The Liberal democrat. [volume] (Liberal, Kan.) 1911-1924, 1921-03-03
CITIZENS CIVIL RIGHTS
PROTECTED IN BILL BY
SENATOR BORAH TODAY
Would Impose Fines for lmpedimen,
of Free Speech, Free Press and
Free Assemblages.

Washington, March 3.-Charginl
that "the civil rights of private citi
zens have of late often been chal
lenged and many times wholly de
MED" Senator Borah, Republican
of Idaho, today introduced in the
senate a drastic bill imposing fines
imprisonment and immediate remov'
al from office, upon any public of.
fetal, free press and assemblage
guaranteed under the Constitution.
Senator Borah's bill, comes as the
climax of a fight,which has been car
ried on by committee Of. prominent
lawyers and several organizations
against alleged illegal methods en-
ployed by the department. OF Justice
in it's "Red raids"
"The private citizen is practically
without recourse" as against sthen in
authority and their agents, who have
made arrests without warrants, bro
ken into private dwellings without
authority, and practised brutality
against citizens guilty Of no offense,"
Senator Borah declared in introduce
ing the bill. He warned that these
alleged practices have been growing
up for the last quarter Of century
but are now greatly on the increase,
since lawlessness in public places
fattens off what it feeds upon" The
situation deserves permanent treat
ment," the senator said.
The bill provides "that every Off
Ger, agent or employee Of the United
States in the civil, military or naval
service who, without duly issued
search warrant Of law shall enter into
and search the house, office, room OF
other premises of any person Of any
state, territory or district, or seize
any book, paper, document or other
printed or written matter belonging
to any such person, or enter any hall,
room or other premises for the pur-
pose Of obstructing, interfering with
or breaking up any meeting, shall
upon conviction be imprisoned not
more than five years or fined not
more than $4,000 or both"
The same penalty is provided for
any Federal officer or employee who
"by force, threat, intimidation and
advice, or otherwise, prevents or at
tempts to prevent any person from
freely exercising" his rights by law
full means to advance, promote, agi-
tate for or discuss any amendment
to the Constitution of the United
States, or any new statute........or any
policy, or measure the
carrying out of which would fall with
in the scope of Federal jurisdiction
or involve an amendment to the Con-
If two or three persons conspire to
do any of the above things they shall
be fined mot more than $4,000 or i'm
prisoned not more than five years, or
both"
Section 8 reads "Any officer,
agent or employee of the United
States who violates any provision OF
this act shall upon conviction there
Of be at once discharged from the
service of the United States" And,
In addition, "shail be liable to the
person injured or aggrieved in an
action at law. land the damages al
lowed. shall not be less than 5000"
The bill provides Federal protec-
lion of the private citizen against
state of municipal officers who at
Tempt to break up meetings, intimi-
late, arrest without warrant, or seize
and destroy literature in any instance
where an amendment to the Federal
Constitution is involved or where a
policy is being advocated "the car
.ying out Of which would require
Federal legislation or executive &C.
ion"