New-York tribune., 1919-06-15
New Espionage
Act Proposed
To Curb Reds
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GODIlnueu from page
! tiles by those whose activities are
still continuing, or by others who at
scme future time may seek to under
mine the government or pervert the
popular will by adoption of similar
methods against which the Federal au-
thorities seem to provide no adequate
safeguard"
Bolshevism was excoriated in the re-
port as dictatorship Of class" and a
direct challenge" to Christianity and
civilization-a "tyranny Of autocracy."
In America, the committee declared, it
is "a slogan of the elements of unrest
and discontent."
Assail "Parlor Bolshevists''
"The radical revolutionary elements
in this country and the Bolshevik gov
eminent of Russia, therefore, found a
common cause" said the report.
What the committee characterized as
"parlor Bolshevists' also are aiding
the propaganda, the report said, while
"well meaning persons have been de-
ceived" into advocacy of Bolshevism in
this country.
"ln cooperation with the revolution
ary elements" the report continued,
''destruction Of existing social and gov
ernmental institutions by violent
methods is being promoted"
Urging a peace time law as a substi-
tute for the espionage act, the COM
mittee said: "To-day the forces of
anarchy and violence are utilizing the
financial resources plundered by them
from the European people they have
succeeded in exploiting. to import into
this country money, literature and
hire agents for the purpose of promul-
eating the doctrine of force, violence,
assassination, confiscation and revolu-
ton"
Lutheran Churches Accused
The portion of the report dealing
with pro-German propaganda gave a
detailed history Of acts of organiza-
ton and individuals.
"It is in evidence" said the commit
tee, that certain branches Of the
Lutheran Church were particularly ac-
tive in defending the German cause
during our period of neutrality, not
only by means of religious teachings,
but by work through secular societies,
especially the subsidiary organizations
Of the German n-American Alliance"
Irish American and Jewish-American
were among the organizations in the
propaganda, the report asserted, add
ing that it would be difficult to write
a full history of ramifications of pro-
German propaganda,
Arraigns Liquor Interests
Brewery and other liquor interests
activities were arraigned by the COM
mittee, which, said the record, ''clearly
establises the following facts:
'That they have furnished large
sums of money for the purpose of
secretly controlling newspapers and
periodicals.
"That they have undertaken to and
have frequently succeeded in con-
trolling primaries, elections and po-
litical organizations.
"That they have contributed enor-
nous sums Of money to political cam
paigns in violation of the Federal
statutes and the statutes Of several
of the states.
THAT they have exacted pledges
from candidates for public office
prior to the election.
THAT for the purpose of infiuenc-
ing public opinion they have at
tempted and partly succeeded in sub
sidizing the public press.
THAT to suppress and coerce per-
sons hostile to and to compel sup
port for them they have resorted to
an extensive system of boycotting
unfriendly American manufacturing
and mercantile concerns
THAT they have created their
own political organization in many
states and in smaller political units
for the purpose of carrying into eff
feet their own political will and
have financed the same with large
contributions and assessments.
"That with a view of using it for
their own political purposes they
contributed large sums of money to
the GermanAmerican Alliance, many
Of the membership of which were
disIoyal and unpatriotic.
THAT they organized clubs,
leagues, corporations of various
kinds for the purpose of secretly
carrying on their political activities
without having their interest known
to the public
"That they improperly treated the
funds expended for political pur-
poses as a proper expenditure Of
their business, and consequently
failed to return the same for taxa
ton under the revenue laws of the
United States.
"rhat they undertook, through
cunningly conceived plan of ad-
Vertising and subsidation, to con-
troll and dominate the foreign lam
guage press Of the United States.
THAT they have subsidized au-
thors Of recognized standing in liter
airy circles to write articles of their
selection for many standard peri
odicals.
THAT for many years working
agreement existed between the brew
ing and distilling interests of the
country, by the terms Of which the
brewing interests contributed two
thirds and the distilling interests
one-third of the political expendi-
lures made by the joint interests"