New-York tribune., 1920-01-13
Death-Penalty
Sedition Bill
Goes to House
Measure Carrying Extreme
Punishment Comes Ont
of Committee; Will Be
Accorded Right of Way
Differs From Senate Bill
Representative Graham, in
Making Report, Urges
Necessity for Statute
Ne4U York Tribune
WQshinQto7l Bureau

Ne1U York Tribune
WGstingto Bureau
WASHINGTON, Jan. 12.-The House
ant-sedition bill, with it's death penalty
provision for persons committing homi-
eide in attempting TO overthrow the
government by force, was reported to-
day from the Judiciary Committee and
will be taken up late this week OF
early in the next.
sedition bill which differs in many re-
spects from the House measure and
does not contain death penalty
provision. House leaders will do every
thing possible to expedite passage of
the bill reported to-day so that some
sort Of legislation can be agreed upon
by the two Houses to arm the execu-
tive branch of the government against
American citizens who ADVOCATE and
endeavor to overthrow the government
by violence. A special rule will be OBJ
brought up, and while time will be
given for debate the general sentiment
in the House for legislation to curb
radicals is so strong that no great op-
position is expected.
Quick Action Urged
Representative Graham, of Pennsyl-
vania, chairman of the subcommittee
which drafted the bill, in reporting the
measure to-day to the House said:
"The attack upon high official of
the United States for doing his duty
fearlessly; the shooting down on the
highway of some of our brave soldiers
for their avowed adherence to law and
order and the preservation of our gov
ernment, constitution and laws; nu-
merous instances of outrage by force
and violence aimed at the existence of
our institutions by aliens and others,
vinces us that legislation is needed,
and that right speedily.
ut behooves the Congress to re-
spond quickly to the vigorous calls for
legislation coming from every part of
the country, because Of the perpetra-
tion of these outrages, and also be-
cause of the revelations brought home
to us by recent Investigations showing
the vigor and extent of the pernicious
and dangerous teachings Of aliens and
otoers, who would destroy by force all
government and create state of
anarchy. The request of the Attorney
General for legislation should be an
swered without delay.
ne
no excuse for force and violence to
effect changes in our Constitution and
laws. There is no right of revolution
where the people have right to vote.
Especially is there no excuse for the
alien, coming from lands of oppression
and tyranny to this land of freedom,
to perform as the apostle of assassina-
ton, murder and other crimes and be-
come the teacher of foreign propa-
ganda of force and violence.
"The right Of free speech and free
press will always be maintained IN
violate. The advocacy of any change
by lawful means through the will and
votes of majority is still open to
every one. Whenever legal majority
Of our people vote for a change that
change will be brought about.
This bill, in addition to the aid
given in the immigration laws, is de-
signed, as its title indicates, to clothe
our government with adequate power
and furnish it with remedies to enable
fronting us. While seeking to do this
effectually the bill is confined to the
restraint and punishment Of the use
of force and violence and leaves free
speech and free press untrammeed
and the right to advocate or teach any
reform or change by peaceful and law
full methods without a limitation.
Section ! gives the Federal court
equal power with the state court,
which it does not now have, to infict
the death penalty in cases where mur-
der Is the result of the use of force
and violence. Without this section the
Federal courts would be powerless to
impose the death penalty whore the out
rage involved the death of human be-
ings.
eve would refer for illustration to
a recent event in which q bomb was
exploded at the home of a high official
Of the government. True, the miscreant
was self executed. But suppose he had
lived and his dastardly work had
caused the death of the official or of
some member of his family. Without
Section ! the Federal courts could not
try for killing, but only for the out
rage.
This Section / will secure ADEQUATE
punishment, whether the state court ac-
quires jurisdiction or the Federal
court does. The death penalty may not
be inflicted in any case unless the jury
in the case shall recommend that il
should be imposed"