The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1919-02-06
Senate Orders Full Inquiry
Into Radical Propaganda
in United States
MASS OF EVIDENCE
IN WAR DEPARTMENT
Sec. Baker Reluctant to Furnish it for
ommittee-Reported Powerful Or
ganization Would Overthrow the
American Government.

WASHINGTON, Feb 6.-The sub I
committee of the senate committee on /
judiciary, which, under the chairman
propaganda in this country, was in. |
structed by unanimous vote of the sen.
ate Immediately 10 begin an investiga |
ton of Bolshevism and all other forms |
of nti-Amcrican radicalism in the Uni /
ted States The resolution was offered |
ers every phase of the radical propa.l
ganda which is now being preached in
various parts of the country.
| Major f. Lowry Humes, who has han !
died the investigation of the German
propaganda. win direct the investiga
ton of Bolsheyism. Major ITumes
hoped to be ready to call the first wit.
nesses Thursday or Friday.
/ The action of the senate was hast
ened as q result Of several radical meet
ngs recently held in this city and al
so by speech delivered Yesterday by
Senator Thomas of Colorado, who said
that there was a powerful organization
at work in this country 10 overthrow
the present American system of gov
eminent. The senator referred 10 the
fact that q Bolsheyist gathering in
Washington Il few nights ago Included
several members of congress, one of
them former member Of the senate He
| denounced these gatherings as treas
enable 10 the United States.
Senator Weeks of Massachusetts, in
supporting the Walsh resolution. said
| he was confident that Bolshevism would
I have no force in this country once the
levil was understood by the rank and
/ liic of Americans Senator Borah Of
4 Idaho, IN his remarks, referred to the
meeting held in theatre Sunday night
at which Congressman Mason Of Illin-
ois was one of the speakers.
81 am informed that at the meeting
held in theatre Sunday said Senator
Borah, .among the things advocated
was the overthrow of our form of gov
lcrnmcnt and the substitution in ITS
1piace of a form of government known
as the Soviet government Ii is but
fair to say that the statement has been
made to me Chat 50 far rs the advocacy
of the overthrow of onf government
vas concerned no such doctrine was
preached ut that meeting; that il was
a defense of the Soviet government in
Russia under conditions and surround
I, ings which confront the people OF that
country But if the propaganda which
seems To have been fathercd Al that
meeting be the beginning of q move
ment IN this country we may we'll con
slider how we arc TO meet such serious
situation.
Immediately following the passage of
1 4l.e.,s al M VIII oh will
direct the investigation went into ex.
ecutive session. The committee com
! prises Senators, Overman. Nelson, King
! Sterling and Wolcott.
! Secretary Baker is expected to furn-
= iSh the entire evidence in the possession
of the government regarding radical
/. propaganda Ia the committee.
i At the public session of the commit
! Tee Senator 0vefman announced that
he had requested. Secretary Baker tC
4 furnish to tho committee the military
Intelligence file which refers to II j. IL
/. Won Engelken, who WAS formerly il
: charge of the farm land board in Soutl
!. Carolina Senator Overman said he haC
. asked for the file as a result of a lettcl
| he had received from Ex-Governor Man
!. lining and ex-senator Bennett of Soutl
Carolina In reply TO Senator Over
mans request, Secretary Baker sale
: ne did not think it compatible Will
the public interest TO make the fill
public.
7 There was much discussion of thu
Secretary attitude. Senator Nelson
said that ii Mr.. Baker continued to. We
" to the requests of the committee the IN
: vesti2ation of German propagand;
might Just as well be brought to an end
Senator Wolcott characterized the sec
rotary S attitude as forming a danger
ST Gus precedent that should not be per
IN mitted to go unehallcnged.
" Subsequently, letter from Seeretar,
q Baker was produced which showed tina
AZ he was willing to let the committe
have the Won Engelken file if it persis
"a ted in the request. The secretary wrot
: that he would help the committee i
p every way in his power.