Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1918-12-05
GENERAL GREGORY
TELLS0F THE GOOD WORK DONE
BY THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE

oSS~ 10
orally maintained.
Systematic disloyal propaganda
became a failure during the first
year of the war" he said. Shortly
after u entry into the war this
propaganda, supported chiefly by
those influences and organizations
which had opposed the declaration Of
war, manifested iself in dis
ton, and operation of the
selective service. act, but this type
of propaganda was almost immedi-
ately suppressed and destroyed. 1t
was followed by manifestations Of
propaganda df an economic and So
cial character, clearly supported in
the main, by sympathizers with the
enemy powers. This general type OF
autumn of 1917, but gained no great
Roadway and was declining by Janu-
airy /, 1918. Various other types of
propaganda have appeared sporadic
cally cut none of them have gained
any. substantial footing, and it may
be fairly said that prior to July /,
1918, the effort of German sympathiz-
ers in the field Of disloyal propaganda
had almost completely failed"
The department has been ham,
pered in suppressing propaganda, said
the attorney general, by "self-ap-
pointed committees or associations Of
citizens who, ignorant Of or dissatis-
fled with the scope Of the federal
laws, or Jurisdiction, have sought to
supplement them by extra legal
measures Of intimidation and punish
was the dissemination of hundreds Of
%unfounded reports relating to use Of
poison gas by enemy agents, ground
glass in food. and damage to Red
Gross supplies.
Referring to difficulties with MEN,
bers of the I. W. W., "pseudo-Social-
lists" and similar bodies, the attorney
general said:
1T has been the policy Of this<de-
partment that no person should be
prosecuted or interned solely by rea-
son of his membership in any such
organization, that guilt is always per-
sonal, and that under no circum-
stances should any organization or
body of men be prosecuted as SUCH"
Less than n per cen Of the en-
envy aliens arrested on suspicion and
suspicion. OF the $4,000 enemy
aliens applying for permission to
complete their naturalization, which
was stopped or the declaration of
war, reports on more than 10000
have been furnished the naturaliza-
ton authorities Of the department OF
labor.
Discussing the enforcement Of anti
trust laws, Attorney Geenral Gregory
when natural avs Of trade break
down, as they have don during the
war in many branches Of trade, di-
rect government action with respect
to prices and methods Of distribution
may become essential in order to pre-
vent private control Of markets, for
when natural laws OF trade can no
longer be depended upon to regulate
markets, the only choice Is between
artificial control imposed by private
interests and artificial control i'm
posed by public agencies. In these
circumstances, therefore, such direct
governmental action. so far from
running counter to the purpose Of the
Sherman act, is directly in line with
it."
The attorney general said the hear
ing Of pending antitrust cases in the
supreme 4 court had been postponed
on motion Of the government because
1.-The dissolution Of these combine
tons would require financial opera
tions on a large scale, which 1t would
not be in theNpublic interest to under
take in the present condition Of the
money market. brought about by the
war"
Mr.. Gregory's recommendation pro-
pose legislation to make q federal
warrant run to any part Of the Uni
ted States, 50 that indicted individual
cannot escape trial 10 easily: retire
ment Of federal judges at the age OF
20 II they have served ten years OF
more; legislation to make 1t an Of.
Tense to send through the mail let.
tiers threatening life or property;
Tightening up Of bankruptcy laws:
and legislation making 1t possible to
sue a corporation in any district in
which 1t t%ransacts business.
HEARD OF MAN BE gHEIHERED.