The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1920-01-22
PALMER DOES
not APPROVE
RED" BILLS
AttorneyGeneralD Disap-
proves Both Sedition Meas
ures -Gompers Pours Hot
Remark Into Congress.
new Law IS PROPOSED
(By Associated Press)


WASHINGTON, Jan. 22.-Disap-
proving both the Sterling and Gra-
ham sedition bills, Attorney-General
Palmer in a letter today to Chairman
Campbell, of the house rules commit
tee, proposed a new measure which
would provide fines not exceeding
$4,000 and Imprisonment of not more
than 20 years for persons convicted
on attempting to overthrow the gov
ernment or of acts of violence against
the government or it's employees or
agents while J. the discharge Of their
official duties. t..
The measure also would prohibit
writings or teachings which constitute
sedition. The bill says that whoever
with intent to levy war against the
United States, or to cause change,
overthrow or destruction of the gov
ernment or any of the law or authority
thereof, or to cause the overthrow or
destruction OF law, of organized gov
ernment, or to oppose. prevent, hinder
or delay execution of any law of the
United States or the free performance
by the United States government or
any one of its officers, agents or en-
ployes of its or her. public duty, COM
mits or attempts or threatens to COM
NIT any act of force against persons
or any property or any act terrorism,
hate, revenge or injury against the
person or property of any officers.
agents or employees Of the United
States shall be deemed guilty of sedi-
ton"
Death Penalty "Too Severe"
The Graham bill provides the death
in of - -
acts of violence against the govern
ment and these provisions have been
attacked as too severe" The Sterl-
ing bill has been attacked on the
ground that it would set up a press
censorship in peace time and for, other
reasons. -
Mr.. Palmer did appear before the
committee in person as had been ex-
pected. His letter was read after
Samuel Gompers, president of the
American Federation of Labor, had
vigorously assailed the Sterling and
Graham measures. which he declared
would oppress all classes of labor
and strife and moved to change the
| constitution.
Even moral force, such as organiza-
non by orderly mass meetings, he
said, would be punishable.
oppoSe ali acUFltleS OF the So
called Reds" he said "Standpatters,
reactionaries and fools in congress
may hate me, but none hate me or
vilify me as those people whose &C
tivities have been branded as Rcd"
What do you mean by fools in
congress- Chairman Campbell asked.
Il am afraid l would be guilty of
lese majesty, if l mentioned any
! Names" GomperS replied
Gompers opened the hearing in con-
nection with the bills, after Chairman
Campbell had informed opjponents
that they would have further oppor-
! tunity to answer arguments present
ed by Mr.. Palmer or Mr. Graham.
| The hearing resulted from oppo-
sition of leaders to- inclusion of pro-
visions inflicting death penalties for
obstruction to the government where
loss of life occurred, and the group
trials" of agitators and radicals. The
Graham bill was originally drawn by
Attorney General Palmer while the
Sterlin bill has passed the senate and
! was rejected by the house judiciary
committee, the former measure be-
ing substituted. President Gompers,
of the American Federation of Labor,
planned to attack the measures be-
cause he said united labor believes
them to be a subtle blow aimed at its
| very existence"