Evening star., 1919-04-04
Attorney Generals Policy.

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violence will be countenanced.
Attorney Generals Policy.
Thus does the government propose
to draw the line and squelch at the
outset any organized movement in i'm
itation Of ANARCHISTS or revolutionists
abroad. I sought today from A. Mitch
ell Palmer. the new Attorney General,
some expression of the policy he in
tends to pursue in regard to this ques-
tion.
There are two principles to be kept
in mind" said the Attorney General
that we must. on the one hand, pre-
serve the ancient liberties guaranteed
by the Constitution of freedom of the
press and freedom Of speech, and that.
on the other hand. we must not per-
NIT the enlargement of those liberties.
LAS long as efforts are made in the
exercise of these guaranteed rights
looking to reforms, however radical
through the political method-that is.
by the education of the people along
the lines proposed in the reforms-and
looking to a result from the action
of the people under these methods as
fixed by our laws, no interference is
necessary.
But when the effort looks to the
direct method-by force or other
means not recognized under our laws
Ito accomplish such alleged reforms,
conduct Of that sort will be carefully
scrutinized and ought to be nipped
in the beginning"
Says People Will Not Be Misled.
The Attorney General assured me
that the movement of so-called boil
shevists in America was comparative
ly insignificant and that he believed
the masses of people in the United
ligence to be misled by irresponsible
agitators. In. fact. he thought the
very extravaganza of the demands or
reforms exploited would tend in most
cases to keep any considerable body
Of public opinion from being swayed
by them.
Mr.. Palmer has been at his job Just
a few weeks. but he has delved into
the Department of Justice and gotten
his bearings. He proposes that the
Sherman antitrust law shall not be-
come obsolete in these returning days
ment, moreover, shall deal fairly with
the radical wave which shows signs
of cropping out here and there in this
country For the present the Depart
ment sof Justice considers a state Of
war is still existent and that the
espionage act provides penalties and
punishments for anything resembling
sedition. On the other hand. much Of
this law was directed toward the
teaching of military insubordination
or the promotion Of doctrines tending
to impede or obstruct the progress Of
the war. But military operations have
ceased.
Part of Law Applicable.
Therefore those portions Of the law
which refer to sedition against the
be invoked. Subsequently. when a
proclamation of peace will have been
made by the President, prosecutions
will come under previously existing
statutes relating to. treason.
Many state legislatures. being anx-
stone unturned in the suppression OF
incipient movements of anarchists.
are passing laws making it criminal
to preach doctrines of overthrow by
force of existing institutions. But
in most cases jurisdiction probably
agencies. and that is why pronounce
ment of policy by the new Attorney
General is of special value at this
time.
Summary of Department Plan.
To summarize. the policy Of the De-
partment of Justice means just this:
Anybody can get up In public meet
ing and advocate. for example, any
system of public or private or COM
munistic ownership of anything, and
if none of the existing political par
ties cares to embrace such suggestions
in the platforms and name candidates
to go before the people to gain sup
port at the polls on such proposals.
then it is proper and legal to advocate
the formation of a new political party
to embrace these new formulas.
Such party to get recognition as
political instrumentality must abide
by the laws and rules of the federal
government and the several states.
America has had radical movements
before and new political parties, too.
The populist party and the socialist
Of radicals. but have never gotten be-
yond minority of the voters.
Political Parties Not Immune.
But even a political party or can
didate for Office will not be permitted
to advocate the use of force to over
throw the republican form Of govern
ment Of this country. Anything that
looks to reform through the political
by compliance with the laws
governing political parties and
changes in the personnel of the gov
ernment or the powers given to the
various branches Of the government
by the Constitution will not be sub
ject to interference, but those who re-
fuse to seek amendment of the Con-
stitution or power in the orderly ways
provided for in that document will
come under the scrutiny of the De.