The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1920-01-13
BACKS DEATH BILL
TO MAKE AMERICA
SAFE FOR PEOPLE
Graham Urges His Sedition
Measure, Favorably Reported
by House Committee.
Herald Bureau.
Nc. l,50x IL Street, NJ W.,
washington, ID. G., Monday.

MasnlnSt0n, ID. T., Monday.
Final action by Congress for the drastic
punishment Of sedtion was brought
nearer today, when the House judiciary
Committee favorably reported the bill in
troduced by Representative Graham~ Re-
publican, OF Pennsylvania, inflicting the
death penalty in sedition cases where muir
der Is the result of force and violence. and
Including other sweeping penalties asked
|by A. Michel Palmer Attorney General.
There are two principal points of differ
ence between The Graham bill and the
Sterling bill, which the Senate passed
saturday. The Senate bill does not in
clude the des n penalty, and also protects
qualifications from exclusion from the
mails by arbitrary action of the Post
ster General hese differences, how
over il is believed, will be speedily rec
onciled.
II "a understood that the Senate will
accent the House provision giving federal
courts power to inflict the death penalty,
and that the House will safeguard publi-
90 flows eains& possible autocratic rulings.
REPRESENTATIVE Igoe. Democrat, Of Mis-
souri, has reserved the right to offer an
to the mail exclusion provi-
sons on the floor and the chairman of the
committee stated today that he saw nc
objection to 1t.
Tells OF Bomb Attack.
Frequent references were made by
Representative Graham, in reporting the
bill, to the bomb attack upon Attorney
General Palmer last year, which resulted
lin the death of the bomb thrower. He
strongly urged the necessity of the legis'
Ilation emphasizing particularly the ad
visa bility Of giving federal courts powers
equal to those of State courts in i'm. 5ine
the death sentence.
1.-The attack upon a high official OF th'
United States for doing his duty fear
lessly." said Mr.. Graham, the shooting
down on the highway OF brave soldier:
for their avowed adherence to law anc
order and the preservation of our govern
ment constitution, and numerous instan
ces of outrage by force and violence
aimed at the eistence of our institutions
by aliens and others, including some o
our own citizens. convinces us all tina
legislation is needed, and that speedily.
ut behooves Congress to respon'
quickly to the vigorous call for legisla
ton coming from every part of the com
try because OF the preparation OF thes
outrages. and also because of the revela
tito, 1-ought home to us by recent inves
ltigations showing the vigor and extent o
the pernicious and dangerous teachings o
aliens and others who would destroy on
government and all government by fore
and create a state Of anarchy. The re
quest of the Attorney General, who ha
asked for legislation, should be answered.
without delay.
"Make America Safe
"a government incapable of defendin;
| it's own life from force and violence ant
preserving law and order and the live
of it's people, and which is left unclothe'
with power to crush out this spirit o
violence and destruction and make Amer
lea safe for our people, is not worthy 0
the name OF government.
This bill, in addition to the aid givei
in the immigration laws, is designed, al
the title indicates, to clothe our govern
ment with adequate power and to furnish
it with remedies to enable it to cope will
the enormous evil confronting us While
seeking to do this effectually, the bill il
confined to the restraint and punishment
of the use of force and violence. 1t leaves
free speech and free press untrammeled
and the right to advocate any reform o.
change by peaceful and lawful methods
without a limitation.
THE life of the nation is threatened to
lday, the security and safety Of our citizen!
is imperilled, and 1t is firmly believed tina
a strong remedy is demanded by ou
people. This bill furnishes such a law a:
will, we believe satisfy the country and
enable the authorities to grapple with the
growing evil in our midst"