Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1920-01-20
Gssn'af'% Esso1as 2es's1dkay ssstk 141O6
TUESDAY, JANUARY 20. 1920.
The Kind Of Law That Is Needed.

The Kind Of Law Ihat Is Necdeo'
Attorney General Pamer III pursuance
Of the pinn Of the Department Ut Just.ce
70 drive from the untry those radical
foreign elements which would destr y our
q vefnment, and which have for long
time been pernic,ous.y active N that
direction, has asked Congress for iegisla-
ton to clothe the department with fell
n yer to act effectively. Already it SIS
INSIDE. prosecutions resulting ID the de-
pcrtaticn cf Herkmann and Emna
G lduan, togethe, with lot OF Their
anarchlst followers, and enlarged powers
sre deemed desii able in order to keep
the good work ing with proper efficiency.
Congress has under confederation iegis-
ktinn TO this end.
II is conceded, however, thst leg1si
ton of such character IS a most
eIffieuit task that can be set for our
rational lie istators Public sentiment
not only expects but demands iegisia-
s;on that will enable our authorities TO
nd the * untry of the physical p. essence
Of those radical elements Of foreign
citizenship which openly advocate the
dsstru, ton of our free institution and the
erection in their place of WHIST they call
. government by the people. but which
would inevitably result IN a mad rue Of
the physically powerful and IN the end
a Survival of the fittest" that is, the
hrswpiest and most brutal. But when
II come. down tn the plain task Of draw
ing an enactment that will reach such
dangerous undesirabies, and stop right
there without cncroaehiug upon the rights
Of the peopie, especially the constitu-
tonaIiy guaranteed rights Of free assem-
bia,so. 8 free press free speech, nd the
night Of the people to publicly assemble
and consider what they deem to be their
grievan es, the difficulties are innumera-
bic Too frequently IS Il the case that an
enactment designed to have this specific
snd limited result may be employed.
under agencies OF law. il expressing good
and patriotic people, friends OF popular
zovernment and the reign OF Law, as well
rs Furnishing anarchists.
The country Is not without Its experi-
ence IN the kind Of legislation During
the administration OF President Johu
Adams legislation under the general |
appellaton Of Alien and SedIticn laws
we're ensctsd. They were, acc riding to |
the records of thst time, due 10 the |
oesire of the Federalist party, then IN |
power to stiHe the more virulent forms !
Of political opposition then prevalent, and |
especially 70 cheek the activities of those /
who syrapathized with France, which /
country was still IN the throes Of the great |
Revolution. The AlIen act passed June t
25, 17eS, gsve the President power to |
order the removal from the country Of |
aliens judged 10 be dangerous, and pro- |
vided that If these 81 notified did not |
leave the country CT secure from the /
President license 10 remain, they would /
be subject 70 Imprisonment for not more /
than three years and barred from ever !
becoming citizens Of the United States. |
The SedItIon act, passed July ii 1898, /
and FIVE years imprisonment for con- /
spring against the government and its |
measures and Tor interfering with the
operations of the government. Also. q |
penalty Of imprisonment for not more /
than two years and fine Of not more /
than s2,oo0 for printing scandalous
material concerning the Federal govern
nrnt, the President, or the Congress |
providing for the treatment of aliens
from governments with which the country |
m1ghf be al war and the fourth Natural
ixas.en act. prescribing residence for Ii
By foreigners Of citizenship.
It IS easy to conceive how these Iaws
could be invoked for purposes foreign |
70 rhr sp nt of Their provisions, and,
the one directed against the
freedom Of the press, II manner that
would seriously lniufe good citixons and
further th4' political schcmcs Of rabld
partiaans Also, they were enforced IN q
part san spirit and the dangers they
carried. Inc oppprtun.tiss for Outrage and
oppression they afforded we're fully re-
veaied And notwithstanding the n
tiruanee ali except the Naturalization
.ct was limited to few years. these
stringent Avs, and the partisan cruelty
,f their enforcement, overtllreT the
Federai'st party and defeated President
adans al the next ensuing election for
President, in 1906
OF the danger that eonfronts the coun-
szy today from the presence Of go many
fabid anarchists there is no doubt OF
The necessity for legislation that viii curb
Their destructive activities and provide
or Their forcibie election there is no