Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1920-04-30
WITNESSES TELL
At POST INQUIRY
Of DIFFERENCES
Clashes Between Depart
ments of Labor and Justice
Are Disclosed.

Attempts to break UP completely
"the most damnable conspiracy
against the government in the ma
tion's history" was frustrated by dis
agreements between the Department
of Labor and the Department Of Jus
tice, Chairman johnson Of the House
immigration committee testified today
at the renewal Of the investigation
by the rules committee into the ham
ding Of deportation warrants by
Louis r. Post. assistant Secretary OF
Labor.
Arrests of 5000 communists was fol-
olwed by an awful mix-up between
the two departments" resulting in
the release of the big majority Of
those held. Johnson said The De-
partment of Justice did it's part. he
added. but one obstacle appeared in
Assistant Secretary Post
Tells Of Audreytchine.
Mr.. johnson told the committee that
George Audreytchine, described as "a
prince of the !. w. w." was released
by the Department Of Labor after let
ers. saying that II we can keep Secre-
tary Wilson out making speeches Post
will release Audreytchine.'
Later. he said, Audreytchine was ar
rested for renewed radical activities in
tho Michigan copper district, indicted
in the federal court at Chicago. and sent
to Leavenworth penitentiary.
The immigration committee. Rep
resentative Johnson said. had evidence
that Emma Golden. the radical leader.
had sent plea by telegram to AS
sistant Secretary Post in behalf of one
arrested communist. Mr.. Post. Mr..
Johnson declared. referred the plea to
the Office Of the Secretary of Labor
with the notation that Miss Gold
full credence."
Secretary Already "Impeached."
Representative johnson told the
resolution looking to the impeach-
ment Of Mr.. Post because "the secre-
:ary already has been impeached by
nine-tenths of the people of the
United States"
Jackson H. Ralston. attorney for
sentative johnson, declared that from
the beginning to end the Department
Of Justice has attempted to inject it
self in deportation proceedings with
out legal right
Statement by Mr.. Ralston, that I'VE
government Of Russia under the
czarist regime" brought challenges
and requests for modification from a
half dozen members of the commit
tee. The witness first declared that
he would stand on his assertion. but
later modified 1t to exclude "a large
part of the American people. the
members Of the rules committee" but
not to exclude the representatives of
the Department of Justice, who. he
added, were even lower in some of
their methods than the old Russian
officials"
Reiterates Judges Statement.
The attorney reiterated the state
ment recently made by federal Judge
Anderson in Boston that there was
connection between some Department
of Justice agents and the members
Of the communist labor party. He
refused to concede, as one member Of
the committee suggested. that Depart
ment of Justice agents went among
the communists in order to moro read
lily apprehend them, Just as "detec-
tives often associate with criminals
to obtain the man they want"
Defending the Department Of La
Dor from the charge that it had de-
ported only a small number Of the
radicals arrested, Mr.. Ralston said
that only in the most exceptional
cases should a man be torn from his
family and sent from tho country.
After Representative Siegel. repub-
lican. New York. had charged that
many Of the deportation hearings
hsld in New York were secret and
that no ono knew what evidence for
cd. Mr.. Ralston assured the committee
that tho Department Of Labor would
produce tho proceedings of all hear
ings II 1t were desired.