Evening star., 1920-01-12
BILL CARRIES DEATH
PENALTY FOR REDS
Mr.. VoIstead to Introduce
Drastic Anti-BoIshevik
Measure.

Death penalty and strict safe
guards against sedition-designed
especially to do away with the par
lor bolshevists'-have been written
into a stringent bill which Chairman
Volstead of the House judiciary COM
mittee plans to introduce today. This
quick action by the House commit
tee following the passage Saturday
by the Senate of the Sterling bill
would close the mails and express
companies to seditious literature,
prohibit the red flags and make fines
of $4,000 and Jail sentences of twen-
ty years the punishment.
The House measure, com olnation
of Attorney General Palmer's orig
inal bill, introduced by Representa-
tive Davey of Ohio, and revis1ons
made by Representative Graham OF
Pennsylvania, contains extremely
stringent penalties for violations of
the sedition laws Included is the
death penalty, which the bill would
have inflicted, upon the recommended
tion of jury. on persons whose &C
tivities against the government lead
to destruction of life. The measure
also would close the mails and ex-
press companies to seditious litera-
ture, prohibit the exhibition of red
flag in connection with mass meet
ings, deny persons the right to re-
that it might tend to incriminate
them, and provide in certain cases
for disfranohisemen and depDrta-
tions.
Death Penalty Provided.
The section Of the measure which
provides for the death penalty fol-
lows:
THAT whoever incites, sets on foot,
assists or engages in any fnSurrectfon
~ in OF a States
or the authority or laws thereof. or
whoever sets on foot or assists or
engages in the use Of force or vio-
lence, with intent to destroy or cause
to be destroyed or change or cause
to be changed or to overthrow or
cause to be overthrown the govern
ment of the United States and the
death Of any person or persons is
caused or results directly therefrom,
shall be guilty of felony. and on
death. or shall be imprisoned not
more than twenty years or fined not
more than 100000. or both. and shall
forever be debarred from holding Of
flee under the United States. Pro-
vided, however. that the death pen
atty shall not be imposed unless rec
commended in the verdict of the jury.
Other sections of the measure
would prohibit any person using any
writing, printing or any sign, SYM
Dol OF CdrlCdLuTe Will lie poSS VI
resisting or destroying the govern
ment of the United States or the gov
ernments of the several states the
distribution, writing, printing, pub
fishing or transporting of seditious
matter, the importation or transpor-
tation between states of seditious
matter"
Aliens Would BE Deported.
Measures to combat seditious or
ganizations also are included.
Aliens convicted under the act would
be deported after serving their SEN
tence and prohibited to return to the
country. and persons who have de-
clared their intention to become citi-
zens but who have not been natural
lied would become ineligible to citi-
zenship.
tions except that providing the death
penalty would carry imprisonment
for not more than twenty years Or
fine of not more than $4,000 or both.
son would be debIrred from ever
holding office or trust in the United
States.