The Birmingham age-herald., 1920-01-23
HOUSE COMMITTEE URGED ID BLOCK
 ANTLSED|T|ON BILL
Pending Measures Are De nounced By Gompers, Who Declares Present
 Laws Are Adequate
By As.eelatee rrsss

By Associated rrsw Washington. January 22.-Oppopents of anti-sedition measures, led by Sam ueI Gompers, president of the Ameri- can Federation of Labor, today urged the House rules committee to block the passage of the measures because of their drastic provisions and because sufficient laws now exist to prosecute dangerous radicals and communists. Attorney General Palmer, who pre- viousIy had announced his support of both the Sterling bill which passed the Senate. and the Graham measure which had been held up in the House because of the drastic death penalty provision. failed to appear in defensf of the measures. The Attorney General however, sent letter to Chairman Cam pb ell of the rules committee. stat ing he was ''impelIed to say that neither of the bills accords with my views as to what the legislation ought to be- and recommended as sunsti- ute bill which he drafted last . November and which was introduced several weeks ago by Representative Davey, democrat, Ohio. The Davey bill provides fines not exceeding SlNoee and Imprisonment for not more than 20 years for persons convicted of an attempt to overthrow the government IT of acts of violence against the gov.
 ,ment. The measure also would r. aAibit writings or teachings which rce ute sedtion.
 T apartment of justice is ready, NE P2H ar informed the committed, to enEoNt whatever legislation Con- srcas luH see fit to pass.
 DENOUNCED BY GOMPERS
 &r Geinaes ppearng as the anSies,n4n f6t {hs merican Federal son q DOT 3so 1ne ed the pending biiis in anqaatt tsed tarns
 Maaa neesn@s @ia ae orderly pnr- a8~e Id str4ke s nabrt Ewing con- dstiane would he saoisFessse asder the | tbfns Gsssrtes the labor fleftain. adoiag lbat atriRse aad sessasie of labor afa nothing i0os pr ese han 1 aspirations Qt wotstn@ i@Fpie v sta prove thesr cuad aans. 'sI do nc haaSe this sneeies l Legislation W4H slfie iaia saifva supposed to 4e 4cBseers #N "but rather it NIi pro aKa ff Nn7 posit. It vii ltie men to thele ifaE | F w Evans, presis 9i Ute NraKx meeting, Society of F. ienaR pf P'tif%s delphia, said 1t was 5naq8efke | | freedom of religion. He ae&e appeal to the p1biie-spirited ithis country in an effort to pu1 M I those who would overthrow The ernment rather than utilizations z drastic laws.
 'The life of the people of the United States should not be irksome and sup pressed, said Gompers. What right has the Postmaster General to pry into private mail and determine what is seditious and what may passP'
 OPPOSED TO FORGE Labor forces oppose force by ma chine guns or even by bow and arrow he said, but 1t does not want the right Ito exert moral force for changes in the government destroyed" "The department of justice knows of 60. 900 people in the United States who are endeavoring to overthrow the gov ernment by force" Representative Pou. democrat North Carolina, interjccted.
 Laws arc in existence now which would punish such offenders Com pers replied. "I am apprehensiye of this piece of legislation, for repression and suppression bring reaction. This .s not reconstruction, 1t is depression II vii lnot kill off desire no revolt it will stimulate it.'
 Before concluding, Mir. Gompers wa given permission by the committee t reply to attacks on his patriotism, which he said had been made by mem bers of Congress
 Telegrams from 80 newspaper puh- fishers protesting against the sectIon- of the bill which they said wouit limit the freedom of the press, wert read into the record by Chairman Campbell
 James Weldon Johnson. former con sul to Nicaragua, protested against the | ton for Advancement of Colored People.
 Under sections of the bill the mere printing of facts and data about lynching might render a publication non -mailable." said he.
 HAVE SUFFICIENT LAWS
 Zachariah Chafee of Harvard Uni- versity said sufficient laws existed to stamp out radical activities. The ban on the display of red flags. he said, would prohibit the display of the Har yard crimson banners.
 There are reported to be many par for bolshevlsts' among college pofes- sairs." said Chairman Campbell Are there any at Harvard?'
 Not more than elsewhere" Chafee replied, but what of it?'
 Do these socialists believe in our form of government" asked Camp bell.
 T think so," Chafee replied. but why couldn't we nationaiizc our in- dustries and our form of government7s
 Why have Congress then?' asked Campbell.
 ITO run the railroads" was the reply.
 Do you advocate the change of gov ernment by force?" asked Representa- tive Shell. republican, New York.
 "I do for for some governments" Chafee said. Tn the case of Russia would. But not in this country"
 PERPETUAL CALAMITY
 Howard A. Davis of Boston pre- scented petition from the Harvard Liberal Club, of that city. which stated passage of the measures would
 tCcntinuea on Page TAr~ep