New-York tribune., 1918-04-23
i Would Put U. S. on
Level of Enemies, Says
Wilson
Advocates Will
Not Push Measure
Agitation in Senate Expect
ed to Speed Up Prosecu-
ton of Seditionists
By C. w. Gilbert

BY 4. w. Gilbert
WASHINGTON, April o2-The Presi-
dent to-day gave the death blow to the
Chamberlain court martial bill, provid-
ing for the trial and punishment Of
spies by military authorities. He did
50 by writing to Senator Overman,
chairman of the Judiciary Committee
that he was "unalterab,y opposed" to
the measure as inconsistent with
American institutions. His letter fol-
pws:
@Thank you for your letter of yes
serday. | am heartily obliged to you
for consulting me about the court
martial bill, as perhaps 1 may call it
for short. am wholly and unalter-
ibly opposed to such legislation and
very much value the opportunity you
give me to say so. l think it is not
only unconstitutional, but that in
character it would put us nearly upon
the level of the very people we are
fighting and affecting to despise. 1t
would be altogether inconsistent
With the spirit and practice of Amer
lea, and in view of recent legisla-
ton, the espionage bill, the sabotage
bill and the woman spy bill. l think
it unnecessary and uncalled for.
Il take the liberty, my dear Sena-
tor, Of expressing myself in this en-
phatic way because my feeling is
very deep about the matter, as
gather your own is.
1T is admirable the way you have
been handling these Important bills.
aud l thank you with all my heart
for standing by the bill which bears
your name without any compromise
Of any kind
ut gives me the greatest satisfac-
ton to tell how much I have appre-
eiated what you have been doing"
wilson Opposition
viii Kill Measure
This bill had its origin in the gen.
eral discomfort felt among military
snd naval officers charged with obtain
ing information regarding enemy
activities in this country over the in
effectiveness Of the prosecution Of per-
sons suspected Of espionage under
evil laws and by the agents of the
Department Of Justice. The heads Of
,he army and navy intelligence bureaus
both appeared before the Senate Mill
tary Affairs Committee in behalf Of
he proposal. The bill. moreover, OBJ
nined part Of it's inspiration within
,ne Department Of Justice itself. Mr..
warren, one of the Assistant Attor-
neys General, had written brief
pointing out the difficulties Of proceed
ing against spies before our civil
courts. This brief reached Senator
11namoerlain's hands an led to Mr..
warren being asked to draft court
martial bill. For his brief and for
Grating the bill Mr.. Warren was
tice. 'A' -
:, IN view Of the Presidents opposi-
ton it was said today that there
would be no effort to press the bill. It
y Predicted, however, that the intro
auction Of the bill and the circum-
Insances attending it will stimulate the
department Of Justice to greater ef-
.oIts against persons charged with
sspicnage: Just as the war cabinet and
~anItOn s. bills were followed by q great
organization = OF the war machine, so
Ia, ~ expected the court martial bill
man agents. {.
Confident Overman
Bill Viii Pass
~ me reference of the President to
i ias overman bill shows the confidence
a. iee!s with regard to that measure.
Saa aa nls confidence appears to be justi-
Ta Tsa. The bill evidently will pass on
.na .nursday and probably unamended in
anS an essential particular. The plan to
i i."ss'itute the war cabinet bill for it
is.ao. usao. no one wishes TO raise the
sae ,nn against the President. The rea-
csh;I csh ~ mat the advocates of the war
dent, dent, bill and the munitions bill were
ss;anoous sss;a.ous only Of obtaining a more ef-
w. h' organization for carrying on the
n,s,. ihcy believe that their main
xta.poSes have been accomplished by
'sns ~ changes which the President has
nsssn "us IN this war machine. They look
~ L.,h ~ 'ne appointment of Mr.. Baruch
H.. ne war Industries Board az in ef-
M ss. me creation Of minister OF mu-
t1I.ohs. stI.. And they are impressed favor
~ ~ With the way Mr.. Baruch has
aaasrtsken his task.
~ war cabinet they feel is lacking,
MI r.s meeting Of the various war ad-
Is,n'ssfatorS not, in their opinion,
ssg ng aae9uate 70 the planning and
si.naact = of the war. This conference
4i,s,ort sort of clearing house Of war ac-
~ T,aeS instead Of directing agency.
~ ~. reed above all Of planning board
sa"he s"he Kind ig certain TO be felt, but
1f.na'ors 1.as are wiling 10 trust the Presi
I'm I'm - work out a real war executive
s,'nse'f' ,,na They are impressed by the
y..p'se yo shown in the Baruch appoint
I'M ,,sa tne schwab appointment and the
xx.omp. ssepg taken to Yeorganjze the
narera't s'..t Production Board. While that
syaa'pDss ~ - manifest there will not be
81 ras siiEbtest dispositi0n 70 force the
!. aissf1sntg hand. The war cabinet bill
aead, The Oyerrnan bill, because II
f,,es the President authority TO carry
~. sy..wayd his rsoYGanizatiops, will pass
ush iisfss real opposition, considering
~ ~. Storm which arose when it war
me f0hk oner The Overmun bin
#1N Pune a. f,<,I1srs, ~