The Mena weekly star., 1920-01-01
SHALL WE PRESERVE OUR OWN

 worst type-the type that has been developed under the abuses of autoc- racies such as have existed in Russia, Germany and like countries--is being pY6mulgated and promoted in our country by the offscourings of these lands; that it is the purpose to over throw our government and it's insti- tutsons, there is no avoiding the con cltision that we have been all too slow to take cognizarce of the situa- tion, too slow in shutting our gates against an influx of the worst type of foreigners, too slow in deporting the undesirables that are already here, and too slow, thousand times too slow, in providing laws that will make impossible in the United States the spread of doctrines of sedition and destruction.
 The Davey Sedition Bill now before Congress has been drafted for this very purpose. Either this or some like measure must be put in force to safe guard us against this foreign influx of renegades that would destroy all that our forefathers stood for. and that has been gained in the years un- der our democratic form of govern ment.
 The Akron (O.) Times turns d clear shaft of light on the situation, as fol- iows
 Before us as we write are two pam phlets. One is manifesto of ian archists and communists" published by the Federation of Unions of Rus sian Workers of the United States and Canada. The other is a report of Attorney General Palmer to the United States senate, answering cer- tain questions as to the activities of the department of justice in dealing with sedition and anarchy.
 The manifesto of the Russian Workers unions is an open appeal to anarchy, demand for the overthrow of the government of the United States. Among the methods of pro- cedure it advises for members of the unions are the following:
 Seizure of all means of production by the working classes"
 Destruction of "all remains of gov ernmental authority and class dom ination."
 Liberation of prisoners.
 Demolition of all prisons and police officers.
 Destruction of all legal papers ''per- taining to private ownership of pro- perty."
 Burning of all certificates of in- debtedness.
 Destruction of all fences and boun- daries-'in a word, we must take care that everything is wiped from the earth that is reminder of the right to private ownership of property"
 The blowing up of barracks and po- lice stations.
 The shooting of the most promi- nent military and police officers
 The inauguration of a general strike. the use of violence to halt pro duction and the seizure of industries, etc.
 This pamphlet is being distributed throughout the industrial centers of America. Hundreds of them have been circulated in Akron. What they may lead to in the hands of ignorant na- tive-born and the alien who has no comprehension of our government is easily imaginable. What they have al- ready led to, indeed is apparent.
 Why does the United States gov ernment tolerate the spreading of such doctrine you ask The answer IS contained iu the other pamphlet above mentioned the attorney gen. erals report to the senate
 Under the laws as they stand THE CIRCULATION OF SUCH LITER ATURE IS NOT X CRIME.
 Attorney General Palmer. after making various test cases in the fed eral courts and securing the opinions of the country's ablest criminal law yers, thus advises the senate.
 "t1( Those who have attempted to bring about q forcible overthrow of the government of the United States have committed no crime. unless their acts amount to treason, rebellion or seditious conspiracy. This is defined in Sections i, and of the Criminal Code above quoted
 "l21 The preaching of anarchy and sedition is not crime under the gen eral criminal statutes of the United States.
 ~f3) Advising the defiance of law is not a crime under the general crimi- nal laws. whether the same be done by printing and circulating literature or by the spoken word
 "l4l Nor is the advising and open ly advocating the unlawful obstruc- tion of industry and the unlawful and violent destruction of property a crime under the United States general ststutes."
 In other words. the United States is a wide-open country to every native born moron and every alien agitator who desires to slaughter public off cials and soldiers, undertake whole sale sabotage. obstruct the enforce ment of laws and preach treason and anarchy. The nation is at the mercy of red prepagandists and Bolshevik plotters sedition mongers for the most part living in ease and luxury on funds supplied by the Russian plum ders.
 h the face of this situation we hear and read impassioned protests agains, any legislation that may curtail ths sacred freedom of the press!" Free dom to advocate nullification of tn, entire constitution and forcible over throw of the government is urged b, boudoir Bolshevists as paramount | the preservation of the constitutio and the government
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