The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1908-03-23
M FREDERIC j. mAsKIN.

Have you n sure, warranted-n MOTTO
fail cure for anarchy? IL you nave.
looking for right now. The predica-
ment OF the man who Is between the
devil and the deep blue sea Is but a
mornentary period OF indecision as coiii-
pared with that of the governmen, IN
the handling of the anarchist. How
to get rid Of the red" is question
not so easy to solve as 1t seems to
be, and when each plan proposed Is
Analysed It Is found to have about SIX
advantages to a half dozen DRAWBACKS;
Of Police and the murder of the Den
yer priest have brought about a
recrudescence of the talk of axtermi-
nation that grew SO omincus Just after
ley. The reds must go" was then the
cry even as 1t Is TO-DAY. but there is
little to Indicate that they went.
The fact Is, there Is wide diverg-
ence OF opinion as to how TO handle
tho anarchist. There arc two schools
OF thought as to the best way to hold
him In check. The one believes in
stern, strict, unrelenting repression II
thinks that he must be muzzled his
utterances and his writings smothered
the minute they come to the surface.
Mr.. Roosevelt is of this school He
said In his message to Congress that
anarchy is no more an expression or
social discomfort than Is pocket PICK
lnS or Wl1e- DEBATING, anu IuItner oii
that IF ever anarchy is triumphant II
Will last but one red moment, to be
for ages by the gloomy
night of despotism." He then urged
Congress to pass the most stringent
Legislation against anarchists, and TO
regard them as outlaws of the first
water.
This same idea finds expression in
the action of Philadelphia in calling
to halt the anarchist meeting sched-
uled to take place there. and In de-
termining to put quietus on any
made at any other meeting which
might be held. 1t also finds express
sion in the New York law against
anarchy. In that State the police pow
ton of anarchistlc doctrine whenever
1t partakes of the nature of the gospel
OF murder and assassination. New
York has comparatively few anarch-
lists. The laws Of New Jersey are
more hospitable to them.
The other school takes the ground
that harsh measures drive the anarch-
ist to cover, that the secret proceed
ings are more dangerous than those
which are open; that where the
anarchist is not denied the right
of free speech and public assemblage
he can be kept track of. and violence
can thus be kept down. Its supporters
point out that where the harshest
anarchists flourish the most. and that
in England and America, where their
idiosyncrasies are allowed to come to
light, there is not nearly so much
violence on the part of anarchists as
there is in those countries whore the
profession of their faith makes them
outlaws, to be hunted down like wild
animals.
This policy is illustrated by the lii
nois way OF handling the situation.
There anarchists are allowed to speak
and write on their favorite subject
as much as they are inclined to. and
the result is that they. are all known
to the officers of the law and can be
kept track OF. However. the Illinois
law makes every anarchist RESPONSE
BILE for his utterances. For instance,
II the murder of President Mckinley
had taken place in Chicago. or in any
preachings affected Czolgosz, could
have been held-as an accomplice In the
eyes of the law. The sum of the Illi-
nois law is that il a man or a woman
by the words or writing of another.
the author of those words Is equally
guilty with the actual perpetrator of
the crime.
Chicago has probably come as near
to offering solution of the question
Of anarchy as any other place on
earth At the Chicago Commons there
Is what Is known as the free floor.
Here whatsoever will may come and
have his say. The anarchist comes
and is given three minutes He raves
about the injustice OF government, re-
penting the arguments that he has
heard in some foul-smelling saloon. To
meet these arguments, there are good
speakers ready, who have been secured
by those who seek to uplift the be-
nighted souls. The anarchist comes,
SO to speak. with his bomb In his
hand for everybody. Next time he
comes with it in his pocket. and per-
haps the third time he leaves it at