The evening herald. [volume] (Albuquerque, New Mexico) 1914-1922, 1920-01-22
NEW SEO|TION
BILL OFFERED
BY PALMER
Attorney General Op-
poses Both Graham and
Sterling Measures

WASHINGTON. Jan. 22.-Disap-
proving both Sterling and Graham
sodition 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 twenty years for persons
convicted of attempting to overthrow
the government or OF acts OF violence
against the government or its en-
pluycs or agents while In the dis
charge OF their official duties.
The measure also would prohibit
writings or teachings which constl-
tutc seditiOn. The bill snys that
whoever with intont TO levy war
against the United States or TO cause
the change. overthrow or destruction
OF the government or any OF the laws
or authority thereof. or to cause tho
overthrow or destruction II all forms
of law or organized government. or
to oppose. prevent, hinder or delay
execution Of any law OF the United
states or the FREQ performance by the
United states government or anyone
Of It's officers, agents or employees OF
its or nis public duty. commits or lt-
tompta or threatens to commit any
act Of force against any person or
any property or any act OF terrorism.
hate. revenge or injury against the
person OF property Of any offices
agent or employe Of the United
states shall be deemed guilty OF
seditiun."
G0npcrs As.aiIs BnI.
The Graham hill provides the death
uvnalty In eases Of losses Of life due
Co activc violence against the gov
eminent The Sterling hill has been
assailcd on the ground that IL woui
Ia saauanraNfHa Hrt
time and for other reasons.
Mr. Palmer did not appear before
the committee. His letter WIS read
after samuel Gompers. had vigorous
ly assailcd the sterling aud Graham
measures, which. hc declared. would
tppross all Glasses OF labor and stitie
any move 10 change the constitu-
tlun.
Even moral force such as organlza-
ton by orderly mass meetings. he
said, would De punishable.
q oppose an uctisities OF the so
called reds nc said, and there IS
tu one Who b. 80 opposed TO these
people
standpatters reactiouaries aud
fools in congress may hate me but
hone hate me or ViiuN mc as these
people whose activities have hccn
branded as red.
What 30 sou mean by fools %
congress 20 Chairman Campbell ask
ed.
4 am afraid I would be- guilty Of
les majestic o. mentioned amy
names Mr.. Gumpcrs replied.
tumpers opening the hearing iu
opposition To the bill, declared that
the Graham measure would make AL
free men slaves Mr.. Gompers uskvi
90 additional scdit.ou legislation were
necessary. VIII % bring suudity. q
better welding OF our institutions. ~
viii it work the direct opposite to th,
u,hncd rcsults?" be- asked.
The history ~ other nations. no
said, ought To- guido America la this
matter
Defends strikes.
strikes ANA ,vssltiuns Of work. MIR
t"mpcis sstid. are nothing more Or
less lhau Hu aspiration by WORKING
people Tor better living conditions.
counties whore there are mo- strikes
AZ the most backward, hc added
Asserting that fines and lmprlson d.
mrut wcto provided now tor overt
acts. the witness said the biil had
one purpose, tu make reductions. o.
afford punishment Tor things nov
lawful.
Although mborcrs may bc unor.
tuuzed today ho continued they
mILht organize tonight because they
want hcitor conditions and bcuvr
llc. Such "a movement must ho OF
the mass character. thcy could not
Eu into executive session. Under this
ban that would be- prohibited
such meetings WouiJ not bp un-
lawful under this hill' said Erptc-
trufauNc smell republican. ut Sew
York. Ia reply President Gumprfs
charged the bail might even prevent
a pl1u tu elect the president by di-
rect popular vote.
Even advocacy of a change In the
constitution" he added would ov
punishable under 'hr bin"
There be- uu dispuEitiun 10 punish
anyone except for physical force DO
Chairman N0ist,ud uf the Judiciary.
committee sYid. There b. nothing To-
prohibit moral force. 80 disposition
10 take away rights To organize ur-
dcrly or to- advocate change OF gov
Crumeut'