The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1918-04-24
new Law NEEDED.
CONGRESS CALLED ON TO PASS
LEGISLATION TO HANDLE
SPIES.
Answers by Deiay-Senate Military
Committee POstpOnes Action on
Bill to COurtmartial DislOyal Per-
SONS.

Washington, April 19.-Immediate
enactment of legislation to enable
the military authorities to deal di-
rectly with spies and German propa-
gandists was urged before the senate
military committee today as the only
way to curb lynch law against dis
loyalty and enemy agitation. Repre-
sentatives of the army and navy intel
ligence departments and other wit
nesses told the committee that the
situation is serious and can not be
handled under existing laws.
The testimony was given in con-
nection with Senator Chamberlains
hill which would transfer from civil
courts to military courts martial trials
of all persons charged with violating
the espionage act. After the hearing,
the committee postponed action until
next week
While the dill was being considered
by the committee opposition was de-
veloping in the senate. Senator Borah
declared the bill if passed would be
unconstitutional.
Delay Of the civil courts in prose-
cutting cases involving the espionage
and other acts intended to stop Ger
man propaganda and seditious utter
ances were criticised by Norman H.
White Of Brookline, Mass, and Col.
r. Fl. Van Deman, both connected
with the military intelligence section.
They declared that summary Justice
under military tribunals would do
much to allay feeling that now exists
throughout the country against enemy
aliens owing to the governments de-
lay in prosecuting those working in
support of Germany.
Twenty thousand aliens in New
York alone. Mr.. White SAID, have re-
fused to give their finger prints to the
federal authorities as required by law
and no effort is being made to COM
pei them. There are also hundreds
of cases, he asserted, in which heroin
is being sold American soldiers by
Germans and others. y
The Chamberlain bill was indorsed
Iby Captain McCauley assistant direc.
tor of the naval intelligence depart
ment. who declared that threats Of
trial by courtmartial would deter
many persons from committing acts
which they would not hesitate to do
II they were sure only trial by jury
would follow. Despite the united
efforts of the department of Justice
and the army and naval intelli-
gence forces, he admitted little pro-
gress is being made against spies AMI
propaganda. Judge John F. MCGEE
OF Minneapolis, Mimi, member of
the powerful public safety commits
sion organized by citizens of that
State to aid the government in the
prosecution of the war, declared the
department. of Justices efforts have
been 'gllastly failure" in Minnesota
and that the /. w. w. is not half az
dangerous rs the non- partisan league
members, whom he characterizes as
traitors.
A development today in connection
with the Chamberlain bill was the
resignation of Charles Warren of Bos-
ton, as assistant attorney general. His
retirement is said to have been caused
by his advocacy of this bill, and his
criticisms of civil processes of JUS
| tice in war times. He is said to have
assisted in drafting the measure.
The department OF justice is repre-
sented as believing that the drastic
measures proposed in the Chamber
lain bill are entirely unnecessary if
congress will enact adequate laws to
permit the department and its agents
to prosecute persons for disloyalty.
sabotage and other enemy activity
under federal statutes.