing Boise and Nampa. The
Boise team had a negro for a mascot
After the game the negro was attack
ed on the field and he shot a white
man. After he was placed in jail a
mob stormed the structure.