The Hartford republican. (Hartford, Ky.) 18??-1926, 1918-05-10
VOL. XXX.
SEDITION MEASURE
FINALLY PASSED
New Federal Statute Takes
Howl Out of Disloyal
Wolves.

Washington, May Final legis-
lative action was taken today on the
sedition bill, giving the government
broad new powers to punish disloyal
acts and utterances. Adopting a con-
ference report already approved by
the Senate. the House sent to the
President for his signature the meas
ure which has been before Congress
for weeks. assailed as a menace to
free speech and championed as essen
tial to order at home during the
war.
The President is expected to sign
the bill promptly, and thru vigorous
enforcement of its provisions Off
cials of the Department of Justice
say they will be able to do much
toward checking the wave of mob
outbreaks for which unpublished dis
loyalty and enemy activity are blam-
ed
Penalties of twenty years impris-
onment or a fine of $4,000, or both,
are provided In the bill for those con-
victed of uttering or printing disloy-
al. abusive. profane. scurrilous, con-
temptuous or abusive language about
the United States or about the gov
eminent or about the form of govern
ment or the flag or for those who are
convicted of favoring Germany or
her allies in the present war.
Single Vote OF "No."
The debate in the House was moth
ing like so extended as in the Sen
ate. and while some opposition de-
veloped there only Representative
London. of New York, the Socialist,
voted against the conference report
on the final test. Representative
Lundeen. OF Minnesota, Republican,
and Church. of California, Democrat,
voted present.
Representative London sought
vainly to send the report back to con-
ference because of the elimination of
the Senate amendment exempting
from penalty those who In criticism
of the government speak the truth
with good motives and for justiiable
ends. Representative Gordon, Of
Ohio, Democrat. declared the Senate
placed language in the bill which
plainly is in violation of the federal
Constitution guaranteeing free
speech"
Others opposed the bill largely be-
cause OF their objection to comforting
new censorship powers on the post
master general. who is authorized to
refuse the service OF the mails to any
person or concern using the mails
in violation of the proposed act.
Attack London's Attitude.
Representative Johnson. of Wash
ington, attacked Representative Lon
don's criticism Of the provision
against using abusive language
against the Constitution of the United
States and wanted to know whether
the Socialist member approved the
activities of the |. w. w.
when a group of constituencies
employers refuse to recognize the
right of people to organize, they will
have to deal with the |. w. W." Rep
resentative London replied. 81 be-
lieve the |. w. w. is the working
out of the law of compensation.
II am eternally opposed to having
the Constitution made over along
the lines of Karl Marx book on So
cialism," retorted Mr.. Johnson, "and
am also opposed to making the stars
and stripes into a red flag Of revolu-
ton for the anarchists, or the |. w.
w. or the Socialists"
Representative Webb, of North
Carolina. chairman of the Judiciary
Committee, and Representative Ora
ham, of Pennsylvania, Republican,
who led the fight for the report. in
sisted that the powers proposed were
necessary and would not be abused.
Republicans Object.
Representative Wood, of Indiana,
and Representative Green, of Iowa,
Republicans, objected to the powers
given the postmaster general.
The mail censorship section reads
as follows:
1.-The post master general may, up
on evidence satisfactory to him that
any person or concern is using the
mails in violation of the provisions
of this act. instruct the postmaster at
any postofiice at which mail Is re-
ceived addressed to such person or
concern to return to the postmaster
at the Office at which they were orig
lnally mailed, all letters or other