Evening star., 1919-11-16
SEEKS RIGID LAWS
To HANDLE $4,000
RADICALS IN j. s.
Attorney General Palmer's
Letter to Senate Asks for
Summary Power.
"SEDITION HAS SPREAD
FOR LACK OF STATUTES"
Legislation to Supplement Espion-
age Act Is Urged by Depart
ment of Justice.

Laws with teeth in them to deal
sumfnarily with those preaching
overthrow of the government are
asked by Attorney General Palmer. In
a letter to the Senate. The Depart
ment Of Justice, he says, now has
more than $4,000 persons under sur
vetllance as radicals, and there IS no
strict law to deal with them.
Growth of radicalism throughout
the country has spread because there
has been no law to suppress such Sc
ditious doctrines. Mr.. Palmer said, In
replying to the recent inquiry Of the
Senate regarding what action had
been taken by the Department of Jus
tice to curb efforts to establish
dictatorship Of the proletariat."
Passage of law to supplement the
espionage act was urged by the At
torney General, so that the new legis-
Iation could be enforced when the
wartime measure ceases to be eff
fective.
He described the proposed act as
being the most effective method of
dealing with sedition. anarchy and
radicalism generally which members
of his staff had been able to draft.
Mr.. Palmer said the bill was broad
enough to stop effectually all attempts
to cverturn the existing order and
vet safeguard free speech and the
press.
Foreign-Language Press Problem.
Activities of the foreign language
press presents another problem which
the department has been unable to
meet successfully. Mr.. Palmer said.
Investigations have uncovered 222
foreign language newspapers which
have openly advocated changes in the
governuental system by violence, and
preached seditio1. .s5. --.,-
English newspapers branded as
anafchistic and menacing by the de-
partnent's agents number los, Mr..
Palmer said He explained that these
were much more easily deeAt with, as
loyal citizens are aiding the govern
ment in reporting them
In addition. Mr.. Palmer said, IA
radical newspapers, published in for
efgn countries, are received and dis
tributed in the United States. Most
of them, he said, were not sent through
the mails, but were shipped in bulk
and distributed by hand to the for
eign population.
List of Radical Newspapers.
Mr.. Palmer listed the foreign
language newspapers engaged in radi-
cal activities. printed in this country.
as follows: Armenian. 1; Bohemian, 9;
Bulgarian. 8: Croatian, 4; Danish. 4;
Esthonian, 1; Finnish, IL; French. l.;
German, 21; Greek. 2; Hungarian, %;
Italian, 27; Jewish, 90; Lettish. IL;
Portuguese, 1; Rumanian, 16; Slovenian,
8; Spanish. 8; Lithuanian. Is; Polish.
z; Swedish. s; Ukrainian. s., and Yid-
dish, Is. The department has kept
a corps Of forty translators busy and
is attempting to gather evidence Of
their activities from other sources as
well. Mr.. Palmer said. Articles advo-
eating violence always are supported,
he explained, by being followed up
with phamplets and other propaganda.
Most of the newspapers named are
practically devoid of advertising,
which the department accepts as
proof that funds are coming from
outside sources, Mr.. Palmer said.
Wants Laws simplifed.
Mr.. Palmer argued for changes in
immigration laws and revision to
simplify laws governing deportation.
Radical leaders have taken advan-
tage of countless technicalities to
evade deportation. he explained.
Practically all Of the radical or
ganizations in the country have
looked upon the negro race as fertile
ground for the spread of their doc
trine, Mr. Palmer said. He warned
that the propaganda had been sue
cessful in many respects and that the
government should guard against
trouble from that direction. Some
publications. printed wholly for the
benefit of negroes. have been particu-
larly insolent, he said, and their at
titude was traceable directly to lead
ers of radical groups and not infre-
quently to citizens Of this country
who have turned against their gov
ernment.