The daily banner. (Cambridge, Md.) 1897-2008, 1920-02-05
NIPPED RED PLOT,
SAYS PALMER
Tells House Committee Raids
Restored Order.
Denies GOLD FEET" SLUR
Attorney General Fears Civil Flights
Might Be Swept Away BY Graham
Seditjon Measure.

Washington, Feb. 5.-Deportation of
radicals. countrywide arrests Of 9th
ers and the vigorous enforcement of
existing laws has given notice the
United States intends to keep order
and has helped to improve condi-
tons"
Attorney General Palmer so assert
ed when he appeared before the house
judiciary committee to give his views
on anti-seditton Legislation.
The positive intention Of the gov
eminent 20 punish crimes of reds"
and Communists has created a state
of order which would have been i'm
possible without arrests and deporta-
tons, he added.
Because of apparent dilatorineSs in
stopping red activities last summer,
Mr.. Palmer added, every newspaper in
the country had shouted at him.
The department, by giving advance
notice Of intended widespread violence
against the government, blocked any
great disturbances, he asserted.
Declaring he was Extremely Oppos-
ed" to making alleged siditious mat
fer non-mailable, Mr.. Palmer said it
was not wise 70 permit any postmast-
er general to decide whether letters
are seditious or to grant him power
to destroy another's property.
Temperate additional laws will not
add to unrest of the present genera
ton" continued Mr.. Palmer. Men
ought to be permitted to talk and talk
as much as they desire. If we so too
far the ultra radical soap box orator
will yell against repressive legislation.
There should be free speech, but no
unbridled speech"
In the reaction following enforce
ment of laws, many loyal Americans
felt when additional legislation was
asked the department of justice was
excited and apprehensive, Mr.. Palmer
continued.
Order can only be maintained
through firm enforcement of laws"
he added Justice cannot come to
any part of the population without
There are $4,000 members of the Com
munist party in this country and the
Communist Labor party is even larg-
err"
"AII we need to get rid of the I'M
desirables is plenty of. ships?" inter-
jected Representative Dyer, Republi-
can, Missouri.
There will be many objections and
some, when tried, will renounce their
party" the attorney general replied.
Mr.. Palmer read u number of ex-
cerpts from anarchistic literature, and
said no existing statute made the
printing and circulating of such docu-
ments unlawful.
much has been said about the right
Of free speech and the right of assem-
big and Of the freedom of the press"
he continued, "but it seems to me
there must be a dead line across which
men must not go if the government
Is to defend itself 1t ought to be
drawn at a line where there is
threat of force, and 1 mean physical
force, when agitators plot the over
throw of the government and intend to
commit acts of violence.
1.-THE Graham bill makes me shud-
der. Many good people ought to be
frightened, for its provisions are too
drastic and in times of excitement the
sivil rights of citizens might be swept
sway"
Mr.. Palmer denied he had "a plain
case of cold feet" when he failed to
appear before the house rules COM
mittee several weeks ago to explain
the need for additional anti-sedition
legislation.
"Some misunderstanding exists in
regard to my attitude towards this
legislation" he said. "Some said
had "a pain case of cold feet others
had turned TAIL That, Of course.
Is not correct. I did not attend be-
cause I couldn't give support to the
sending rule for the Graham bill"
More harm than good would come
rrom repressive Legislation, Mr.. Pal
Zsr said, adding pending measures
were so drastic and far reaching they
would over reach the purposes for
which they were intended.
'The situation calls for legislation
- simple character, guarding the bill
of rights, bat filing a hiatus in laws
which exist in present statutes" said
Lr Palmer.