The daily banner. (Cambridge, Md.) 1897-2008, 1918-04-09
|ILLINOISLYNCHINC
SCORED IN SENATE
Work Of a Drunken Mob, Says
Mr.. Sherman.
SPLIT ON SEOITION BILL
Debate on Measure Shows Republi-
cans For and Against lt-Assistant
Secretary Of Labor Scored.


tack upon Mayor Siegel and officials
of Collnsville, Ills, for permitting "a
drunken mob" maSquerading under
the guiSe of patriotism" to lynch
Robert Prayer, an alien miner, was
made by Senator Sherman, Republi-
can, i'll the senate.
Senator Sherman was speaking
against the sedition bill, the admins
tration measure designed to punish
disloyal utterances.
The mob of lynchers, he said, was
a greater disgrace to the country and
to republican government than any,
thing Prayer could have said. The
senator said the mob obtained liquor
at neighboring town and then re-
turned to CollinSvile and attacked
Prayer.
Senator Sherman asserted the may
or and the chief of police of Collins
vile made no effort to save Prayers
life. Senator 'Overman, Democrat,
North Carolina, said he had no apollo
gy to make for Prayer.
Il am satisfied" Senator Sherman
said, that this bill is designed to pre-
vent a full discussion of governmental
question il the next campaign, and
that it will be so used
The Illinois senator said he had
been called a "copperhead' three
times because he refused to vote for
all the bills sent to congress by the
departments.
Reverting to the recent lynching at
CollinSville, Senator Sherman said the
poor drunken outfit, most of whom
could not speak the English language.
thought they were doing right, and
that they could go to any length they
desired"
Senator Borah, Republican, Idaho,
said if the measure would prohibit
free discussion of the efficiency or in
efficiency of any department or etfi-
cial, or the wisdom or unwisdom of
any official he would oppose it.
Senator Sherman said the language
of the bill is sufficiently broad TO
make any slight uncomplimentary ref
erence to a public official an Offense.
He said he had heard more criticism
| Nnf the government and the supreme
court at meetings of the National
Leag of Popular Governments than
at Socialist meetings on the Lake
front in Chicago.
Have you heard criticisms of the
supreme court in this chamber?' ask
ed Senator Gallinger, Republican,
New Hampshire. Il have was the
reply.
An attack on Louis F. Post, assist
ant secretary of labor, was made by
the Illinois senator He said the Post
family owns the publication called
the Public This, he said, was "a
single tax sheet and Socialist at
heart" 1t was the exponent and
mouthpiecs of every governmental
error. -
Mr. Post, he continued, is contrib
utor to that publication, as are "a
great variety of social settlement
workers, all high in this administra-
ton" Senator Sherman said the Dill,
if passed, would be administered by
| social settlement workers, not states
! men,
do you approve of that kind of
preaching?" asked Senator PoindeXter,
Republican, Washington, referring to
The Public. Il do not" Senator Sher-
man replied.
Those are the things this bill Is
intended to prohibit" said Senator
PoindeXter. He added that he suggest
ed the bill be amended so that no
Bolsheviki shall have anything to do
with it's enforcement"
"That would break up the admins
tration," replied Senator Sherman.
An amendment by Senator Thomas,
Democrat, Colorado, was adopted, pro-
yiding that utterances and publica-
lions abusive of the government, con-
stitutiOn, soldiers and sailors, flag.
etc. shall be "wilful' before the pen
alties apply.