The New York herald., 1920-01-24
DiSclains Any Responsibility
for Graham and Sterling
SeditiOn Bills.
GIVES OUT REPLY TO KANE
Restates Position on Radical Deporta.
tionS Which Have Starved
Party Revolt
Especial Despatch to the Herald


face with revolt Of the radical elements
Of his own party against his deportation
programme and meeting criticism from
Congressional sources because Of alleged
withdrawal from his position, A. Mitchell
Palmer, Attorney General, tonight made
his position known to the public. His re-
ply to Congressional critics who have
charged him with acquiring "cold feet" is
made in a separate statement.
His statement of general position is con-
tanned In a letter addressed to Francis
Fisher Kane, United States Attorney at
Philadelphia, who has resigned because
he Is not In sympathy with Mr.. Palner's
policy in dealing with the Reds
Mr.. Palmer disclaims any responsibility
for the Sterling and Graham sedtion bills,
which. he says. are more drastic than any
thing he recommended and that his own
IDEAS are contained in the Davey bill.
This is the bill which, among others, has
been assailed by Samuel Gompers, presi-
dent of the American Federation of Labor,
but Mr.. Palmer tersely suggests there is
nothing in 1t "that any loyal American
can take exception to-
| The situation, which Mr. Palmer elabor-
ates, was precipitated by the letter OF
csignation which Francis Fisher Kane.
District Attorney at PHILADELPHIA, wrote
sailed Mr.. Palmer's entire position. and
| included statement to the effect that he
favored the naturalization of railroads.
coal mines and other utilities and that he
might even favor taking over the packing
interests.
Answers "Cold Feet, Charge.
Mr.. Kane's letter is regarded as repre-
sentative Of the revolt which has occurred
in the party which Mr.. Palmer represents
and which has found expression in some
Republican circles against what is de-
scribed as a 'too rigorous course" and a
duplication of the alien and sedition legis-
lation of the time of John Adams.
| 1t is this element Of the party to when
William Jennings Bryan is thought to be
-appealing. and which he is credited with
endeavoring to organize in opposition to
the more conservative sourse taken by
Palmer and. seemingly, by the administra-
| ton as a whole.
] The charges made in Congress that the
Attorney General has "cold feet are
| based upon recognition Of a reaction
within Mr.. Palmer's own party. made the
more significant because Of his candida cy
for the Presidency. and he is charged with
desiring to get away from the ultra
vigorous course represented in the Ster-
ling and Graham bills. In answer to this
charge. Mr.. Palmer says:-
! IAN entirely erroneous impression OF
| my attitude toward the so-called Graham
and Sterling sedition bills has gone out
through the press. My position in regard
TO sedition legislation is the same today
as 1t has been since first submitted. in
response to a request of the Senate Com
mittee, a tentative draft Of a measure
which, in my opinion, will cover all the
needs of the situation. / have at no time
personally or officially expressed approval
of the provisions of any sedition measure
except the one submitted in my report to
the Senate and which has been introd uced
in the House by Congressman Davey.'
His Letter to Mr. Kane.
i In his letter to Mr.. Kane the Attorney
General says
i IT believe that the greatest safety of
the country lies in the free expression OF
ideas. I am willing that any man should
advocate the most radical reforms as
long as he proposes to accomplish them
by the methods devised by the people for
accomplishing all change in our govern
nent; but when he steps over the line
4 and threatens to use physical force 10
accomplish such results, he goes beyond
/ the bounds Of guaranty of free speech
Our revolution has been fought and
4 won. Every man who comes to our
J shores from foreign country ought to
understand that his revolution has been
I fought and won when he sets foot on
| American soil. While there may be such
Z. thing rs q right of revolution, there is
no room for revolution in a peoples gov
ernment founGed upon the democratic
principles or our republic. The govern
rlent should encourage free political
thinking and political action, but 1t GER
tainly has tho right, for its own preser-
vation, to d;scourage ge and prevent the use
cf force and violence to accomplish that
which ought TO be accomplished. II at all,
by parliamentary or political methods.
\ "You are familiar with the deportation
/ statute which authorizes the deportation
of alien anarchists and of aliens who be-
long to organizations which advocate
the injury or overthrow of the govern
ment by force or violence. That Is the
law. AS long as it is the law, 1t must
be enfor ,ed. No person has been attested
1 who does not come within the provisions
! OF that law. Your suggestion seems 10
: be that we should disregard the law and
. refuse to enforce II. OF course ] cannot
! subscribe to any such doctrine and
\ should not want any man to be associated
with the Department of Justice who does
4 not believe in the enforcement of the law
i I'm view of your MISUNDERSTANDING OF
4 the real facts in connection with the
matters herein discussed. and of your ap-
1 parent misconception of the duties OF the
i Department OF Justice In the enforcement
/ of the laws as written, | am bound to say
THAT your resignation seefns to me 10 De
a,iite the Droper step for you to take.