Arizona republican., 1920-01-19
ATTACKS DRAF TS. AS LIN AMERICAN
 AND AUTOCRATIC.
Proposed Measures Violate Constitution Asserts Com pers - Would Rob U. s. of Free Government - Many Dangers Concealed in Proposed Legislation, He Says
IRepubllcan A. p. Leased wireI

WASHINGTON, Jan. 1s.-Formal announcement that the American Fed eration of Labor would oppose with whatever power it may possess" the enactment of the anti -sedition bills now pending in congress was made today in a statement issued by Samuel Gompers, president of the federation.
 The attack of organized labor. it's chieftain indicated, will be directed impartially against the Sterling bill, recently passed by tlge senate, and against the Graham meAsure. based on suggestions of Attorney General Palm CT and awaiting action by the house rules committee for a special rule to expedite consideration
 Claims Bill Unconstitutional
 Referring to the two measures as one bill, President Gompers declared its enactment would violate the con stitution and rob the whole American people of their most cherished and basic guarantees of free government"
 If the American people, and, in fact. majority of the members of congress" Mir. Gompers asserted, were awake to the dangers concealed in this bill, storm of indignation would sweep the nation.
 Tt has been widely advertised that this measure protects free speech fully but prevents advocacy of forcible rev olution, bolshevism and anarchy Tn fact, it would perpetrate an autocTatic censorship over the entire American press. It can be used to kill free speech and free assembly. It strikes deadly blow at legitimate organizations of la Dor or any other progressive move ment for the betterment of the masses which may be opposed by the advo- es-of privilege and reaction.
 Explains Position of Federation
 We yield to no man in public office or out in our loyalty to the constitution Al. -E- sef-respecting man has questioned or dare question that loyalty. We are for evolution, but not for revolution: for ballots, not bullets: for a majority rule. not class dictatorship of bolshe- vism. nor plutocracy of the profiteer.
 We oppose this bill because
 every legitimate purpose for which
 1t is framed is already covered by
 existing law. It's iIlegitimate fea-
 lures, which compose two thirds
 of the draft, are utterly autocratic,
 Imperialistic and un-American.F
 Referring to Attorney General Palmer's contention that new laws are necessary to reach the individual who advocates opposition to the govern ment by violence" Mir. Gompers cited section of the penal code. and asked:
 Reviews Bill by Sections
 If revolution is afoot, why has not the department of justice made prose cutions under that section?
 Section of the bill, unbelievabla as it may seem.'' he continued may be easily construed to mean, if, indeed it does not make it a crime. so. vague and involved is the terminology, to wear in public any button of an or ganization whose purpose 1t is to se- cure an amendment to the constitution of the United States or any existing federal law
 Section 6 perpetuates the censor ship of the postmaster general over all newspaper and printed matter. The called Borah amendment providing a court review of the postmaster gen erals action, is sound in principle but is inadequate to afford protection as a practical matter to publisher against the autocratic action of the postmaster general.
 More amazing still, the proviso sets up censorship over any mans prf- vate correspondence by the postn1aster general. It would be criminal for tx- ample. for man to send a letter ad- vocating resistance to an injunction is sued by a federal judge ordering work CTS on strike to go back to work Moreover this section can be used to prevent the organization of coIored labor on the grounds of melting racial prejudice, the intended or probable re- suit of which appeal is to cause riot ing etc. No doubt advocacy of. or. opposition to. the cause of Irish free dom would, in some sections, be pro hibited.
 Section would exclude from this country, even for libraries and investi- gators, a large portion of the labor literature of Europe
 Sections, 9 10 and II contain . grave threat aimed at labor 'directIy or indirectly to make political change by injury to private property. It is unhappfly true that even a lessitimate strike may result in indirect injury to the employers private property rpght In his business. The recent steel and coal strikes were both falsely herald ed as attempts to overthrow our gov ernment.
 Would Spread Terror Reion
 If an hostile federal judge should decide that any particular strike has a political end in view and the strikin. union IS affiliated with the American Federation of Labor, the American Federation of Labor would be com peiled at once to expeI the striking union or itself become unlawful And It would at once become a crime pun by up to 20 years imprison- ment or up to S20,000 fine, or both for. any person anywhere in the nation e to rent hall or business office. to any labor organization affiliated with the American Federation of Labor or to glve or loan 1t money to send strike relief to starving women and children
 Tn general, this is bill against opinion and advocacy. It proposes to