Jasper County Democrat, Volume 22, Number 87, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 28 January 1920 — PALMER FIGHTS SEDITION BILL [ARTICLE]

PALMER FIGHTS SEDITION BILL

Attorney General Joins Gompers in Opposing Sterling and Graham Measures. SUPPORTS DAVEY PROPOSAL Labor Leader Declares Proposed Legislation Will Provoke Rather Than Prevent Things It Seeks to Stifle j —Fears the Effect. _ i Washington, Jan. 23.—Attorney General Palmer took a stand against both the Sterling sedition bIU, passed by the senate, and the Graham oill, pending before the house. He notified the house rules committee of-<his attitude by letter. Hr. Palmer renewed his support of the Davey bill, less drastic than either of the others. The chief witness before the committee was Samuel Gompers, president of the American Federation of Labor, who denounced all pending bills. Others appearing against the proposed legislation included P. Weston of Seattle, representing the American Publishers’ association, who objected to provisions giving the postmaster general arbitrary power over newspapers and other publications, and Prof. Zachariah Chafee of Harvard university, who said there Is sufficient law at present to deed with the situation. Palmer Stay* Away. The hearings before the rules committee had been arranged chiefly to give Attorney General Palmer an opportunity to present his views, and his failure to appear In person occasioned considerable comment. “I have rend with great care both bills, and feel impelled to say that neither accords with my views as to what the legislation ought to be,” Mr. Palmer’s letter said. “Of course, the form which legislation shall take is for the congress exclusively. The bill which I have quoted was prepared by me only because requested to do so by a senate committee. It is unnecessary for me to add that the department of justice stands ready to enforce whatever legislation he congress shall see fit to pass.” Gompers Attacks Bill. ~ Mr. Gompers in discussing the Grabnm bill objected particularly to the use of the words "force or violence.” He said that the courts would be sure to construe the \yord “force” as including moral force and that such construction would make unlawful peaceful gatherings seeking changes in the fundamental laws of the nation and Wqld in effect tend to destroy labor organizations. Representative Volstead, chairman Of the judiciary committee, Insisted there was no intention to prohibit anything but the use of physical force and violence. “Strikes are nothing more nor less than an inspiration of the working people for a better life,” Mr. Gompers said. “You will find strikes collectively only in the highest civilized countries. You will find no strikes in China or India. They are growing in number in Japan. Fears Effect of Measure. “It la my judgment, after a lifelong study and experience, that this specie® *ef legislation is not going to prevent flitng* that is sought to prevent. ff

On the contrary, it will provoke them.” Representative Pou, North Carelina, asked how the bill would prevent men from striking. “By the provision making assemblages of a certain character Illegal, by inhibition of free speech, free preils, free discussion,” replied Mr. Gompers.