The Washington times., 1919-02-04
SENATE TO PROBE
RED ACTIVITY HERE

IN the mlQSI OF q Hedleu uASCuoSlOh
of the, meeting held in Washington
at Polls Theater Sunday night, at
which it is s-aIleged the cause OF Boil
shevism was upheld, the Senate this
afternoon adopted a resolution by
Senator Walsh of Montana, leading
Democratic Senator, providing for ex-
tending the scope of the jurisdiction
Of the Overman subcommittee so as
to include an investigation into Boil
shevism in this country.
\The resolution was adopted without
a roll call and after a number Of Sem
ators had denounced Bolshevism and
the sentiments expressed at the meet
ing at Polls and at another meeting
said to have been held last night at
the old Masonic Temple.
Senator Poindexter of Washington,
Republican, introduced a resolution
callin gon the Attorney General to in
form the Senate what steps it should
have taken, il any. to investigate the
speeches made at the meeting at Polls
and to enforce the laws.
Charges Treason.
A-resolution of Senator Poindexter
reasserts that it is the duty of the
Department of Justice to enforce the
laws against violence, treason. and
insurrection. and especially when the
country is in state of war that It
lis a peculiar obligation rests upon
the Department of Justice to preserve
order in the District.
The resolution further sets forth
that the advocacy Of the use of force
and criminal and unlawful steps in
the nature of treason, looking to the
overthrow of the Government where
advocated according TO reports of the
meeting at Polls, that the cause of
the Rolsheviki which are at war with
this country was upheld at the Sect
ing at Polls and at another meeting
at the old Masonic Temple.
Senator Poindexter's resolution was
not acted upon, but may be called
UP tomorrow. The action of the Sen
ate in adopting the Walsh resolution
foreshadows a Senate inquiry both
into the meetings here and into
charges that a paid propaganda is at
work TO spread Bolshevism in this
country.
Myers Starts Fireworks.
Senator Myers of Montana started
the fireworks in the Senate today by
denouncing the meeting at Polls
Senator Kellogg of Minnesota also
denounced Bolshvism. Senator Borah
in referring to the PoindeNtcr rcSolU-
tion and to the tax on the meetings
here said that it was only fair to say
that il was denied by those respon-
Sible for the meeting at Polls that
any disloyaI action was countenanccd.
The meeting at Polls Thcdtcr has
served to bring to head much of
the feeling i'm Congress of adherence
OF BOlShevism, and more especially
the BoIshevism Of the Lenine- -TroIzky
brand which il alleged by the Ameri-
can government t. have been engi-
neered and financed from Berlin.
Senator Thomas of Colorado, in a
speech on the floor of the Senate. de-
nounced the so-caIled Red" meeting
as having been held under the guise
Of free speech to advocate what is
virtually treason to the nation"
Senator. Thomas criticised the au-
thOTities for permitting such d meet
ing and alluded to the fact that a
member of the House figured con
spicuously and popularity in this re
markabIe gathering" He was refer
ring, though not by name, to Con-
gresham Mason Of Illinois.
In the course OF his remarks Sen
NtOr Thomas said:
should he Prosecuted
For ono, / wish to protest against
permitting such assemblaGes in this
country. If | occupy a street corner
and counsel my auditors to go to The
White House and murder the Presi-
dent, the police very properly inicD-
fere. But if ] counsel campaign
of universal murder and destruction.
including the overthrow of the Gov
ernmcnt OF tho United States. orange
to say. / can rely upon my COnstitu-
tional right to free speech, ami go
unscathed.
II contend that one is just as GRIM
inal as the other. and unless the
people of this country. the plain mid
dleclass people. realize. and realize
very soon, the fact thatthere is a
propaganda. usually secret but fire.
quently open. whose desire and pur-
pose is TO overthrow the Government
of the United States, and cree; upon
its ruins a so-callcd government OF
murdercrs, anarchists, thieves, and