Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1918-05-07
.CONFEREES REPORT
ON SEDITION BILL
ADOPTED IN SENATE
Measure Initiated Year Ago Is
Passed by 48 to 20 Vote
Urged as Vital to ProSecu-
ton of Spies


today adopted the conference report on
the sedition bill by q vote of As to 70.
The vote was a defeat for those who
contended that the measure endsngers
the right of free speech and a free
press. Attorney General Gregory urged
the adoption of the report on the ground
that the bill IS vital to successful prose
cutions OF spies and propagandists
The bill was initiated year ago and
provided maximum penalties Of twenty
years Imprisonment and $4,000 nne
or both for a wide variety Of disloyAl
acts. 1t amends the espionage act and,
with the woman spy" bill recently
passed, completes the cycle OF legisla-
ton urged by the department OF justice
as necessary to clothe the government
with power to deal with sedition and
disloyalty and prevent mob violence
which has resulted in the departments
inability to secure convictions OF per-
sons making disloyal utterances.
That the legislation is unnecessary,
unconstitutional. too drastic and confers
too wide discretion upon administra-
tive officials have been the principal
arguments OF those opposing It
The final vote today was along non
partisan lines. Two Democrats, Senators
Hardwick, of Georgia, and Reed, of Mis-
souri,, Joined with twenty-four Repub-
licans in opposition The vote follows;
Vote on Measure
For Adoption: Democrats-Ashurst,
Bankhead. Beckham, Chamberlain, Cui-
berson. Fletcher. Gerry, Guion, Hender-
son. Hitchcock, Hollis, Jones. of New
Myers. Overman, Owen. Phelan, Pittman,
Pomerene, Randall salisbury. Shafroth,
Sheppard. Shields, Simmons, Smith, OF
Georgia; Smith, of Maryland; Smith, OF
South Carolina; Swanson, Thompson
TuIman. Trammell, Underwood, Walsh
and williams Total, IS.
RepuSlicans-Colt, Fall, Jones, OF
washington; Lenroot, McCumber, Nc
Lean. Nelson. Poindexter. Sterling and
Warren. Total. 10.
Total for, IS.
Against Adoption: Democrsts-Hard-
wick and Reed. Total, ?.
Republicans-Borah. Brandegee, Cal
der. Curtis. Dillingham;. France, GalliH-
ger. Gronna, Hale, Harding Johnson, Of
CALIFORNIA;: Kenyon, Knox. Lodge. Nc
Nary, New. Norris. Page. Sherman,
Smoot, Sutherland, wadsworth, Watson
and Weeks. Total "a.
Total against 2e.
How the Bin Applies
AS redrafted by the conferees the bill
penalties apply, during the war, to per-
sons wilfully uttering "disloyal, pro-
fame scurrilous or abusive language
about the form Of the government of
the United States, the constitution, the
military or naval forces. the flag or
uniform of the United States or any
language intended to bring the form of
government of the United States, the
constitution, the military or naval
forces, the flag, or uniform OF the Unit
ed States into contempt, scorn, contume-
ly or disrepute." 1t also penalties lam
guage intended to incite, provoke or en-
courage resistance to the United States,
or to promote the cause of its enemies"
and wilful display of the flag of any
enemy nation.
Another important provision would
punish statements designed to curtail
production of war necessities, or the
teaching or advocacy Of any of the pro-
hibited acts in the measure, while an
other general and broad provision makes
the penalties apply to those who by
word or act support or favor the cause
of any country with which the United
States is at war or by word or act op-
pose the cause of the United States
Another section of the bin. which was
the most vigorously attacked in the SEN
ate, provides that, if the postmaster
general deems any mali violative of the
espionage laws as amended by the bill.
he may withhold il from addresses. An
other clause provides for dismissal of
federal employees committee any disloy-
al act or uttering disloyal remarks
Eliminates France Amendent
One of the chief controversies in the
senate was over elimination by the con-
ferees Of the France amendment provid-
ing that the bill should not apply to
truthful statements made with good
motives-the general libel law. Senator
France. of Maryland, it's author, and
Senator Johnson, OF California, led the
fight to retain the amendment, declar-
ing II would preserve constitutional lib
erty Of speech and the press. 1t was
opposed by the department Of justice,
however, as a burden in obtaining con-
victions.
4 memorandum from the army in
, 'e'.igence bureau opposing the France
ny by Senator Overman, cited resort
s. German agents TO American litera-
ture in propaganda work. II said thou
iands of copies Of a sermon by the
! Rev. John Haynes Holmes, OF New
: York, had been dropped recently by
German airmen within the British
, iines in an effort to incite rebellion.