Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1920-05-06
COMMUNIST PARTY MEMBERS FAVORED IN WILSON RULING. Membership in Organization is Insufficient Grounds,
 He Says NO INTENTION TO USE
 FORCE OR VIOLENCE Department of Justice, Deploring De- cision, Says It Opens Way to Undesirable Aliens to Enter
 the Country

Washington, May 5.-Secretary of labor Wilson ruled today that mem bership in the communist labor party does not of itself constitute suffi- cient ground for deportation of aliens.
 In ordering cancellation of war rant under which Carl Miller, Ger man, was held because of such mem- bership, the secretary said that while extracts from the organizations platform indicated an extremely rad ical objective there was no evidence of intention to use force or violence toward organized government.
 The department of justice frankly deplored the labor secretary's decis- ion. Assistant Attorney General, in charge of raids on radical elements asserted that because of it all un- desirable aliens could enter the com munist labor party and be free from government interference.
 Since MT. Wilson already has held that an alien could not be deported because of membership in the l. w. w., only membership in the commun- ist party now brings an alien with in the purview of the law providing deportation for those affiliated with existing organizations that believe in or advocate the Overthrow by force or violence of the government.
 Although MT. Wilson declared that examination of their platforms showed "some very substantial diff ferences," between the communist and the communist labor parties, Mir. Garvan asserted tonight that in prin- ciple they were Absolutely the same"
 Radical Party.
 Secretary Wilson said it had been argued by counsel that the tactics of the communist party in Russia ''are the methods intended to be pursued by the communist labor par ty of America, and that certain state ments of prominent communists rel-I ative to the objects of the commun- ist labor party should be taken as showing the intent of the party it. self"
 Excerpts from the communist la Dor party platform and program in dicate an extremely radical objec- tive. But there is nothing in them that disclOses an intention to use force or violence, or that is incom- patible with the use of parliament tary machinery to attain the radical view that is expressed. The belief in, teaching, and advocacy of the class struggle, mass action, the conquest of political power, the dictatorship of the proletariate, socialism, commun- ism, the one big union, shop commit tees, shops stewards and other social, industrial, economic and political changes mentioned in the communist labor party platform and program however, repulsive they may be to the minds of any or all of our peo- pie, do not bring the organization within the purview of the act, as Aong as it does not propose to use force or violence to accomplish the purpose. If the American people are left free to discuss and decide the question presenting themselves for consideration from day to day, unin- fluenced by threat of force or vio- fence, they can be relied upon to pro- tect themselves against any false philosophies, wild-eyed revolutions, or dictatorships of any kind"
 UarVan IS bettef.
 Commenting tonight on Secretary Wilson's labor ruling, Assistant At torney General Garvan said it meant that "all aliens can enter the fold of the communist labor party and the government cannot touch them"
 He added that they "could advo- cate revolution and keep on advo- eating violence with perfect impu- nity unless congress changes th), law"
 MT. Garvan said that until Attor- ney General Palmer had an opportu- nity to study the opinion in the case, the departments course as to future action against radicals could not be 1 determined.
 By virtue of the authority placed | in the secretary of labor to inter- pret application of the law" Mr@Gar- van added, "the case of the depart ment of justice falls flat.
 There is nothing more it can do in experimenting menacing characters as we believe constitute the commu- mist labor party" 1 The department of justice raids of last January disclosed membership of the communist labor party to be between 5O,oOO and s0,ooo. Mir. Gar van said. But he did not believe these figures indicated the actual strength of the group, nor, he said, did they reveal anything "as to the number of bolshevik which will flock to the haven created by the latest ruling"
 MT. Garvan declared the depart ment of labor already had released about 1,60O members of the commu- mist labor party who were taken in the January raids, and that warrants in the cases of two hundred others would be cancelled as result of the ruling.