Oxford eagle. (Oxford, Lafayette Co., Miss.) 1876-current, 1920-01-29
ANTI-SEDITION
BILLS FOUGHT
BY COMPERS
Would Muzzle Press and People and
Would Fill the Country With
Spies, He Claims.

Washington, Jan. 1s.--Formal an
nouncement that the American FED
,crationf faa Labor will oppose with
whateve< NsSer it may possess en-
actment the anti-sedition blils
now pending in congress was made IN
a statement issued today by Samuei
Gompers, president Of the federation.
His attack is directed in1paltially at
the Sterling Bill, recently passed by
the Sen .te, ard the Graham bill, based
ON proposals by Attorney General
Palmer and awaiting action by the
House rules committee for a special
rule to expediate consideration.
"The proposed bill, he said, if enact
ed would violate the constitution and
rob the American people of their most
cherished and basic guaratees OF
zee government.
eff the Ame lean people, ard in fact
a majority of the members of Con-
gress were awake to the dangers con-
cealed in this bill, storm OF indlg-
nation would sweep the C. Il try.
ut has been widely advertised that
this measure protects free speech full
ly, but prevents advocacy OF forclble
revolutoion, Bolshevism and anarchy.
In fact, it would perpetuate an auto
c. attic censorship over the entire Amer
ican press. 1t can be used to kill free
speech and free assembly. 1t strikes
a deadly blow at legitimate organiza-
tions of labor o. any other progress
i've movement for the betterment OF
the masses which may be opposed by
the advocates Of privilege and re-ac-
tion.
Loyalty to Republic.
ave yield to no man in public of
flee or out, in our loyalty to the con-
< stitution and institutions of this re-
public, or self-respecting man has
questioned or dare question that 10y
atty. We are for evolution not revo-
luton; for ballots, not bullets; for
majority rule, not class dictatorship
of Bolshevism, plutocracy or of the
profiteer.
eve oppose this bill because every
legitimate purpose for which it is
framed is already covered by existing
law. It's illigitinlate features, which
compose two-thirds of the draft, are
utterly autocratic, imperialistic and
un-American.
Referring to Attorney General Pal
mer's contention that now laws are
necessary to reach the individual who
advocates opposing to the government
by violence" Mr.. Gompers cited sec
ton four of the penal code and ask
ed:
''If revolution is afoot, why has not
the Department Of Justice made prose-
cutions under that section?
"Section five Of that bill, unbeliev-
able as it may seem," he continued,
"easily construed to mean, if does not
make it, crime, so vague and invol-
we'd is the Technology, to wear in
public any button Of any organization
whose purpose it is to secure an amend
ment to the Constitution of the Unit
ed States of any existing federal law.
"Section 6 perpetuates the censor
ship of the postmaster general over
all newspapers and printed matter
The so-called Borah amendment, pro-
viding a court review of the post
master generals action, is sound in
principle but is inadequate to afford
protection as a practical matter to a
publisher against the autocratic ac-
ton of the post master general.
"More amasing still, the proviso
sets up censorship over any mans
private. correspondence by the post
master general. 1t would be criminal
for example, for man to send let
ter advocating resistance to an in
junction issued by federal Judge
ordering workers on strike to go back
to work. Moreover. this section can
be used to prevent the organization
of colored labor on the grounds of in
citing racial prejudice the intended OF
probable result Of which appeal is to
cause rioting, etc. No doubt advocacy
of, or opposition to the cause of Irish
freedom would in some sections be
prohibited.
Labor Literature.
Section 7 would exclude from this
country, even for Libraries and inves
tigators, a large PARTON Of the labol