New-York tribune., 1920-02-05
.,,orney General Tells the
House Judiciary Commit
,ec There Is Real Need
for Additional Legislation
'vayors Davey Measure
n..lares Graham Provisions
Too Drastic; Make Him
shudder for Civil Rights
Nev York Tribune
Washington BMyens

c...rsl Palmer to-day denied before
-. House Judiciary Committee that he
-. suffered from %cold feet in con-
..,,;on with sedition legislation, but
a,.I.red he is convinced there is real
..sd for a statute under which both
,,;.ns and citizens Of the United States
rreach the overthrow of govern
,,t hv force and violence may be
reached.
Tho Attorney General said he real
:,.d The nation is now undergoing a
n,.ural reaction from the feeling it had
..., the country was filled with Reds"
.,d anarchists, but told the committee
.,,v nrompt and vigorous enforcement
=. laws in existence has prevented "a
s,eral and widespread outbreak OF
evolutionary intent" He said there
.-o IN 600 members of the Communist
Marty in the United States and that the
communist Labor party has q member
! ship even larger.
! The Attorney General explained his
failure to appear before the House
Puss Committee, as he had promised
10 do Two weeks ago. on sedition legis-
Isson bv saying he had other engage
= ments. and it was not his desire to
.nuesr before a committee which was
/ dealing merely with the question of
soeeding consideration Of the legisla-
,jon and not of its merits. Il have
felt" he said, chat the proper place
to express my views is before a legis-
ls,ive committee such as this
Shudders at Graham Bill
On which his opinion had been sought
tie Attorney General said:
The Graham bill makes ME shudder.
Many good people ought to be fright
ened, for its provisions are too drastic
.and IL times of excitement the civil
rights Of citizens might be swept
away
! Mr.. Palmer put before the Judiciary
Committee FIVE suggestions to be con-
sdered as the basis for sedition legis-
! iion:
@-There is condition of revolu-
tonary intent on the part of both
aiens and citizens sufficiently wide
spread to merit the serious considera-
tor of Congress. This revolutionary
intent is manifested chiefly by threats,
ooth written and spoken, on the part
OF such persons to injure, destroy or
soyerthrow the government by physical
orce or violence.
"2-These threats, which are being
circulated by those to whom l have
,e.egrcd, are of kind which do not en-
,Itle the persons who employ them to
the guarantee of the so-called right of
iree speech. They pass over the line
attended to mark the boundaries Of
freedom of speech.
"3-1here is no Federal statute now
Upon the books which adequately meets
he situation to which ! have referred.
- Most Of the bills introduced and
considered by this committee, by the
!, Rules Committee, by the Senate Judi
I,eary Committee and by the Senate are
so drastic and far reaching in charac-
ter and SO sweeping that they over
reach their purposes and are not cal
eu!ated to allay the menace to the gov
eminent comprised within the threats
to which | have referred.
"S-'Tha ojtuotiop ooll, l,r;-Io
, .icn hat will carefully safeguard the
suarah' ees OF the bin of rights and
also Il the hiatus which exists at
preset in the law governing these
matters"
Denies He Has Gold Feet
"A misunderstanding Of my position
upon this situation seems to have
arisen, said the Attorney General. "I
have been accused of getting cold feet
and one of my critics, in more pic
'uresque language, said I had turned
tail Neither of these criticisms is
}astihed. have not turned tall and
have not yet cold feet
1t IS true that did not appear be-
iore the Rules Committee when they
neld their hearings few days ago. I
was unable to attend the first hearing
because OF matter of importance de-
nAnding my presence elsewhere.
could have attended a later hearing,
ous the real reason was | could not
give my support to the rule asked for
"; " speed up consideration of the Ster-
ing and Graham bills, and l did not
wan, 10 be in position of opposing
'"e legislation entirely"
Mr. Palmer said the Red uprising"
.Aed for last June, deferred until Sep
ssmoer and again postponed, was
.ascked by rigorous action by the De-
paftment Of Justice.
natural reaction has set in" he
.oio the committee. "Many loyal pa
J s.'o.lc citizens, now feeling safe and
s..ute' say we are excited and unduly
fv.i.ea fnn.I when we ask for legislation to
,aI'ner empower officials seeking to
pt.oceed against those seeking to over
violence. ~ anu
Favors the Davey Bill
our duty as loyal and patriotic
i,.aercans, i.s believing this to be a popu,
s,.s government, is to see that the gov
sale is armed with the power of
v;iiense against these forceful and
forma fsa' methods of short-cutting to re-
n. ms these attacks on the form of
ers. psopies government cannot be tol-
lia'eo liyo II the peoples government is to
r;ss: ;ssssre has been much talk about the
sn.4t s4s OF free speech. No man will 20
III. ',rs m,r than to protect the people in
ma Susrantee of free speech No man
~ ofo.saistands ~ more than I the sanctity
ri,b. me guarantee Of free speech, the
Of ~ a. ol Tree assemblage, the freedom