Arizona republican., 1920-01-05
APPEALS | OR LAW AGAINST REDS HOLDING
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No Existing Federal Stat utes Whereby Dangerous Citizens Can Be Pun ished-Quick Action De- sired.
Republican A. p. Leased Wirel


 WASHINGTON, Jan. 4.-Unable to prosecute the so-called parlor bolshe- vists, long haired men and short haired women, who encourage agita- tors and promote sedition as pas time, Attorney General Palmer today issued an appeal to congress for prompt action on the bill submitted by him several months ago which would strengthen the hands of the department of justice in dealing with American citizens considered danger ous to the nation.
 Coming on the heels of the mo st successful nation wide raid ever maoe propaganda, MT. Palmer's statement was regarded with unusual interest by members of congress.
 Many Citizens Among Arrested
 At least one of the men taken in the raids is city official. and numer ous others are natives or have taken out citizenship papers. It is these that Mr. Palmer desires to handle through the federal courts rather than to leave their punishment to state trfo- unals. and in the absence of a federal law he is unable to do so.
 Tn order that the department of justice" MT. Palmer's statement said. may deal forcibly, effectively and quickly with seditionists who are American citizens but who are seek ing to injure or destroy the govern ment, I hope very earnestly that con gress. innmedia te1y upon the recon vening on January ,, will enact into q law a measure adequate to meet the grave situation now confronting us
 There exists no reason for delay in the enactment of such a law. and confidently expect that there will be none. That seditionists should be punished is denied by no loyal citizen and that our present laws are made quate is questioned by none familiar with the facts.
 Several months ago. in appearing the fact that the department Of justice was unable to proceed properly against Seditionists because of a lack of statu- tory definition of the crime and I also suggested efIe kind of law which thought would meet the situa ton.
 Provides Heavy Penalties
 Since that time the bin outlined has been introduced in the house by Repre- sentative Davy Of Ohio and it now is in the hands of a subcommittee. Epi- tomized the bill after properly defin- ing acts of sedition would provide for a fine of not more than s10.000 or inn prisonment of 20 years or both for any person guilty of sedtion; a fine of not more than s10,0oo or imprisonment Of not more than ten years or both for
 
 tion; for the deportation of any alien convicted of either of the foregoing crimes and for the decentralization and subsequent deportation of any nat uralized citizen guilty of either or both of these crimes.
 The country's response to the intro duction of this measure leaves no ex- cuse for single moments unneces- sar delay in the passage of it.
 The patriotic press of virtually every state without regard to politics has indorsed the bill as the kind which must be enacted into law if the su- premacy of our government is to be maintained. Organizations of many classes, including posts of the Ameri- can Legion have gone on record un- qualifiedly for the measure. Individu- als have written hundreds of letters indorsing the bill. In truth, it has been hailed generally by red-blooded Amer jeans measure with teeth in it and that is the kind of a measure the de- partment of justice must have if 1t is going to stamp out this grave menace of sedition "