The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1921-10-26
Demands Citizenship Require
mehts Be More Strict.
MUST QUIET LOOSE TALK"
Asks New Laws Bar Mails to
Nations Reds.
Full Report to Convention in
Kansas City Saturday.

Kansas City, Oct. 26.-More drastic
legislation governing the transmission
OF anarchistic and radical literature
thru the mails was recommended by
the Americanism commission OF the
American Legion here today thru the
report of the commissions director,
Alvin NJ. Owsley, of Denton, Texas.
The commission which opened its
annual meeting this morning, after
hearing the directors report began
consideration of a large number of
recomm endations to be submitted to
the national convention of the Legion
here next week.
The directors report recommends the
pa ssage of a law which would prohibit
the sending thru the mails of any
printed, written, Photographic or pic
torial matter that has an un-American
tendency and also an Insurance clause
prohibiting the sale of such matter.
Laws Not Strict Enough.
Members of the commission said,
however, that nothing in the recon-
mendation should be construed as
aimed at the freedom of speech or the
freedom of the press, ... ~.
There is too great a looseness now
in the carriage thru the mails of radi-
cal. anarchistic and otherwise utl-
American publications, said Director
Owsley, formerly assistant attorney
general of Texas.
THE present laws are not stringent
enough. They do not prevent the dis
senihation of un-Anerican propa-
ganda.' The commissioners discussed
the cases of Eugene V. Debs now serv-
ing a prison term in the federal
prison at Atlanta, after having been
convicted of violating the war time
laws, and Grover Cleveland Bergdoli,
American draft evader, now in Europe.
Concerning the Debs ease, Lindsey
Blayney of Texas, said:
'Debs violated certain statutes of
the United States. He was found
guilty and sentenced to serve term
in the federal penitentiary and the
American Legion purposes to see that
ne pays the penalty meted out to him
by constituted courts The American
Legion stands for upholding law and
preserving order and this it is deter
mined to do in this and all cases"
Americanization Successful.
Director Owsley's report said that
progress has been made during the
last year in their campaign for. more
pronounced Americapism, and 1t was
stated that in a number of states leg
islation had been passed requiring that
the English language be the only me
dunn of instructions in the schools;
that all schools shall offer courses in
United States history and civil govern
nent and that colleges and universe
ties shall give credit in their entrance
examination for those subjects,
1.-The suggestion that a certain part
of each day in the week of school SEES
sions should be devoted to patriotic
exercises or the holding of a morale
hour has met with hearty response
and the stars and stripes are flying
from the flagstaffs of more American
school houses than ever before IN
American history" said the report.
ut is the purpose of the American
ism commission to see that the Aneri-
can flag tiles every school day
weather permitting, from every school
house in the land
Against "Chcap'' Citizens.
In it's efforts to assist in the immi-
gratio4 problem, the directors report
said. the commission has visited many
immigration stations. More appropr1-
ate and SOLEMN naturalization cere-
monies were urged in the report,
which said concerning that subject:
Naturalization cerem onies should
be of such dignity as to leave a last
ing impression on the applicants mind
of the Importance OF this occasion IN.
hts life and not leave the impression
that one alien voiced Immediately fol-
lowing the perfunctCry ceremony OF a
court kiss the Bible and fifty cents
in making him a citizen of the United
States
ton of the country caused to be inau-
gurated and participated in naturaliza-
ton ceremonies of dignity and solen-
nifty, and the newly naturalized citizen
has been the first to express his or her
appreciation
The commission will remain in ses-
sion until Saturday, when it is ex-
pected final recommendations will be
drawn up for presentation to the
Legion convention.
Members OF the commission include,
besides Director Owsley, E. K. Bixby.
Oklahoma; Lindsey Blayney, Texas;
Dwight F. Davis, Missouri; F. Q. Nor
ton, Iowa. and Leonard Wilmington,
Texas.