Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1918-04-12
FOOL PROOF SPY LAWS

T'l1E amendments TO the espionage act
offered by Senators Overman, Walsh
and PoindeXter, passed in the Senate and
now assured Of approval in the House
and by the President, have in theory at
least the advantage Of all-inclusive thor
oughncss. No cowardy, incpt, inefficient
or stupid representative of any United
States District Attorneys Office should
ever again be able to evade or muddle
the issue raised by spies, seditionists,
traitQrs and secret enemies.
The agents Of the law departments of
the Government arc fenced around in the
recent amendments as closely as the
offenders themselves. They are corrallcd,
shut in and compelled to fight. Recently
it has appeared as if the Administration
favored tho spy amendments in order to
protect the country from the weak sis
tcrs in political office. Normally such
provisions a. are made in the new law
would have been unnecessary.
II remains to be seen whether depart
ments which were unable to convict or
punish the more obvious olrcnscs will be
able to show results in the larger field
opened by the revision of the espionage
act. Certainly their task is made SIM
plcH r.. q whole catalogue of new
crimes is embraced in TIE later amen5-
ments. I'm single instances any United
States District Attorney who doesn't
sleep in court should find the work Of
prosecution easy where enemy aliens are
concerned. But it is possible that the
revised law. because Of its very scope,
will foil IN, ,r,,,,r.1 ,,t,,,l,,ny ion,
Senator Ovcrmau offered the first
amendment. 1t was aimed at'thc mru-
mcrablc German agents who are still at
work in the United States as paid liars.
The German Government has made false
hood Il science In Italy Russia and in
the balkans the deliberate lies Of the
Germans spread aS contagious rumOrs
have done more harm than German artil-
lcry. Therefore the OvCrmau amendment
provides twenty years in jail and fine
Of $4,000 for any one who "shall will
fully make false reports o. false state
mCnts or do anything except by way Of
bona Iidc and not diSIoyal advice to an
investor or investors with intent to
obstruct the sale of United States bonds
or other securities" and fot, those who
attempt to mcite" insubordinatiou or
mUtiuy in the military establishment or
to hinder in words the process Of
recruiting aud enlistment
Senator Walsh added to this another
amendment leyclcd at those scditionisls
and agitators who have been frankcr in
their opposition to the Government and
German agents who have adopted the
disguise Of labor agitutUrS. The Walsh
amendment provides Il twcuty-year iail
term and Il SlO.OOO fine for those who
utter. print Or publish protau" or sour
rIous language about the form of GOV
crnmcnt Of the United States or simi-
larly attack the flag. the Constitution. or
the uniform Of the military service. It
provides the same punishment for those
who by utteranccs Of any sort attempt
to hinder the United States IN the CON
duet Of the war" or TO confuse or
obstruct the production Of war essentials.
Senator Poiudcxtcr added the third
amendment. which hereafter will pro
vide the full penalty Of the espionage act
for all persons who, "by word Or act, sup
port Or favor the cause Of the German
empire or its allies" or in Il like manner
oppose the cause Of Che United States.
The OtfenScs variOusly defined might.
with more forccful administration and
Interpretation Of the existing laws. be
grouped under the head of treason or
espionage. If judges and jurics and
Federal attorneys we're closer to the
firing line they would have been less
mcticulous in their courtcsicS to enemy
aliens. 1t Is the duty Of every resident.
especially an alicn--iu country at war
80 to live that his life and acts shall br
above suspicion.