New-York tribune., 1917-06-23
Sowing Contempt

The Department Of Justice is charged
with enforcing President Wilson's procla-
nation of April last, forbidding enemy
aliens to approach forts, arsenals, navy
wards and other places which are centres
of military activity. But the departments
method of enforcing that proclamation-in
this city at least-has been to treat 1t as
dead letter.
II would be absurd to claim that any
serious effort has been made to restrict
the freedom Of our large alien enemy popu-
lation. It will cost vast amount of effort
to execute the Presidents proclamation
here. In order to escape the burden and
inconvenience of executing it, the Depart
ment of Justice hit on the happy expe-
dent of licensing enemy aliens to do pre-
cisely what the Presidents order forbade
them to do. Dspensations were to be dis
tributed to as many as were willing to ask
for them. If the rest declined to equip
themselves with licenses, it was not for
the United States Marshal for the South
ern District of New York to worry. That
official was inclined to take leaf out OF
Dogberry's book, and thank heaven that
he was rid of just so many possible trouble
makers.
The Tribune's Investigations have shown
that there are about 100000 enemy aliens
In New York. Owing to the configuratlon
of Manhattan Island and to the multlph-
cation of military centres here, the areas
TO which an enforcement of the half-mile
limit would confne enemy aliens are ex-
ceedingly restricted. German subjects
would be shut off from both waterfronts
and cooped up in irregular-shaped deten-
ton districts between Eighth and Lexing-
ton avenues.
The effect of the order on the situation
here may not have been foreseen. At any
rate, when its implications became clear
the Department of Justice began to shift
ground. The Attorney General was un-
willing to modify the terms of the procla-
nation. But his agents started in to make
a burlesque Of it. Enemy aliens here were
invited to apply for licenses granting them
freedom Of movement. OF the 100000 per-
sons whose liberty was to be restricted
10000 thought it advisable TO take out
application blanks. But only 10000 OF
them returned the blanks and received per-
mits. The other 10000 lost interest in the
procedure when they discovered what an
emptv travesty it was. They and the
10000 who didn't even ask for blanks are
still enjoying the freedom of our city.
Many of the dispensations were granted to
persons giving fictitious names and ad-
dresses. The Department of Justice has
therefore enforced the proclamation to
the extent of officially excusing 10000
alien enemies from observing it and al
lowing the remaining 10000 to ignore
and evade 1t.
Such an execution of the Presidents
order excites derision. The proclamation
should have said what it meant and stuck
to what it said. If its enforcement was
TO be accommodated to the convenience and
comfort Of those affected, it would have
been more sensible as well as more gen
erous to have advertised that lenity in ad-
vance. To issue a sweeping, stringent or
der and then to let it lapse because there
\ was no machinery for applying it was a
mistake in policy highly injurious to the
governments prestige. How can alien enc
mics be expected to take Washington seri-
ously when some real measure Of segrega-
tion or surveillance becomes necessary?
II would have been far more judicious
IN allow the enemy within orr oates the
dangerous liberty which he had hitherto
enjoyed, and still enjoys, than to abridge
his freedom with flourish of military
severity and then make that abridgement
q bowling farce. Whatever policy we
choose to follow toward aliens liable to in
ternment should be clear-cut and unfinch-
ing. 1t is folly to teach German subjects
here further contempt for our methods Of
enforcing military law