The Dallas express. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1893-1970, 1920-01-31
LABOR DECLARES
WAR ON SEDIT1ON
BILLS
CLAIMS RIGHT OF FREE
SPEECH IS THREATENED.

Washington. JAN 29.-Formal an
| nouncement that the American FEEDER
| today in a statement issued by Samuel
Gompers, president OF the Federation.
against Graham measure. based on
Palmer and awaiting action by tho
rule to expedite consideration.
The attack of organized labor, it's
impartially against the Sterling bill.
recently passed by the Senate, and
against Graham measure. based on
suggestions of Attorney General
House Rules Committee for a special
rule to expidite consideration.
Referring to the two measures as
enactment would Violate the consti co
tuition and rob the whole American
people OF their most cherished and
basic guarantees of free government"
''If the American people and in
Congress" Mr.. Gompers asserted,
were awake to the dangers conceal
ed in this bill a storm of indignation
would sweep the nation.
Free Speech In Danger
1T has been widely advertised that
this measure protects free speech fully
but prevents advocacy of forcible rev.
olution, Bolshevism and anarchy. In
fact 1t would perpetuate an autocratic
censorship over the entire American
speech and free assembly, 1t strikes
deadly blow at legitimate organiza-
tons of labor or any other progress
i've movement for the betterment of
the masses which may be opposed by
the. advocacy of privilege and re-
action.
I'VE yield to no man. in public
office or out in our loyalty to the
Constitution and institution of this
Republic. No self-respecting man has
questioned or dare question that 10y
atty; We are for evolution, noe rev.
olution; for ballots. not bullets; for
majority rule, not class dictatorship
of Bolshevism, plutocracy or OF
proflteer.
I'VE oppose this bill because every
eglsimate 5rrDG PTrPSse cT for which S it is
ing laws. Its Legitimate features.
which compose two-thirds of the
Draft. are utterly autocratic, inper-
ialistic and un-Ameican'
AutOcratie Powers Charged
Referring to Attorney General
are necessary to reach the individual
who advocates opposition to the gov
ernment by Violence" Mr.. Gompers
cited Section of the Penal Code,
and asked:
IF revolution is afoot. why has not
the Department Of Justice made
prosecution under the section?"
y .soSSeiettion section bill ga 3aruTo wpRFDLLIN
as IT may SEEM" he, continued, may
be easily construed to mean, if indeed
it does not make it a crime, so vague
and involved is the termiolog, to
wear in public any button it is to
ganization whose purpose it is to
secure an amendment to the Consti-
tuition of the United States on any
existing Federal law.
Section 6 perpetuates the CENSOR
ship of the Postmaster General over
all newspapers and printed matter.
The so-called Borah amendment. pro-
viding a court of the Postmaster GEN
erals action, is sounded in principle
but is inadequate to afford protection
as a practical matter to a publisher
against the autocratic action of the
Postmaster General
More amazing still, the proviso
sets up censorship over any mans
private correspondence by the Post
master General 1t would be crimi-
nal, for example. for a man to send
"A letter advocating resistance to an
Injunction issued by a Federal Judge
ordering workers on strike to go back
to work.
More over tins section can be
used to prevent the organization of
Colored labor on the grounds of in
citing racial prejudice, the Intended or
probable result of which appeal is
to cause roting. etc" No doubt
advocacy Of or opposition to, the
cause of the Irish freedom. in some
sections, would be prohibited.
Section would exclude from this
country, even for Libraries and in
Continued on page ~.