Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1919-11-18
GROWTH Of RADICAL
SPIRIT ATTRIBUTED
To INADEQUATE LAW

! WASHINGTON, Nov. 15.-The
growth of radicalism throughout the
country was to be attributed to in
adequacy Of federal laws against
preaching violent overthrow of the
government, Attorney General Pal
mer declared tonight in replying to
the senate's recent inquiry as to
what action had been taken by the
department of justice to curb efforts
to establish a dictatorship of the
proletariat.' Mr.. Palmer disclosed
that the department has more than
$4,000 persons under surveillance as
radicals with whom it is unable to
cope because Of weakness Of present
statutes.
The attorney general urged the
passage of law to supplement the
Iespionage act and to take it's place
when the wartime measure ceases
to be effective. He prescribed the
proposed act as being the most eff
fective method of dealing with sedt-
ton, anarchy and radicalism gen.
orally which members of his staff
have been able to draft. Mr.. Pal
mer said the bill was broad enough
to stop effectually all attempts to
overturn the existing order and YET
safeguard free speech and the press.
FoEaign Language Press
Activities of the foreign language
press present another problem which
| the department has been unable to
meet successfully, Mr.. Palmer said
Investigations have uncovered 22z
foreign language newspapers which
| have openly advocated changes Iii
the governmental system by violence
and preached sedition.
English newspapers branded as an
archistic and menacing by the de-
partment's agents number 1O5, Mr..
Palmer said. He explained these
were much more easily dealt with
as loyal citizens are aiding the gov
eminent in reporting them.
| In addition Mr.. Palmer said IA
radical newspapers, published in for
eign countries, are received and dis
tributed in the United States. Most
| of them, he said, were not sent
through the mails but were shipped
in bulk and distributed by hand TO
the foreign population. The depart
ment has kept corps of forty trans
lators busy examining foreign Ian
guage newspapers and is attempting
| 10 gather evidence of their actfvl-
ties from other sources as well, MI.
Palmer said.
Funds Prom Outside
| Most of the newspapers named
are practically devoid Of advertising,
which the department accepts as
proof that funds are coming from
outside sources, Mr.. Palmer said.
| Mr.. Palmer argued for changes ia
| immigration laws and revision to
simplify laws governing deportation
Radical leaders have taken advantage
| of countless technicalities to eVade
deportation, he explained.
| Practically all of the radical or
CARNATIONS in the country have
| looked upon the negro race as fer
| tile ground for the spread of their
| doctrine, Mr.. Palmer said, He warn
ed that the propaganda had been
successful in many respects and that
the government should guard against
| trouble from that direction. Some
publications, printed wholly for the
benefit of negroes, have been par
| tlcularly insolent, he said, and their
attitude was traced directly to lead
ers of radical groups and not in
frequently to citizens or THIS Coun"
try who have turned against their
government.
ARMISTICE DAY SHOOTING
PLANNED 3 WEEKS AHEAD
CENTRALIA, Wash, Nov. 15.-ln-
dustrial Workers of the World plan
ned the Centra1ia shooting three
weeks before Armistice day, accord
ing to an alleged confession made by
L. Roberts, confessed 1. w. W., who
surrendered himself to the officers
following Tuesdays shooting, in
which bullets from the guns of the
radicals killed four former Amer
lean soldiers, marching in the holt
day parade.
The confession said the I. w, w.
expected their hall would be attack
ed on Armistice day and that all
the radicals who took part in the
shooting expected to be killed. Ac-
cording to Roberts statement Wes-
ley Everetts the lynched I. w. W.,
apparently directed the movements
Of the radicals, as he sent Roberts
and two others to Seminary Hill,
near the scene of the shooting with
orders to shoot when they shoot or
CHI