New-York tribune., 1920-01-23
Lets
SeditiOn Bill
Col Undefended
Attorney General in Letter
Says Neither Senate nor
House Measure Meets His
Idea Observation-Disclosures
Committeeman Puzzled
Compers, in Protest for
Organized Labor, Sees 1t
as Curb on Free Speech
Ne,c York Tribune
Washington Bureau

Ne,c York Tribune
Washington Bureau
WASHINGTON. Jan. 22.-While
Samuel Gompers, president of the
American Federation of Labor, ap-
nssrsd to-day before the House Rules
Committee and entered a protest for
orsanizd labor against the sedition bill,
which the Judiciary Committee has ap-
uroved, Attorney A. Mitchell Palmer,
who was expected to be the star wit
ness for the bill, failed to appear
and it went undefended, so far as the
DEPARTMENT of Justice is concerned.
Mr. Palmer's absence from the COM
uittee hearing caused more than
little comment among members, because
Of the fact that on last Monday he
talked over the question of hearings
with Representative Campbell, its
chairman, approved the idea of holding
them and promised to be on hand at
l030 o'clock to-day, when they were
scheduled to start, to give the Depart
ment Of Justices view on the need for
sedition legislation.
Palmer Sends Letter
Instead of making a personal appear
ance Mr.. Palmer sent the committee a
letter, dated yesterday, in which lie
said he could not De present because
Of public business "of pressing impor-
lance" and declaring neither the Gra-
ham bill, which the House Judiciary
Committee approved, nor the Sterling
bill, which has passed the Senate, met
his views. He said further that the
bill introduced in the house several
months ago by Representative Davey,
Of Ohio, did represent his views on the
subject.
In his letter Mr.. Palmer kept to the
front the idea that the question of Sc
dition legislation was one for Congress
to determine. He pointed out that he
drafted sedtion bill "in response to
Senate resolution" and later he said
the Davey bill was prepared by me
because requested to do so by Senate
committee"
Members of the committee we're
almost st loss 20 understand Mr..
Palmer's failure to appear and the
general tone OF his letter. They have
that th. Department of Justice was
greatly handicapped by the lack of
law TO curb radicals who are citizens
Of the United States. This plant was
emphasized in the last big "Red" raid
as he reason so many OF the thou
sands tirst taken into custody were
turrcd loose almost at once.
Republicans on the committee were
so unhind as to find some direct con-
neotioa between the presence of Mr..
Gompers protesting vehemently against
sedition legislation and the absence Of
Mr.. Palmer, who already has incurred
The cnmi-y Of organized labor in the
hi.up'inous coal strike and who is be-
ing talked about considerably as
Democratic Presidential possibility
Der ocrats could see no such connec-
ton, but were not any more ready
with explanations that satisfied than
were NJ. Palmer's political opponents.
Text of the Letter
Ny Palmers letter to Chairman
Campbell reads as follows:
az find that public business of press
ing importance will make it impossible
for me 10 attend the hearing before
your committee tomorrow morning. l
would be glad if you will print this
letter in the hearings as a statement
Of ny views with respect to the lcgis-
lation which you are now considering.
~ have read with great care both
the Sterling bill, passed by the Senate,
and the Graham bill, reported by the
committee or the Judiciary of the
House, and feel ilnpelled 10 say that
neither OF these bills accords with my
views as to what the legislation ought
to De. In response 20 a Senate resolu-
tion. Pre- pared several months ago
and transmitted TO the Senate the fol-
lowing as draft of a law which, il
my views, meets all the requirements
Of the situation.
II understand this bill has been in
troduced by Representative Davey, OF
Ohio
"Of course, the form which legisla-
ton shall take is for the Congress ex-
elusively. The bill which l have quoted
was prepared by me because requested
so to do by a Senate committee. 1t is
unnecessary for me to add that the
Department Of Justice stands ready to
enforce whatever legislation the Con-
gree shall see fit to pass"
The Davey Bill
The Davey bill, which Mr.. Palmer
approved, reads in par, as follows:
Whoever, With the intent to levy
war against the United States, or to
cause the change, overthrow or destruc-
tion Of tne government, or of any of
the avs or authority thereof, or to
cause the overthrow or destruction of
all forms Of law or organization gov
ernnent, cr 70 oppose, prevent, hinder
or delay the execution Of any law OF
the United States, or the free perform
ance b. The United States government
or any ore Of it's officers, agents or
employees Of it's or Of his duty
commits, or attempts or threaten tc
eor'nit, any act Of force against any
person or any property, or any act OF
terrorism, hate, revenge or injury
against the person or property Of an,
r,ficcr, agent or employee of the United
s'a'es, shall be deemed guilty Of sed
s'n, and, upon conviction thereof
shali be punished By fine not exceed.
'ny 10000, or by imprisonment for {
pefiod no, exceeding twenty years, OF
'y oo.h such fine and imprisonment, il
'hs d.scre .ion Of the court"
nc bill makes it crime also to pro
mote sedition, provides for the de
p'r'ation Of aliens convicted under it
'efmA and the naturalization and de
p'f'ation Of any naturalizcd citizel
''n"icted Of violating it,
Ar. Gompers Protested against sedi
tioh leglsation in general and tho Ora
nam bill in particular, holding suci
"sA,pFez unnecessary and more provo
eatlge o' revolutionary oratory and ac