Evening star., 1920-05-06
SENATORS TAKE Up
AL|ENLAW CHANGE
AFTER NEW ruling
Communist Labor Member
ship insufficient Cause in
Deportation Cases.

Immediate amendment Of the immi-
grafton laws was considered today at
a special meeting Of the Senate inn
migration committee, called as re-
suit of the ruling yesterday by Sec
retary Wilson that membership in the
communist labor party alone is in
sufficient cause for deportation Of aliens.
aliens.
Chairman Johnson of the House inn
migration committee was the first
witness. He criticised Secretary Will
son and Assistant Secretary Post and
urged prompt passage Of the House
bill extending the anti-alien laws.
Senator King, democrat, Utah. also
denounced the communist labor rul-
ing.
''It is apparent from the attitude Of
Secretary Wilson and Mr.. Post, said
Senator King. that we should trans
fer deportation powers from the La
Dor Department to Department OF JUS
tice. particularly if we are to have
such men in office as Mr.. Wilson and
Mr.. POST
Advocates Of Force.
Representative johnson said that
the communist labor party. as we'll as
the communist party, advocates over
throw of the government by force.
Criticising Secretary wilson's ruling,
Mr.. johnson said that the attorney
for the aliens in the communist labor
case admitted that there was no
difference between the two parties"
"The Secretary said that the COM
munist labor party advocates use OF
ballots to secure reforms said Mr.;
Johnson when they say ballots
they mean bullets We can't tenn
porize with them"
S~k~ hHv
the House bill was urged by Mr. john
son. He said It was necessary to meet
tho labor departments ruling. and de-
clared it was passed December 20 last
by the House before the quarrel be-
tween the Department Of Labor and De-
partment Of Justice arose" over juris-
diction in deportation proceedings.
Provisions Of Measure.
The House bill would extend the
present law by providing for deportation
of aliens who circulate anarchistic lit
erature or advocate anarchism or OF
members Of parties or groups" believ-
ing in or advocating forceful overthrow
Of government.
Mr. johnson denied that the House
bill is repressive. There are tons"
Of anarchistic literature being circu-
lated in the United States. he de-
clared.
The course of the Department Of
Justice as to future action against
radicals will not be determined until
Attorney General Palmer has had an
opportunity to study the opinion OF
In making this statement, Assistant
Attorney General Garvan said that
because of the ruling the case Of the
Department OF Justice falls DAT, ana
there IL nothing more It can do IN
experimenting persons such as cons
stitute the communist labor party
ana which the department, he said.
believes are a menace to the govern.
ment, Secretary Wilson already had
held that an alien could not be de-
ported simply because Of membership
In the I. w. w.
Secretary Wilson's Ruling.
In ordering cancellation Of a warrant
under which Carl Miller, German. was
held because Of such membership. Secre-
from the organisations platform in
dicated an extremely radical objective,
there was no evidence OF intention to
use force or violence toward organized
government.
DecisiOn IL Deplofed.
Reviewing the case. MIR. Wilson said
It had been argued by counsel that
the tactics Of the communist party in
Russia ARE the methods intended to
be pursued by the communist labor party
Of America and that certain statements
Of prominent communists relative to
the objects of the communist labor
party should be taken as showing the
intent OF the party itself"
.sThe tactics Of the communist party
in Russia" he added. 'can have no
bearing upon the communist labor
party in the United States except in
SO far as those tactics are accepted or
adopted by the communist labor par
ty: nor can the statements made by
prominent members of the party be
accepted as the expressions of the or
Ranization unless the party by Its own
action adopts the statements"