New-York tribune., 1919-05-03
Defence Body
q Urges States
To Curb Reds
Society Convinced Federal
Authorities Have Failed
to Check the Spread of
Revolutionary Doctrine
Nc1c York Tribune
IVGsI,in atom Bureau

Washington Bureau
WASHINGTON, May 2-Letters
have been addressed to governors and
other state officials by the American
Defence Society, urging the states to
enact legislation to cope with Bolshe-
vik and radical Socialist activities
The conviction that the Federal au-
thorities had failed to pursue an often
sive against the Reds caused the trus-
tees of the society to appeal to the
states for legal remedies to curb the
revolutionary tendencies Of the radi-
calls.
Following is the text of letter sent
by the society to Governor w. L.
Harding of Iowa:
"The American Defence Society very
respectfully places before you copy
of a recent act Of the State of New
Hampshire, aimed against those trying
to overthrow this government and the
government of the sevaral states by
violence.
"You undoubtedly appreciate the sit
uaton created and the impetus afford
ed the forces of disorder by a decision
Of the Federal government that its de-
partment for the enforcement of law
cannot take any cognizance of these
matters.
"The whole matter of suppressing
open attempts to overthrow freedom
and our national institutions has been
thereby relegated to the state author-
ties. The situation calls for careful,
intelligent and earnest consideration
and action.
with the utmost confidence we place
these matters before you for your Off
sial consideration
The New Hampshire Act
The New Hampshire law referred to
by the Defence Society provides that:
'No persons shall congregate. as
semble, organize or associate them
selves together in any number, for the
purpose Of advocating or encouraging,
or when assembled, organized or asso-
ciated for any purpose shall advocate
or encourage, or in any public or prl
vate place advocate or encourage by
any act or in any manner, or bring into
this state, prepare, produce, publish,
distribute, or have in possession for
distribution, any printed or written
matter Of any kind, including pictures,
which so advocates, encourages or fa
vors the overthrow Of, or change in the
form of government Of the United
States or this state or any subdivision
thereof, or tho Interference with any
public or private right whatsoever, by
force or any unlawful means or act of
violence.
"No person shall do. or assist IN the
doing Of, any act or thing which advo-
Gates, or tends to urge, incite or ell
courage the violation Of any OF the
laws Of the United States or this state
or any OF the bylaws or ordinances Of
! any town or city therein, now or here
after in force"
Complaints are also being made that
! the Department of Labor is not agrees
sive enough in acting under the law to
exclude and expel from the United
States aliens who are members Of an
archistic and similar classes, approved
October 16, 1918.
Deportation Cases Cited
Attention is called to the fact that,
although some ffty-seven aliens under
deportation by the department we're
taken to New York two months ago,
the only ones who have been deported
were those who were glad to get free
transportation to their native lands.
Nineteen were paroled and nineteen
resortcd to habeas corpus proceedings.
| en- Oh LHeSc cases nave DcGN argued
and nine have been postponed. AS yet
not single member Of the crew who
put up legal fight has been expelled
from the country.
Immi grafton Bureau officials state
that they have not been making a spc-
cial effort TO comb tho country for per-
sons subject to the deportation law,
but that inspectors simply pick up such
persons In the regular routine OF their
work
One Of the law officers said to-day
that the government was doing practi-
cally nothing under the wartime lcgis-
lation aimed at sedition and espionage;
because Of the relaxation Of tho war
time spirit both courts and juries were
taking such n lenient Wow of offences
that convictions were almost impos-
siblc.
This officer gave 10 as his opinion
that in the absence Of the new legls-
lation aimed directly at revolutionary
propaganda and making It's promugn-
tion an offence, the situation could
best be handled by state governments
The deportation law il exceedingly
drastic. Members Of Congress say
that tho special session will probably
paBs a similar law for peace times,
aimed at citizens who arc guilty Of
(