Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1920-03-11
FOR GRIM WARP ARE
ON REVOLUTION|STS
Attorncy-GcncraI FavOrs Free
dom OF Speech, but DcnOunces
B0IShcyiSt Plots.
IS CAUTIOUS ON PROHIBITION
Scant Promise Of Lower Prices
Until All Join Hands to
Increase Production.
IS CAUTIOUS ON PROHIBITION

Taking as his themc Americas twin
problems-thc high COS, or living and
industrial and political unrcst-Attor-
ncy~Ccncral y. Mitchell Palmer Acoccd
personal triumph before rcpreSen-
tativc 1;tchmond audience last night
on the occasion OF his first appearance
~ this city as candidate for she
Democratic nomination for tho presi-
Hcncy. Mr.. Palmcr spoke to a Capa-
city audience in tho auditorium of Tho
Jefferson Hotel. most Of his hearers
Commcrcc. under whose auspices he
.pokc., and members of tho General
rhc Attorney Generals position in
rcgard to tic pron,cor. tho rnonopolist
anb The BolEhcTist was unqualified,
and All OF lis utterancca along This
line were met with enthusiastic az
piausc. jfc referred TO tho peace
reaty twice, and made it plain thai he
stood Tor Immediate ratification. His
last reference TO this subject indicated
mat he was in accord with the views
Of the President in regard to rcse--
NationS.
y sometimes ,hink,' he said. .tha,
thorc are Ecutlcmcn in WashinEtun
who should remember that when our
bravo lads won't into tho trenches
thcy did so without debate and with
OUT reservation"
a; tho word debate" he was forced
20 suspend by tho storm OF applause.
and the house shook when nc added
and without rcscrvations"
DodEe> Prohibition Mention.
Prohibition was tho only big ,oliti-
cal issue which was not touched on by
Mr. Palmer When asked by mem
bcr OF the press TO state his position
on this question. tho Attorney General
iishtcned his lips significantly and
then smiled.
state your views on prohibition to-
night" he was told.
II know" hc replied. That Is be-
cause am head OF tho law cnfor-e-
ncnt machinery of tho country. I
stand OF course, for enforcement OF
tho present prohibition law. Az 10
10 another prohibition law. thar .s n
snr1rct-- do not care to discuss a.
this time"
While he expressed the absolute
conviction that tho stability >. our
government would not be seriously
threatened by the. hordcs OF radicals
rcd no cheer 10 tlosc Of his hearers.
who cherish hope that prices viii
soon decline The cost OF living viii
remain AT Is present level. hc said. un-
til production is brought UP to the
mark and inflated credits are restored
20 normal.
Praise, Socialist Party.
While he Gaycd the leaders of wha:
he termed the ultra radical classy I
movement" Mr.. Palmer took up the
cudEels in defense of the Socialist
party, which he said had been !, radi-
cal party in The United States. ou; vas,
so far az hs had been able 70 otseI vc
patriotic. lie traced the histo-y Of
that organization during tho past few
years. and commended it heartily for
rejecting Eolshevtsr, at the convention
hcld in Chicago in the fall OF laia.
l, Vas vas at this time. he said that tho
l@5.ooo members who believed in ac-
complishinE their reforms by crime
and violence. was divorced from the
recent action of the New York Legis-
iaturc in expellins Socialist members.
Il dcpIecate the action Of the Lesis-
inture OF another great State which
uarrcd five OF It's members because OF
tneir membership In the Socialist
Mr.. Palmer rcferrcd with some Bit
icrncss 70 the refusal of Cong srcss to
nent OF Justice TO seize and deport
citizens Of the United States who are
guilty OF acts OF violence against the
The pendulum swings in the United
states as elsewhere" he said. When
OF violence and crime which these an
archistS were committing in various
parts OF the country. was shouted At
rom overy, street corner and it seem
ed TO mo that every newspaper in the
country WAS directing editorials al the
penartmGnt OF Justice. demanding that
punished ana that those t"t Of tnem hsane whe Re
weIc yer 49,, aliens lens. be promptly ,deported.
laws % were very noaGer;; we found that
our Federal statutes had overlooked
the fact tina, men in America as in
government. There is q statute aga;nst
conspiracy to injury destroy the
government; there is a statute against
incitlnS rebellion, but the best opinion
Is that the rebellion must actually oc-
cur before man. can be punished for
.,o thai ohGnSe; {, sc and and stranso as it may
cral statute for an individual 10 at
tompt or threaten or to actually com
nl1 faree an in,anded e OF Violence or physical
government Of the United States.
..rl Pendnlun Hnsah Swing. Other Way.
focve oFae asanst ae a he fhas reG et
of America, therefore. We asked that
the Congress pass law which would
tcmpt or actually TO commit an act OF
physical force or violence with intont
to m injurs & or destroy the government
the pendulum had swung to the other
viii Which s,a,Igg, a rigid enforcement Of the law
great many very splendid and patriots
people rose and said. why ali this
drastn, drastic aetion? Why deport these poor
America and: above. all things. why
pass law which will make it crime
for FOR men , to express the, opinion that
the government of the United States?
4 great deal OF pressure has been
brought to bear upon the Congress to
prevent the passage OF this law and
upon the Department OF Justice to
ease down In its prosecutions OF these
Mr.. Palmer defended himself from
the many critics who have contended
that his doctrine would endanger tho
precious privilege Of free speech. =,
THE free dissemination OF ideas and
the free expression OF opinion are tho
very mainstays OF 2 republic such az
Continued on Sccon1 rage s. -