Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1919-05-08
SEARCHING OUT BOMBERs


During the war with Germany we were
frequently moved by terrible stories Of
bomb outrages against non combatants
in belligerent countries to thank God we
were not other people. the subjects of
constant fear of unseen and unh eralded
agencies of death in all sorts of unex-
pected guises. During the last few weeks
we have suddenly been preciptated d.
rectly into precisely this same state Of
terror, despite the fact that we are
wholly at peace with no declared enemy
within three thousand miles of U.S.
Moreover this menace comes to us in
connection with the most ordinary and
dependable of our branches Of the pub
lie service the United States mails. So
far as possibilities are concerned the in
tended victims might as well be ourselves
as those to whom packages of powerful
explosives Were sent. If your enemy SO
desires there is nothing to prevent him
from fixing up a bombing machine, like
these others.
Auo TeilltIhdDie tnlHS dDOut Gil tnlS 10
that the sending of these bombing ma
chimes through the mails strikes blow
at the sending of merchandise through
the postoffice. We are all on guard as II
We're against internal machines.
Under these circumstances 1t is graf
flying to know that the United States
authorities are not only using every avail
able means to discover the perpetrators
of this foul crime, but they are also
enlsting the cooperation of the Cana
dian government for the purpose of fer
retng out these enemies of the entire
public. That these criminals are Of for
eign sympathies is evident from the
fact that those to whom Internal missiles
were sent were largely instrumental in
the framing or enforcing Of the espion-
age act during the war
Multiplying evidences of systematic
campaign of terrorism, as shown by bomb
outrages, demonstrations against the gov
eminent for Furnishing men VINO openly
fought the active prosecution OF the war,
and the more insidious efforts of the So
called radical intellectuals have raised a
general demand for special congre ssional
legislation for greater public safety.
1t is believed that some such meas
ure, intended to supplant the espionage
act. which becomes imperative with the
signing of the peace. will be introduced
at the next session OF Congress, whose
members are aroused by the revelations
now brought to light with the finding
of nearly a score of Internal machines in
the United States mails, addressed to
men of national prominence. Members of
Congress, according to Washington des-
patches, feel that such acts of terrorism
are usually inspired in some weak or
criminal minds by a continued campaign
waged by men who manage to keep out
Of Jail.
Bills bearing directly on the activi-
ties Of agitators were under considera-
ton in the last session of Congress-.
They provided for the deportation of
persons interned and convicted OF crimes
obiiiSI the government AnOtner Dill
provides for the deportation of persons
who had taken out their first naturaIiza-
ton papers ana refused to comply with
the selective draft act. ]. Mitchell Pal
mer. encouragement, has had his as
sistants who were charged with the pros
ecution of these cases prepare recon-
mendations for new legislation which It
is believed will effectively take the place
of the espionage act.
In the meantime most right thinking
Americans will demand that strenuous
measures be adopted to put stop to the
spread of sentiments leading up to evil
acts of this character. Down with Sc
cret bombers of all kinds!