New-York tribune., 1918-05-04
Senate Agrees to
Take Vote TODAY
On Sedition Bill
Baker and Gregory At
tackled in Debate on Gen.
sorship Amendment

WASHINGTON, May 3.-An agree
ment to vote at o'clock tomorrow on
the conference report on the sedition
bill, penalizing disloyal acts and utter
ances, was reached late to-day by the
Senate after another day Of attack on
features alleged to limit freedom OF
speech and extending the Postmaster
Generals mail censorship powers.
Criticism of the measure was con-
tinued by several Senator's, led by Sem
ator Sherman, of Illinois, Republican,
who again assailed Administration off
cials, including Attorney General Greg
ory and Secretary Baker.
Senator Norris, of Nebraska, also at
tackled the censorship clause, and an
nounced that he would move for it's
elimination. He said the power pro-
posed for the Postmaster General--to
withhold mail he believed would vio-
late the espionage laws-was too great
to give any man.
King Defends Censorship
The censorship provision was de-
Tended by Senator King, of Utah, one
of its authors, and Senator McCumber,
OF North Dakota, Republican. The lat
ter declared that the legislation would
not harm loyal Americans, but was
needed to curb disloyalists.
Senator Sherman said laws already
existed to punish such men as William
D. Haywood, the l. w. w. leader. and
A. c. Townley, head of the Non-Parti-
san League. Haywood, he said, had
circulated literature "directly intended
to hinder the government in the ex-
ercise of war power" while Townley
has uttered more seditious sentiment
in the Northwest than any l. W. w
cut of Chicago"
Senator King inquired if the farmer
members of the Non-P Partisan League
were aware of the statements attribut-
ed to Townley.
MANY farmers are withdrawing from
the league on learning about Town
ley" replied Senator Sherman.
alleged statement at Jersey City some
months ago that George WASHINGTON
soldiers "stole anything they could lay
their hands on" Senator Sherman de-
manded to know how we could "blame
the Haywoods and the Townleys when
they delivered diatribes against SOL
diers living when the speech of the
Secretary of War was of the soldiers
dead"
Fall Favors Measure
Senator Fall, Republican, of New
Mexico. said the bills provisions pro-
hlbltlng scurrilous remarks against
the Ameican uniform would have sub
jected Secretary Baker to prosecu-
tior. He favored the bill, he said, to
stop such criticism.
Senator Sherman charged that At
torney General Gregory did not prose-
cute with the vigor he should. He
declared the Attorney General re-
moved from office District Attorney
Campen, of Tennessee, because of his
activity in obtaining information
tending to show Major E. B. Stahl-
man, publisher of "The Nashville Ban
ner," was an alien enemy.
Senator Walsh, of Montana. re-
marked that he understood from press
reports that Campen was removed be-
cause the Attorney General did not
think he was sufficiently vigorous in
the prosecution of the espionage act
and similar acts during the war.
In answer to statements made by
Senator Sherman in the Senate, Major
p. B. Stahlman, publisher of "The
Nashville Banner" who is here in
connection with the Senate postal
rate hearings, denied he was an
alien enemy, declaring he was nat
uralized in 1856, and had lived in
Nashville for fifty-three years.