Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1919-06-05
The Bomb Conspirdtors
By BRIGGS
[From the New York Times. ]

lfrom the New YORK Times.
Has the gift of skill and genius In
ferreting out criminals been denied
to our present-day detectives? 1t is
astonishing that they should fail to
identify and apprehend the crimin-
ais who have attempted so many
assassinations by bombs, when the
conspiracy is so widespread, obvi-
ously involving so many persons,
and when clues appear to be SO
abundant. Five weeks ago a large
number of packages containing ex-
plosives were deposited in the post
office in this city for transmission
through the mails to judges, public
officials, and other persons who had
incurred the hostility of the conspir-
ators. The nature of the attempt, the
character of the packages, in respect
to container and contents, fur
niShed so many clues that the pub
lice confidently expected the prompt
detection and arrest of the persons
who had prepared them. Some three
weeks ago 1t was given out that the
detectives were sure of their men,"
that they could put their hands on
them at any moment they were
waiting only for some further evil
dence that would insure conviction,
IDENTIFY that statement was the fruit
of over-confidence or was given out
to inspire the public with iliusive
hope. So far as is known, none of
the conspirators engaged in that
early attempt is known to the
authorities.
There is public disquietude al
ready, and even alarm, at the large
| latitude and freedom allowed to Boil
shevist and /. w. w. agitators and
their aiders and abettors. They have
| been allowed to preach their doc
trines openly. In various parts of
the country they have instigated
strikes and labor disorders. In
speech and in writing, they are try
| ing to persuade those who will listen
| to them to hate the government and
its flag. to seek the overthrow of the
7 one and to insult the other. They
| openly assail the Government, they
preach the destruction of property
and its owners. they demand revolu-
ton and the establishment of a rule
OF their own kind, with such certain
consequences as we see in Russia
The sober commonsense and solid
law-abiding character of the Ameri-
can people reject these disciples of
destruction and all their doctrines,
Dut there are certain publications
Issued in this and other cities of the
country by persons presumed to be
| intelligent which give aid and en-
couragement to the depraved Boil
shevist element by continual praise
or their works, by dissemination and
approval of their doctrines, and by
heated protests against attempts by
law or its enforcement to restrain
their poisonous activities Everybody
knows the names, the character. and
the teaching of these periodicals.
Some of them have the backing of
wealth. although directly or indi-
rect'y they preach the destruction of
wealth and of society. Furtherm ore.
! 1T is to be noted that the old Ger
man propaganda, pretty effectually
silenced while we were in the war.
is again heard in the land, speaking
by the same voices that came under
the ban of the law little more than
two years ago. The old work is
taken up where 1T was abandoned,
a peace satisfactory to Germany"
is advocated, and here, too. the Boil
sheviki, recognized as useful German
| tools. are openly encouraged. In
Washington itself there has been
too much of this Bolshevist and
Socialist devilment. Now there is
need that the Federal Government
and the people of the country should
clearly understand what all these
things mean. This Is a free country.
very free, but the founders of the
Government never intended that
freedom of speech and of the press
should cover and coddle attempts to
destroy 1t. Nor is 1t the present
opinion of the people of the United
states that their Constitution should
be permitted to become the bulwark
OF defense of lot of miscreants.
ioreign born or foreign bred and
,augnt. VINO seek the overthrow of
American institutions and of Amer
lean society.