The Washington times., 1920-05-09
POST WILLING
TOGOONTR|AL
Assistant Secretary Of Labor
Denies Views on Redlsm
Are Sympathetic.

Closing his two-day justification OF
his conduct in deportation cases As
sistant Secretary OF Labor Louis f.
Post late yesterday told the House
Rules Committee he was ready and
willing "to go before any competent
tribunal, from the Senate down." for
a trial TO determine whether his ad-
ministration has been sound.
II the committee, which Is holding
hearings on the resolution OF Con
gressman Hoch, Republican, OF KAN
sas, looking to impeachment proceed
ings. should not be satisfied with his
explanation. he said. you are here
with authority to report out reso-
luton to bring me before the proper
tribunal"
Mr.. Post declared himself utterly
out OF sympathy" with those who
seek by force or violence to over
throw the Government. Likewise he
was hostile TO Socialism.
Regards Constitution Sacred.
The Constitution. to him. is sacred.
he declared. although the amending
clause Is equally sacred and he has
opinions OF his own as TO changes
which might be made by peaceable
ballot.
The Assistant Secretary pictured
hinis self as bulwark between the
alien and the efforts OF the Depart
ment OF Justice and the Bureau OF
Immigration to get him out OF the
country regardless OF his innocence
or guilt. In its raids of the last six
months. he declared, the Department
OF Justice has resorted to police In
quisitions" to force admissions OF
guilt from frightened men. denied
1 them the right OF counsel. and de-
manded excessive bail to keep them
In Jail. In the Bureau OF Immigra-
tion. he strongly intlmated, an alien
accused of a deportable offense Is
treated as guilty until proved inno-
cent.
Evidence taken under duress by
the Department of Justice agents, he
told the committee. has been disre-
garded in reaching decisions. and the
departments demands for excessive
bail have been refused under the
constitutional prohibition against
cruel and unusual punishment
Recommended Tribunal.
Post said he had recommended the
establishment of tribunal with
power to make decisions, subject to
the approval OF the Secretary of La
Dor. The present Immigration and
deportation laws, however. need to be
improved, Mr.. Post recommended. AT
present, he said, they are like a
crazy quilt
Il believe" he told the committee,
"the law should apply to all people
who favor force and violence or COM
nit an overt act, but ii should be so
plain that they could not be snatched
up.
1--WE should not only deport the
alien, but convict and imprison the
citizen who advocates force and Vio-
lence for the overthrow of the Govern
ment. but we should require that
either shall commit an overt act be-
fore arresting him. Within these linn
it's, / favor making the law as dras-
tic as il can be made. We should not
deport man merely because he has
made an angry expression; we should
wait for some act indicative of his
purpose"
Commenting on the case OF Andre a
Salzeda, who recently committed sui
eide by jumping out of a window in
New York while held by Departmen mt
of Justice agents. Mr.. Post stated that
the warrant for Salzeda had been is
sned on March 10. but that he had
never been turned over to the De-
partment of Labor. The Department
of Justice had been holding him.
Il am cross-eXamining you,' said
Mr.. Campbell, as to whether you
would yield more to an alien enemy
hostile to the United states Govern
ment than to the protection of the
laws of the United States"
Absolutely and emphatically no."
was the positive reply. Anybody
who knows me knows it could not be
otherwise