Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1919-05-02
SEDITION BILL
FOR TERRORISTS
Attorney General William 1.
Schaffer Says Il Don't
Curtail Liberty

The anti-sedition bill, which is to
be amended SO that 1t will be with
out two sections which might be
misconstrued, is aimed at terrorists.
1t curbs no liberty, does not destroy
free speech or a free press, nor
abridge the right Of just criticism OF
public officials.
This is the opinion of Attorney
General William I. Schaner, VINO
drew the bill. Mr.. Schaffer in
statement last night analysed the
bill, enlarging some of his argu-
ments of last Tuesday, and pointing
out just what the measure aims
to do.
The Attorney General says.
I'm some quarters there seems
somewhat of a Misrepresentation as
to the sedition bill. 1t does not
AFFECT freedom of speech, liberty OF
the press or any rights OF the peo-
ple. AS endeavored to make mani
fest in nv discussion of it before the
committee at the recent hearlng' II
is a measure directed only at crimes
against government. Government is
not the men who are for the time
being in office, 1t is the institution'
The section which has been so mucn
discussed, which had the word 'dls.
content" in 1t, has been stricken OUT
of the bill, and I had agt that II
should be stricken out BEFORE tne
hearing. While l do not think TINS
section was subject to the confdrhc-
tton that its critics put upon IT,
nevertheless, it might have been SO
construed and such a construction
would not be within the intent OF
the bill as I framed 1t.
ssThe bill provides against VIII.
jngs, acts and conduct which .cho
70 make an outbreak or demonstra-
ton of violence against TINS o'a :.
or against the United States
seems to me that men VINO are oacn
of. and who cause outbreaks W
demonstrations of violence egails'
1bis state or against the United
states. ought to be amendabie TO the
law TT provides that writings. con-
duct or acts which encourage airy
nerson or persons 20 take measures
with a view to o11rthrowlnS CT ue
s+ravif,g or ntte,npt:rS % c'cr'h'o"
or destroy by force, the government
of tbis state or OF the United Sfates,
shall be guilty Of n crime ch c,,,..
conceive why pers1ns VINO are GU
of conduct of this kind shouih nos
be called before a jury OIL 0u'
citizens. .--a,s
who ;ncite or encourage others 10
commit overt acts. with view 20
bringing the government OF TINS
state or of the United States into
hatred or contempt, shall be aIleh-
ahle to the law. Those preaciliIs9
or teaching of our Government
should. think, not go unwhlppeu
Of Justice. 1t makes 1t a crlr,e -"
;nci4e any person to do personal III
iurv to an official Of this STATE OF %
the United States, or TO oah,SSe rSt
or destroy public properly: nc
inciters to such crimes oughC u bo
punished the same as the Hen ~ ,tt
- their tools, and who commit
tTer, # seems to me. 1t covers the
.ct,,ai damage or destruction or pup
H. nronerty. or the property OF d
,,,bi;r oficial because he Is IN an
pfRcial position. Ought not TINS 10
he a crime? It stipulates that VIII
;nps. publications and utterah'es e."
-,,is;ob advocate the engaging IN
ori,oe violence and terrorism as
leans of accomplishing political re-
form. shall make thelr autho,s
amenable to the law. So they shouiu
he believe. Ought we not De aole
10 deal with men guilty OF cohuuot
of this klnQ IL pioNS s..
the sale of publications which advo-
cate the overthrow of government
or organizing societies for that pur-
nose. or the renting OF buildings TOT
mat purpose. All these things ough'
to he within the scope of the GRIM
inal law. and public officials ougnt
10 have the means and measures 10
reach those who are guilty OF THESE
things. -
.This is all that the bill seeks to
accomplish, to reach those seeking
To overthrow government by terror
and violence. Public officials can be
criticised Just as freely as before,
hut the man who would overthrow
the Government, and who breaches
or teaches revolution by crime,
force or terror would be the only
one within the reach of this enact
ment. Do the law-abiding, liberty
loving people of this State not agree
that such men ought to be treated
as dangerous enemies of govern
ment? With such a law on our
statute books, the men who would
overthrow government in our State
by violence, crime and terrorism will
find Pennsylvania an unhealthy
place to live in. When they under
stand what it means, I believe all
law-abiding citizens will favor this
hill