The Washington times., 1920-01-25
SEAL DOOMOF
SED|T|ON BILL
Chairman Campbell Declares
Sufficient Law Exists to Deal
With Agitation.
ny wINbER n. HARRIS.
UuiyerxuI s~rytce.l

The close last night OF the hear
inEs before the House Rules Commit
tee on the proposed anti-sedition
legislation found the measure In a
eomatose state, with the end shortly
expected.
the last rites and the legislative un-
dertsker is rubbing his hands In
anticipation OF an early call 10 lay
away the remains in the customary
mahogany vault.
Only the arrival of Attorney Gen
eral Palmer with a serum in the form
of real reasons why there should be
any additional legislation of this
character can hold OFF the grim
reaper, II is believed.
Mr.. Campbell said the door would
be left open for Mr. Palmer or any
body else who may wish to attempt
resuscitation. but II the bill should
be brought back to life it will not be
recognizable as the same measure.
cites Sufficient Law.
The chairman is believed to have
sealed the doom of the legislation in
Of the hearings, In which he declared
section s of the Criminal Code affords
ample authority for the Department
of Justice to deal with elements the
Attorney General has said he cannot
""s~h under existing law.
SIN view Of the plain provisions of
section 6 and % the decision OF the
,ourt in the case of Wells VS.. The
United states, IN which four persons
Esre indicted and convicted under the
rction on charge that they advo-
cated the overthrow of the Govern
nent by force and violence" asked
- hav sx.Fhx hA
Attorney General ask for another
law of similar import under which he
might proceed?
What is his excuse for delaying
prosecution where the facts require
prosecution? Was the fact that 1t
would be embarrassing for him to
answer these questions the chief rea-
son for his falling to appear before
the committeeT
A sensation was sprung near the
close OF the hearing today. when
rsckson III. Ralston, counsel for the
Ainerican Federation OF Labor, charg-
"a that the Attorney General and
agents OF the Department of Justice
have violated Tho law in half a dozen
different wayP' IN arresting innocent
poysons without warrant during re-
cent bomo faidr.
starts Heated Coiioquy.
This alleged abuse Of authority,
declared Mr.. Ralston, should cause
congress to go slow in clothing the
department with additional authority.
The charges against the Attorney
Generals department provoked
heated colloquy between members of
the committee and the witness, with
the result that he was prevented
rom presenting the complete bill Of
Indictment he said he was prepared
TO present
DO you mean sS assert that the
Attorney General has violated the
Constitution asked Congressman
Johnson. Republican. of South Da-
>kota-
~Yes,- was the reply.
do you mean to say he has vio-
lated the statutes?" Mr. Johnson con-
tinued.
Silence Approves Acts.
'Yes,r again was the reply.
Through his subordinates he has
done it, and by his silence and failure
10 prevenet it he has approved it
Since the bomb explosion before
the Attorney Generals door last May
many persons have been arrested in
connection with bomb plots, but the
connection of none of them with the
crime has been shown This mas not
prevented scores of innocent men