The Chattanooga news. [volume] (Chattanooga, Tenn.) 1891-1939, 1919-04-04
BOLSHEVISM TO.
Be SQUELCHED
American Government Will
Promptly Put Down Revo-
lutionary Movements.
RALNERTELIs -
Ancient Liberties Safeguard
ed-Doctrines Of vio-
lence Under Ban.
{By David L Lawrence.)

Washington, April 4.-(Copyright
n. Y. Evening Post.)-Bolshevism
insofar as it may mean the advocacy
Of anything seeking TO overthrow by
force the government of the United
States or American institutions, will
be dealt with severely by the depart
ment Of Justice. Prosecutions for the
time being will be based on war
statutes, and later on, when peace
has been declared, arrests will be
made under the treason laws or spe-
cial legislation will be sought from
congress.
Nothing will be done to abridge the
right of free speech or a free press.
ANY reform, however far-reaching in
it's nature, can be preached provided
Ira machinery recognized for the
change is the machinery created by
the nstitution--namely, the elec-
tions and the ballots of the people.
But no doctrine that looks toward
violence will be countenanced.
Thus does the government propose
10 draw the line and squelch at the
outset any organized movement in
imitation of anarchists or revolu-
tionists abroad. I sought today from
A. thC iiCN ottOt
ney- general, some expression of the
policy he intends to pursue in regard
TO this question.
There are two principles to be
kept in mind, however," said the at
torney y-general-''that we must on the
one hand preserve the ancient liber-
ties guaranteed by the Constitution
of freedom of the press and freedom
of speech and that on the other hand
we must not permit the enlargement
of those liberties.
"As long as efforts are made in the
exercise of these guaranteed rights
looking to reforms, however radical
through the political methods-that
is, by the education of the people
along the lines proposed in the re-
forms-and looking to a result from.
the action of the people under these
methods as fixed by our laws, no in
reference is necessary. But when
the effort looks to the direct method
by force or other means not recog-
nized under our laws-to accomplish
such alleged reform, conduct of that
sort will be carefully scrutinized and
ought to be nipped in the begin
lining"
|~AThe encouragement assured me
THAT the movement of so-called boil
|shevism in America was compara-
lively insignificant and that he be-
|lieved the masses of people in the
United States possessed far too much
Intelligence to be misled by irrespon-
lsihe agitators. In fact, he thought
1.-THE very extravaganza of the de-
nands or reforms exploited would
end in most cases to keep any con-
siderable body of public opinion from
being swayed by them.
Mr.. Palmer has been at his job
|only O few weeks, but he has devel-
|oped in the department of justice and
gotten his bearings. He proposes
that the Sherman antitrust law shall |
mot become obsolete in these return |
ing days of competition and that the |
moreover, shall deal
fairly with the radical wave which |
shows signs of cropping out here and |
there in this country. For the pres |
ent, the department of justice con-
siders a state of war is still exist
lent and the espionage act provides
penalties and punishments for any
thing resembling sedition. On the
other hand, much of this law was di- !
fected towards the teaching of mill
tary insubordination or the promo
tion of doctrines tending to impede
or obstruct the progress of the war.
[3tt military operations have ceased;
therefore these portions of the law
which refer TO sedition against the
government of the United States can
be invoked. subsequently. when a