Indiana daily times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1914-1922, 1920-01-22
PALMER TAKES
PLEA TO WILSON
COnfers at WhitehOuse on Sc
ditiOn Legislation.

WASHINGTON, Jan. 22-Attorney
Gen. Palmer today conferred at the
whitehouse on the sedition bill. The
conference delayed his appearance be-
fore the house rules committee to IN
sist on passage Of this legislation.
Palmer in letter to the committee,
declared that neither the Graham or the
Sterling bills are satisfactory to him,
hut legislation along the line he pre-
viously suggested is necessary. He sub
mittted a copy of the bill he desires to
be passed, which is that Of Representa-
tive Davey OF Ohio.
The attorney general stated the bill
was prepared only at the request OF
senate committee To the surprise
Of the committee, Palmer made no rec
ommendation that any bill pass.
He simply stated that "of course, the
department OF justice stands ready to en-
force any bill passed by congress"
GOMPERS APPEARS
AS FIRST WITNESS.
Samuel Gompers. In response to a re-
quest Of the committee, appeared as the
first witness, with the understanding
that he be given the right to reply to
any statements made by Palmer.
Gompers and other labor leaders
crowded the committee room with repre-
The opposition to the bill was in
charge Of Jackson H. Ralston. attorney
for the A. F. of L. He asked for four
hours time, saying labor and the ma
tional popular government league, sew
eral newspapers. college professors and
associations of friends from Philadelphia
desired to protest.
BRANDS ALL BILLS AS
ANTI-STRIKE MEASURES.
Representatives of the negro press pro-
tested against the bill.
In n statement filed with the commit
tee, James w. Johnson. field secretary
Of the National Association for the Ad-
vancement of Colored People. said:
The negro press is opposed to appeals
to racial prejudice, but II this bill be-
comes a law, negro publications may be
denied the right to voice the just and
legitimate protests of the colored
people"
The sedition bills pending in congress
are nothing more than anti-strike leg
isaltion that will affect all industries,
Samuel Gompers testified.
"The main purpose of the legislation
is to prevent a cessation Of work" he
said. "It amounts to putting all the
workers of the country under Involuntary
seryitude 1t makes slaves of all free
men"
This intent, Gompers said, is carried
In section 8, which prevents the circu-
lation Of all literature or publications
advocating the overthrow Of the govern
ment by force or violence or seeking to
accomplish this through industrial, eco
nomical or social changes.
CHIEF OBJECTION
ON WORD FORCE"
Gompers held that the word force"
appearing in the bin might be con
strued TO mean moral force" and thus
affect the efforts of labor to obtain in
dustrial and economic freedom"
rs 1t advantageous to our country to
have such a bill enacted?" asked
Gompers.
Does 1t contribute to the safety of
our republic and It's institutions?"
"Will 1t bring about greater spirit Of
solidarity and patriotism
"The American Federation of Labor be-
lieves 1t will work to the very opposite
as shown by history and experience, the
experience of other countries to have no
influence en- our course. 1t will not make
our country, the best in the world, any
better"