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THE SEDITION BILL
SPEECH
OF
H O N . R O B E R T L. O W E N
OF OKLAHOA1A
IN TH E
SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
TUESDAY, JANUARY 20
<2
W A S H IN G T O N
100550— 20355
1920
1920
S PE E CH
OF
II ON. R O B E R T L. O W E N .
THE
S E D IT IO N B IL L .
Mr. OWEN. Mr. President, after every great war there is
more or less hysteria throughout the world, and the idea of sup
pressing by force those who are advocating violence against the
orderly processes o f government is a very natural feeling, with
which I sympathize. Certainly we ought not to permit the or
ganization of anarchists and of Bolsheviki to use our country as
a breeding place in which they can bring about by force or vio
lence the destruction of the Government which we have estab
lished.
Ihit, Mr. President, the bill which has been passed in the Senate has already become the opening wedge for the substitution
of another bill much more drastic and much more capable of
unsconstiuction than the bill which passed the Senate some days
ago, Senate bill 3317. When that bill passed there were very
few Senatois in the Chamber. It was earnestly debated by
several Senators who were opposed to it, and they spoke to empty
seats, as I am doing now. Hut I think it is worth while to call
the attention o f the country, through the printed R ecord of the
pioieedings in the Senate, to some of the danger in this bill now
propostMl to be substituted for Senate bill 3317.
Mi. NORRIS. Mr. President-----Hie PRESIDING OFFICER. Does the Senator from Okla
homa yield to the Senator from Nebraska’
Mr. OWEN. I yield.
qom'i'l
Senator, interrupting the Senator from
South Dakota [Mr. S t e r l in g ], referred to a certain part of the
House bill, but he did not read the language
it S
, , ™
1 llM rCM "**
» « « » » SOi-S to read
1 WlSl' <he Se“ a,0r " ouM ™w* that objectionMi. OWEN. The House bill is reported as House bill 11430
and is commoiUy known as the Graham bill. Without pausing to
read that bill at this point, I want to submit for the R e c o r d a
careful, analytical statement o f that bill prepared bv a very able
Government servant. It speaks for itself, and bv'the arrange
ment of the words and phrases it makes it easy to understand
howr that bill can be subjected to misinterpretation, and how that
biil can become and will become dangerous in the highest decree
to the liberties ot the people of this country, so that there woJdd
be hanging over the head of every man who desires free speech
oi freedom of.the press the menace o f some bureaucrat who could
suddenly arrest, interfere with, and treat him as a criminal
1G0550— 20355
’
4
with all the powers of this gigantic Government brought down
upon the head of the little citizen, who would find it difficult to
defend himself against an autocratic bureaucrat. I regard this
bill now pending in the House as a bill dangerous in the extreme.
I am not going to take the time of the Senate to go into anv
extended analysis of it, but I call attention to section 5. to which
I alluded when the Senator from South Dakota [Mr. S te r l in g ]
was speaking. The last three lines provide one o f the things
forbidden by this bill. The words “ force or violence” are not
used in qualifying this latter language. Here is the language
which is forbidden:
To
do a n y th in g
th a t
w o u ld
te n d
to
o v e rth ro w , ch a n g e—
Observe the word “ change” —
o r d e fe a t th e C o n s titu tio n
a u th o r ity th e re o f.
of
th e
U n ite d
S ta te s
and
th e
la w s
and
The advocacy of an amendment to the Constitution of the
United States in favor of prohibition, which would be it chttnge o f
the Constitution, would be a criminal act under this proposed
law.
The advocacy of the change in the Constitution to establish an
income tax would be a criminal act under this proposed statute.
The advocacy of the amendment proposing to give women
suff rage in thi§ country by a change o f the Constitution would
be a criminal act, and under this section to wear a button on the
lapel of the coat that indicated the wearer was in favor of the
Avoman suffrage amendment or the prohibition amendment would
be a criminal act under this section.
Is it possible to draw a statute more loosely than that or more
full o f danger to the liberties of this country? I might cite
many other things Avith regard to this proposed bill, which is
proposed to be substituted for the bill which A’as passed through
A
the Senate a short time ago.
I have here a comment made by Alfred Bettman, an able con
stitutional laAvyer, during the AA’ a r a special Assistant Attorney
General of the United States, with offices in the Department of
Justice, Washington, D. C., and in special charge of the sedition
cases, commenting on the bill pending in the House proposed to
be substituted for the bill passed by the Senate. He said :
“ In response to your request for a legal opinion upon the
sedition bill reported by the House Judiciary Committee, will
state as follOAVs:
“ Under our constitutional system protection o f private per
sons or property is reposed exclusively in the State governments.
The Federal Government has no jurisdiction over such pro
tection, nor can the alleged purposes for Avhieh acts o f violence
A -ere committed against private persons or property be used to
A
give jurisdiction to the Federal Government, for the reason
that that Avould be punishing the purpose and not the acts. To
punish the purpose Avould be contrary to all fundamental prin
ciples o f American constitutional Iuav. Therefore all the pro
visions of sections 2, 5, 9, 10, and 11, in so far as they relate
to private persons or property, would be unconstitutional since
they are beyond the jurisdiction o f the Federal Government.”Me passed laAvs. under the excitement and hysteria of Avar,
with a view to punishing the so-called Bolsheviks in this coun
try ; and I pause to say that in my judgment there are very few
160550— 20355
5
Bolsheviks in the United States. The atmosphere of the United
State's is not such as to encourage bolshevism. We have some
citizens and some aliens who are grossly ignorant, painfully
ignorant, of our laws, of our Constitution, o f our great traditions
ot liberty and justice, law and order; poor, ignorant people,
° ’ iov )mcIerstaru\ing government, and feeling oppressed by
the difficulty o f making a living for themselves and their chil
dren, attribute it to the fault o f government, and therefore are
leady to raise their hands against the Government as an op
pressor, not knowing, not understanding, the great difficulty of
building up orderly processes of effective constitutional, demo
cratic government. Those people, if they commit criminal acts,
must be dealt with under the criminal code; but those people
aie more in need of instruction than they are in need of a statute
such as tins whose provisions are so sweeping that no man would
be sate in Ins liberties in this country if this bill should pass.
1 am opposed to Prussianizing the United States, and making
this Government the instrumentality o f brutal, autocratic
bureaucratic power. Liberty is what the world fought for, and
not the suppression of liberty.
The stupid friends o f vested interests, who would like to use
the powers ot the Government to put a bayonet through everyone who balks against vested interests, would be pursuing a
policy like that of chaining down the escape valve on a steam
boiler by such a policy as passing laws to suppress free speech
and a tree press. To do this under the false pretense o f sun
pressing bolshevism and anarchy is Prussianism and not Amer
icanism.
I do not want any bureaucrat in this Government having
arbitrary power to lay a rough hand upon a man who is expressing his honest opinion and his belief as to what is the
good thing and the better thing for his fellow citizens. It is
freedom o f opinion, it is freedom o f speech, it is freedom of
the press, it is freedom of religion and freedom of education
which have combined to make this country the greatest free
nation m the world, where the conditions of life are the best
in the world, and where they will be better and better as the
days come speedily on. Mr. Bettman, the Assistant Attorney
Geneial in charge of the sedition cases during the war said
also with regard to this bill pending in the House, referring to
the unconstitutionality o f the bill:
J lie same is probably true of violence against a State gov
ernment, because the only method provided in the Constitution
for the protection o f State governments against internal vio
lence is the sending of Federal troops.
“ T h e u s e o f s u c h w o r d s a s ‘ s u g g e s t e d ’ a n d ‘ t a u g h t ’ in s e c
tio n 4 a r e d a n g e r o u s to fr e e d o m o f s p e e c h a n d c o n t r a r y to
A m e r ic a n tr a d itio n .
“ Penal laws should define crime with such exactitude that
nothing is left to arbitrary decision or the prejudices o f the
court and the jury. Section G maintains a peace-time c e n s o r
ship contrary to the American principle, that this is a Gov
ernment o f law and not o f men. It is also contrary to the
fundamental Anglo-Saxon principle of liberty o f speech
i
press, which is that there shall be no suppression in advance
but only responsibility after publication.
1G 0550— 2 0 3 5 5
“ Sections 9, 10, and 11 also violate tlie fundamental prin
ciple o f American and Anglo-Saxon institutions, namely, that
guilt is personal and not by association. If enacted, those sec
tions would place upon American statute books a Prussian and
czaristic Russian institution.
“ Section 6 of the present Penal Code and other sections of
that code cover every possible case of seditious conspiracy
against the Government of the United States and every act of
violence or resistance against the authority of the United
States.
“ I can not see clearly why there should be need for further
legislation, unless it is desired to reach individual advocacy of
violence against Federal officials or Federal property, which
are not a part of any conspiracy. If so, such legislation should
be carefully restricted to advocacv of violence against Fedeinl
officials or property, as is the language of the present seditious
conspiracy section of the Federal Penal Code.
“ The bill as reported by the House Judiciary Committee in
respects, as above pointed out, goes beyond the constitutional
bounds ’o f the Federal jurisdiction and violates the funda
mental principle of American and Anglo-Saxon civil liberties.”
This is the opinion of Alfred Bettman, Assistant Attorney
General of the United States, in charge of sedition cases dur
ing the war, an expert on sedition. He is opposed to the Gra
ham bill for the reasons stated.
I call attention to existing law against those who may be
inciting or encouraging any rebellion against the l nited States
or its authority. The Penal Code, 1911 publication, chapter 1,
provides:
OFFENSES AGAINST THE EXISTENCE OF THE GOVERNMENT.
It describes and punishes treason, misprision o f treason, incit
ing or engaging in rebellion or insurrection, criminal corre
spondence, seditious conspiracy, and so forth, and section 4 says:
“ Whoever incites, sets on foot, assists, or engages in any
rebellion or insurrection against the authority of the United
States or the laws thereof or gives aid or comfort thereto shall
be imprisoned not more than 10 years or lined not more than
$10,000, or both, and shall, moreover, be incapable of holding
anv office under the United States.”
S e c tio n 6 , d e a lin g w it h s e d it io u s c o n s p ir a c y , s a y s :
“ S e c 6. If two or more persons in any State or Territory, or
in any place subject to the jurisdiction o f the United States, con
spire to overthrow, put down, or to destroy by force the Govern
ment of the United States, or to levy war against them, or to
oppose by force the authority thereof, or by force to prevent,
hinder, or delay the execution o f any law of the United States,
or by force to seize, take, or possess any property of the United
States contrary to the authority thereof, they shall each be fined
not more than* $5,000 or imprisoned not more than six years, or
both.”
Mr. President, I ask to have printed in the R e c o r d the analysis
I present of the Graham bill pending, which has been prepared
under the auspices o f the Popular Government League, 637
Munsey Building. Washington, D. G.
160350—-20.355
7
There being no objection, the matter referred to was ordered to
be printed in the R ecord, as follows:
A n a l y s is
op
the
G raham
S e c . 1. That whoever
incites
|
sets on foot
I
/insurrection!
against
assists
f any \or rebellion}
or engages inj
sets on foot
|
or assists
t
the use of
or engages in)
destroy
(
or cause to be destroyed
or change
S e d it io n
B il l .
(th e U n i t e d S ta te s ]
<or t h e a u t h o r it y
to r
(or la w s t h e re o f
w hoever
/f o r c e
,j w i t h i n t e n t
\ o r v io le n c e
th e G o v e r n m e n t
o f th e
U n ite d
S ta t e s
or cause to be changed
or t o /ovcrthrow
\or cause to be overthrown.
And the death of any person/is caused
. , „,
or personsfor results directlv therefrom
[shall be punished by death, or
Shall be guilty of a felony pball be imprisoned not more than 20 years or fined not
and on conviction
’) more than $20,000 or both
ana shall forever be debarred from holding office under
l the United States
hU he'S rd ic /o f1 o rn y!16 d°ath penalty sha11 not be imP9sed unIess recommended
th
sh 'if]] 0 'H .hS}p Q n L ^ r;S? n s*f;o n s p ir - ,, ° c o m m i t a n - O ffen se d e fin e d in t h is s e c tio n t h e y
e
v
s h a ll e a c h b e s u b j e c t to t h e p u n i s h m e n t p r o v id e d in t h i s s e c t io n for s u c h o ile n s e .
S e c . 2. That whoever
incites or
sets on foot
or assists
or engages
,,
the use of
„
(destroy
/force
/with
lor cause to be destroyed
\or violence \ intent to [or changes
(or cause to bo changed
or to /overthrow
\or cause to be overthrown
and deat^dwsnot residf1 nit€d ^ ates>J'inEr’s° ned
shall' on comdctlombe
fe} i^ th "
not
m° re than 20
lha” *20’000
years,
shallteachrb ? s u h u ^ to S
th0nSpir®v0 commit anv offense defined in this section they
provided in th s section f°r such °ffenseL
ora,1y>or
...
[teach
Iincite
printing,
■{advocate
by
or the
propose, or
use of any
forcible resistance to, or
sign,
(advise
forcible destruction of
symbol,
or
picture,
(aid,
[caricature,
■{abet, or
or otherwise
(encourage
the Government of the United States, its Constitution, laws and authority or
the governments of the several States, all or anv of them, or
°
the existence of constituted government generally
orally, or
[teach
by Iwriting
incito
•{printing, or
advocate
destruction of human life,
(the use of any [sign
propose, or
’ /symbol
-----------(advise
Or
injury of any human being,
Ipicture [aid
(caricature Iabet
the injury or de-/of public 1
[encourage, or
struction
for private/Pr<
fpcrty
(defend
.or otherwise
, ,
((Constitution)
as a means of changing the) laws, or
lof the U n i t e d S t a t e s or d e fe a tin g th e
,
,
(Government)
authority thereof.
( writing
160550— 20355
V
write or
knowingly
the
print
edit
Issue
circulate
distribute
transport
any
book
pamphlet
newspaper
document
handbill
<poster, or
/b y express
\or otherwise
display, or
sell
[overthrow
(overthrow
•lor
lor
(change
lo
|
printed
written, or
pictorial
[matter
lof any
[form
(or kind
wherein
or
whereby
/the Government of the United States, or
\the Constitution, laws and authority thereof
force
or by levying war against the sam.e, or
violence
incited
resistance to
suggested
force
bv or. ...
, (the execution of any law J r
is |taught
(rebellion againstjof the United states b y j^
advocated, or
iolence
.advised.
Sec. 5. That no person shall
------------play)at
(any red flag)
,
Ianarchy
displar 1at any meetings
[any red flag
' lor parade
lor
lassa symbol ofI or of any of the purposes
or
'lo r
J a symbol
-a
libit)
|
1 forbidden in this act
exhibit |or in any other place (banner
by
J°r
1
’1
o.
|
And the displaylof such flag fin any meeting! ba< be prjma facie evidence that it is
hibition
/or banner \or parade
/
1
or exhibition
so displayed and exhibited as such symbol.
And no person shall
flag
banner
emblem which tends to incite or indi
or ^ >at any
iany
cates a purpose
picture
exhibit)
(parade
motto
or in any other public placej
or device
the Government of the United
[by violence
States
to overthrow j or by physical injury to{P*rp aperty
°
,
|gSSS«
1
all
government
[overthrow )thp constitution of the United States and the laws and authority
overthrow
or to-l change
> thereof.
(or defeat )
book
magazine
newspaper
document
handbill
wherein or whereby
Sec. «. That every poster, or
matter
written
memorandum
pictorial, or Sign ,
printed
symbol, or
communication of any form
the overthrow of the Government of the United States by force or violence, or
resistant e to
\{he authority of the Government
or rebellion against/
advocated
[overthrow 1 ^constitution of the United States, or
\,J^
advised, or
or the/change, orj-of|the laws or authority thereof by force or violence,/ISU
incited
,
.
.
(force or
(persons or
or wherein orUbc use0fJviolence or
j property
whereby |
(physical injury' to or the seizure or destruction of
industrial
advocated ]
economic
advised
|
defended
las means towards the accomplishment of social
change
or
or
political
incited
)
,
[intended]
or wherein or lan appeal is made to racial prejud ice thelor
1result of which apwhereby
'
(probable!
160550— 20355
9
i ic i
Provided, That nothing in the Act shall re so construed as to authorize any iierson
other than an employee of the Dead better OlKce, duly authorized thereto, or other
person, or other persons, upon a search warrant authorized by law, to open any let» ^ j addressed to himself: Provided further, That any author, publisher, or party
affected or aggrieved by the action of the Postmaster General in excluding materials
from the mans under tins section shall, after such notice to the Postmaster General as
the judge may direct and upsn tiling a bond to cover the actual cost of such proceed
ing, be entitled to a hearing de novo before a judge of the Federalcourt of thedistrict
in which the party affected or aggrieved resides, which judge shall with all rea onable
sl*c^,llearinS and aflirm or reverse the action of the Postmaster
h?ve l)0" er during the pendency of the proceedings to
suspend tlic order of the 1 ostmaster Uenerai: Provided furtlicr. That no such proAc^1118 shall bar or interfere with any criminal prosecution under the terms of this
Sec. 7. That no person shall
[the United States,
import
into! any place subject
I to its
l tion
(to transport
i
[from one State into another
or/or
, .
(any such matter] ?r,
,
, ,
[cause to be transported!
lmto any place subject to the junsdicl tion of the United States.
Sec. 8. That no person shall
knowingly use]
Imails
■ i
>
or
(thefor
L r (knowingly transport f
attempt to use|
l Postal Service of the United States j lor attemPt
transport]
. /express or otherwise,
. i
D ipublic or private conveyance/ ^1 -’ matt^r declared by Sections 6 and 7 of thus
y
1
[nonmailable*
Act to be/and
(not transportable.
Sec. 9. That any
association,
gathering,
■
(force
human beings,
assembly, which seeks/“ ^ l y
U lor violence,
society,
lor indirectly / ylor injury to or or
or
(destruction of. public or private propertv
corporation
the Constitution
or laws
or authority
to bring about a change in
of the Government of the United States,
or of any State thereof,
or of all forms of organized government.
teaches,
advises,
{ force or 1
or which proposes,
violence
(to bring about anv such result
threatens,
in any form|1
or
defends
prosecute]
or
(such purpose, is hereby declared to be unlawful
pursue )
cause to be imported!
1
1G 0 5 5 0 — 2 0 3 5 5
E e c . 10. That no person shall act as an officer of any such unlawful organization, orf
become a member thereof,
or become affiliated therewith,
or continue to be a member thereof
or
affiliated therewith,
or eontribute any money or other thm
of value thereto, or to anyone for it
use, or rent .any room, building, osl
place for the use of said unlawfur
association, or permit the occupation
by such unlawful association or any
committee or branch thereof of any
room, building, or other place under
his ownership or control.
Sec 11 That the giving, loaning, or promising of anything of value to any such
unlawful association shall constitute affiliation with such unlawful association;
and the giving, loaning, or promising of anything of value to any person or partnershin or unlawful association engaged in advertising, teaching, advocating, or de
fending any of the things the teaching, advocacy, or defense of which is forbidden
in this Act shall be prima facie evidence of teaching, advocating, or defending said
forbidden things against the person so giving, promising, or loaning anything of
value as aforesaid. ~
, ,,
. .
Sec 12 That any alien convicted under any of the provisions of this Act after
serving his sentence shall he taken into custody and be deported under the immi
gration laws of the United States then in force.
Any person convicted under this Act who has declared his intentions of becoming
a citizen but has not bedn naturalized shall be forever ineligible to citizenship, and it
shallbc the duty of the Attomev General to institute proceedings to cause hispetition
and declaration of intention to'be dismissed and annulled and all court proceedings
in his case quashed and to furnish to the Secretary of Labor such data as to enable
him to cause such person to be deported under the immigration laws of the United
States then in force.
The conviction of any person who is a naturalized citizen of the United States of
any of the things forbidden in this Act shall be sufficient to authorize the cancellation
of his or her certificate of naturalization in the manner provided by the naturalization
laws of the United States then in force. It shall be the duty of the Attorney General
to institute proceedings and conduct the same to a final judgment immediately after
conviction and sentence of the naturalized citizen aforesaid.
Everv alien deported under this Act is hereby forbidden to again enter the United
States or anv Territory' or possession thereof. It shall he the duty of the Attorney
General of the United States to enforce this provision against all deported aliens
returning to the United States as aforesaid.
Sec . 13. That in any investigation or prosecution for any of the offenses specified
in this Act no person shall be excused from attending or testifying or deposing, or
from producing any book, paper, document, or other evidence on the ground that
the testimony or evidence, documentary or otherwise, reqiijred of him may tend to
incriminate him or subject him to penalty of forfeiture: but no natural person shall
te prosecuted or subjected to anv penalty or forfeiture for or on account of any trans
action, matter, or thing as to which in obedience to a subpoena and under oath he
mav so testify or in obedience to a subpoena shall produce evidence, documentary
or otherwise. But no person shall be exempt from prosecution and punishment for
perjury committed in so testifying.
Sec.' 14. That if any clause, sentence, paragraph, or part of this Act shall for any
reason be adjudged by any court of competent jurisdiction to be invalid, such judg
ment shall not affect, impair, or invalidate the remainder thereof, but shall 1-c com
fined in its operation to the clause, sentence, paragraph, or part thereof directly
involved in the controversy in which such judgment shall have been rendered.
Sec. 15. That section 5334 of the Revised Statutes, section 4, Act of March 4, 1909
(Thirty-fifth volume, Statutes at Large, page 10S8), lie, and the same is hereby
repealed. Any offenses heretofore committed in violation of said section 5334 and
all cases pending thereunder may be prosecuted and punished as therein provide i
in the same manner and with the same effect as if this section had not lieen enacted.
Sec. 16. That any person convicted of violating any of the provisions contained
in any of the sections of this Act, except sections 1 and 2, shall be punished by being
imprisoned for not more than twenty years or fined not more than $20,000, cither or
both. And any citizen of the United States convicted under this Act shall be for
ever debarred from voting thereafter and holding any office of profit, honor, or trust
. under the United States.
Mr. OWEN. I ask to have printed the House bill, H. It. 11400,
immediately following the analysis, in order that the comparison
may be shown.
160550—20353
11
T h e r e b e in g n o o b je c tio n , th e b ill r e f e r r e d to w a s o r d e r e d to b e
p r in te d in th e R
A
b ill
ecord,
a s fo llo w s :
(II. R . 1 1 4 3 0 )
to p u n is h o ffe n se s a g a in s t th e e x is te n c e
G o v e r n m e n t o f th e U n ite d S ta te s , a n d fo r o th e r p u rp o se s.
of
th e
B e it enacted, etc., T h a t w h o e v e r i n c i t e s , s e t s o n f o o t , a s s i s t s , o r
e n g a g e s in a n y in s u r r e c t io n o r r e b e llio n a g a i n s t t h e U n it e d S t a t e s o r
th e a u th o r ity o r la w s th e re o f, or w h o e v e r se ts on fo o t or a s s is ts o r
e n g a g e s in t h e u s e o f f o r c e o r v io le n c e , w i t h i n t e n t t o d e s t r o y o r c a u s e
t o be d e s tr o y e d o r c h a n g e o r c a u s e to b e c h a n g e d o r to o v e r t h r o w o r
c a u se to be o v e r th r o w n th e G o v e r n m e n t o f th e U n ite d S ta te s , a n d th e
u ii
i
a n -Y, I) e r s o n o r p e r s o n s i s c a u s e d o r r e s u l t s d i r e c t l y t h e r e f r o m ,
s h a l l b e g u i l t y o l_ a f e l o n y , a n d o n c o n v i c t i o n s h a l l b e p u n i s h e d b y
d e a t h , o r s h a ll b e im p r is o n e d n o t m o r e t h a n 2 0 y e a r s o r fin e d n o t m o r e
t h a n $ 2 0 , 0 0 0 , o r b o t h , a n d s h a l l f o r e v e r b e d e b a r r e d f r o m h o l d i n g o ffic e
u n d e r t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s : Provided, however, T h a t t h e d e a t h p e n a l t y
s h a ll n o t be im p o s e d u n le s s r e c o m m e n d e d in t h e v e r d ic t o f t h e ju r v .
parson s
c o n s p ir e
s e c t i o n ’ f o r s u c t F 'o f f e n s e 1 ^
.
* hat
w hoevcr
to
8 u b je c t
in c ite s
or
c o m m it
to
th e
sets
any
o ffe n se
p u n is h m e n t
on
fo o t
or
d e fin e d
in
th is
p r o v id e d
in
th i3
a s s is ts
or
engages
o r v lo le n c e w ith in te n t to d e s tr o y o r c a u se
°n c a u s e t 0 b e c h a n g e d o r t o o v e r t h r o w o r
to be
cause
n o t ^ e s i d t ^ h n n \ t h nnG o y°*r!n m c ,n t o f t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s , a n d d e a t h d o e s
n o t le s u lt , s h a ll, o n c o n v ic tio n b e im p r is o n e d n o t m o r e th a n 2 0 y e a r s o r
to
c o r iim itT n v
S
* 2 0 ,0 0 0
o r b o th P
I f tw o o r S o r e p e r s o n s c o £ s p i? e
o ffe n s e d e fin e d in t h is s e c t io n , t h e y s h a ll e a c h b e s u b je c t
P r o v id e d in t h is s e c t io n f o r su c h o ffe n s e .
110 P e r s o n s h a l l o r a l l y o r b y w r i t i n g , p r i n t i n g , o r t h e
u s e o f a n y s i„ n , s y m b o l, p ic t u r e , c a r ic a t u r e , o r o t h e r w is e t e a c h , in c it e
a d v o c a te , p r o p o s e , o r a d v is e , o r a id , a b e t, o r e n c o u r a g e fo r c ib le r e s is tt0
?tRCC n n s m
fu O n ’ f
d e s t r u c tio iii o f t h e G o v e r n m e n t
o f th e U n ite d
S ta te s,
S ta te s
o t f U i ° n ’n i a r / v S n d a u t h ° F l t y * o r t h e g o v e r n m e n t s o f t h e s e v e r a l
n
s t a t e s , a n o r a n y o f th e m , o r th e e x is te n c e o f c o n s titu te d g o v e r n m e n t
g e n e r a lly , o r o r a lly o r b y w r itin g , p r in t in g , o r th e u T o f a n y S
s y m b o l, p ic tu r e , c a r ic a t u r e , o r o t h e r w is e t e a c h , in c ite
a d v o c a te
n fo F if e o ? rt h e Vi n i i r v d nfa s e ’ ei l c o u r a g P - , o r d e f e n d t h ' “ d e s t r u c t i o n o f h u m a n
n
n u b lfc o r p r iv a t e n L n " / * b a n ia n b e in g o r th e in ju r y o r d e s t r u c t io n o f
FiFws o r r f ^ v e r n m ^ ri ? ^ / t/ » , aSr r a 14. ? a o S o f h a n g i n g t h e C o n s t i t u t i o n ,
m
t h e r e o f F ( o v e r n m e n t o f t h e U n ite d ^ S t a t e s o r d e f e a t i n g t h e a u t h o r i t y
is s u e 0 c ir c u la t e
8 1 ® 11 w r i t p 9 r k n o w i n g l y p r i n t , p u b l i s h , e d i t ,
o r s e l l ° n n v I i . o n k 1 m m n i f i ’t t r a n s P o r t b y e x p r e s s o r o t h e r w i s e , d i s p l a y ,
a ^ r itu > n
et»’ ,n e w s p a p e r : d o c u m e n t , h a n d b i l l , p o s t e r , o r
p r i n t e d , w r i t t e n , o r p i c t o r i a l m a t t e r o f a n y k i n d o r f o r m w h e r e i n or
S t a t e s ' o r ' t h e C o n ^ t i t u H o ^ , c h a n g e , f th , ° G o v e r n m e n t o f t h e U n i t e d
o
W e
o r l , v F e v v in J
/L u d a u t h o r i t y t h e r e o f b y f o r c e o r v i o -
5. That no person shall display or exhibit at any meeting or
nnn rchv°ori ofannv0n fe?hPlace’ any n 'd flaS
banner as a symboi of
anarchy, or, of any of the purposes forbidden in this act, and the dis
play or exhibition of such flag or banner in any meeting or parade shall
be prima facie evidence that it is so displayed and exhibited as such
symbol, and no person shall display or exhibit at any meeting, gathering
or parade, or in any other public place, any flag, banner, emblem pic
ture, motto, or device which tends to incite or indicates a purpose* to
overthrow, by violence or by physical injury to person or property, the
Government of the United States, or all government, or to overthrow
change or defeat the Constitution of the United States and the laws
:111 ■ authority then «.l
I
Ulwh
resistance to or rebellion against the authority of the Government or
the overthrow, change, or defeat of Constitution of the United States
or the laws or authority thereof by force or violence, is advocated
vised or incited, or wherein or whereby the use of force or violence or
physical injury to or the seizure or destruction of persons or property
is advocated, advised, defended, or incited as a means toward the accom
plishment of industrial, economic, social, or political change, or wherein
160550—20355
12
o r w h e r e b y a n a p p e a l is m a d e to r a c ia l p r e ju d ic e t h e in te n d e d o r p r o b
a b le r e s u lt o f w h ic h a p p e a l is to c a u s e r io t in g o r th e r e s o r t to fo r c e
a n d v io le n c e w it h in th e U n ite d S t a t e s o r a n y p la c e s u b je c t to t h e j u r i s
d ic t io n th e r e o f, is h e r e b y d e c la r e d to b e n o n m a ila b le , a n d th e s a m e s h a ll
n o t b e d e p o s i t e d in a n y p o s t o ffic e f o r m a i l i n g o r b e c o n v e y e d in t h e
m a i l s o r d e l i v e r e d f r o m a n y p o s t o f f ic e o r b y a n y l e t t e r c a r r i e r : P r o
v i d e d , T h a t n o t h i n g in t h i s a c t s h a l l b e s o c o n s t r u e d a s t o a u t h o r i z e a n y
p e r s o n o t h e r t h a n a n e m p l o y e e o f t h e D e a d L e t t e r O ffic e , d u l y a u t h o r i z e d
th e r e to , o r o th e r p e r s o n , u p o n a s e a rc h w a r r a n t a u th o r iz e d b y la w , to
o p e n a n y le tt e r n o t a d d r e s s e d to h im s e lf.
S ec . 7 . T h a t n o p e r s o n s h a l l i m p o r t o r c a u s e t o b e i m p o r t e d i n t o t h e
U n ite d S t a t e s , o r a n y p la c e s u b je c t to it s ju r is d ic t io n , a n y m a t t e r d e
c la r e d in t h i s a c t t o b e n o n m a il a b le a n d n o t t r a n s p o r t a b le , o r t o t r a n s p o r t
o r c a u se to be tr a n s p o r te d a n y su c h m a tte r fr o m o n e S ta t e in to a n o tn e r
o r in to a n y s u c h p la c e s u b je c t to t h e ju r is d ic t io n o f th e U n ite d S t a t e s .
S e c . 8 . T h a t n o p e rso n s h a ll k n o w in g ly u se o r a t te m p t to u se th e m a ils
o r th e P o s t a l S e r v ic e o f t h e U n ite d S ta t e s , o r k n o w in g ly t r a n s p o r t o r a t
t e m p t t o t r a n s p o r t b y e x p r e s s o r o t h e r w is e , b y p u b lic o r p r iv a t e c o n
v e y a n c e , a n y m a t t e r d e c la r e d b y s e c t io n s G a n d 7 o f t h is a c t to b e n o n
m a ila b le a n d n o t t r a n s p o r ta b le .
Se c . 9 . T h a t a n y a s s o c ia tio n , g a t h e r in g , a s s e m b ly , s o c ie ty , o r c o r p o r a
t io n w h ic h se e k s, d ir e c tly o r in d ir e c t ly , b y fo r c e o r v io le n c e , o r b y in ju r y
t o o r d e s t r u c t io n o f h u m a n b e in g s , o r p u b lic o r p r iv a t e p r o p e r t y , t o b r in g
a b o u t a c h a n g e in t h e C o n s t i t u t i o n o r l a w s o r a u t h o r i t v o f t h e G o v e r n
m e n t o f th e U n ite d S t a t e s , o r o f a n y S ta t e th e r e o f, o r o f a ll fo r m s o f
o r g a n iz e d g o v e r n m e n t , o r w h ic h t e a c h e s , a d v is e s , p r o p o s e s , t h r e a t e n s , o r
d e fe n d s t h e u n la w fu l u se o f fo r c e o r v io le n c e in a n y fo r m to b r in g a b o u t
a n y su ch r e s u lt , o r w h ic h a t te m p ts to p r o s e c u te o r p u rsu e su c h p u r p o se ,
is h e r e b y d e c la r e d t o b e u n la w f u l.
S e c . 1 0 . T h a t n o p e r s o n s h a ll a c t a s a n o ffic e r o f a n y s u c h u n la w f u l
a s s o c ia tio n , o r, k n o w in g t h e o b je c t, p u r p o s e , t e a c h in g , o r d o c tr in e s o f
s u c h u n la w f u l a s s o c ia t io n , b e c o m e a m e m b e r t h e r e o f o r b e c o m e a ffilia te d
t h e r e w it h , o r c o n t in u e t o b e a m e m b e r t h e r e o f o r a ffilia te d t h e r e w it h ,
o r c o n tr ib u te a n y m o n e y o r o th e r t h in g o f v a lu e th e r e to o r to a n y o n e fo r
it s u s e , o r r e n t a n y r o o m , b u ild in g , o r p la c e fo r th e u se o f s a id u n la w fu l
a s s o c ia tio n , o r p e r m it th e o c c u p a tio n by su c h u n la w fu l a s s o c ia tio n or
a n y c o m m it t e e o r b r a n c h t h e r e o f o f a n y r o o m , b u ild in g , o r o t h e r p la c e
u n d e r h is o w n e r s h ip o r c o n t r o l.
S e c . 1 1 . T h a t th e g iv in g , lo a n in g , o r p r o m is in g o f a n y th in g o f v a lu e
t o a n y su c h u n la w fu l a s s o c ia tio n s h a ll c o n s t it u t e a ffilia tio n w it h su c h
u n la w fu l a s s o c ia t io n ; a n d th e g iv in g , lo a n in g , o r p r o m is in g o f a n v th in g o f v a lu e to a n y p erso n o r p a r tn e r s h ip o r u n la w fu l a s s o c ia tio n
e n g a g e d in a d v e r t i s i n g , t e a c h i n g , a d v o c a t i n g , o r d e f e n d i n g a n y o f t h e
th itig s t h e te a c h in g , a d v o c a c y , o r d e fe n s e o f w h ic h
is fo r b id d e n
in
th is
act
s h a ll b e
p r im a
fa c ie e v id e n c e
o f te a c h in g , a d v o c a tin g , or
d e fe n d in g s a id fo r b id d e n t h in g s a g a in s t th e p e r s o n so g iv in g , p r o m is
in g , o r lo a n in g a n y th in g o f v a lu e a s a fo r e s a id .
S e c . 1 2 . T h a t a n y a lie n c o n v ic te d u n d e r a n v o f t h e p r o v is io n s o f
t h is a c t a f t e r s e r v in g h is s e n t e n c e s h a ll b e ta k e n in to c u s t o d y a n d b e
d e p o r te d u n d e r th e im m ig r a tio n
la w s o f th e U n ite d
S ta te s th en
in
fo r c e .
A n y p e r s o n c o n v ic te d u n d e r t h i s a c t w h o h a s d e c la r e d h is i n t e n
t io n s o f b e c o m in g a c itiz e n b u t h a s n o t b ee n n a tu r a liz e d s h a ll b e fo r
e v e r in e lig ib le to c itiz e n s h ip , a n d it s h a ll b e th e d u t y o f th e A t t o r n e y
G e n e r a l to in s t it u t e p r o c e e d in g s t o c a u s e h is p e titio n a n d d e c la r a t io n
o f i n t e n t i o n t o b e d i s m i s s e d a n d a n n u lle d a n d a ll c o u r t p r o c e e d i n g s in
h is c a s e q u a sh e d a n d to fu r n is h to th e S e c r e ta r y o f L a b o r su ch d a ta
a s t o e n a b le h im t o c a u s e s u c h p e r s o n t o b e d e p o r te d u n d e r t h e i m m i
g r a t i o n l a w s o f t h e U n it e d S t a t e s t h e n in f o r c e .
T h e c o n v ic tio n o f a n y
p e r s o n w h o is a n a tu r a liz e d c itiz e n o f th e U n ite d S t a t e s o f a n y o f t h e
t h i n g s f o r b id d e n in t h i s a c t s h a ll b e s u ffic ie n t t o a u t h o r i z e t h e c a n c e l
la t io n o f h is o r h e r c e r t ific a t e o f n a t u r a liz a t io n
in t h e m a n n e r p r o
v id e d b y t h e n a t u r a l i z a t i o n l a w s o f t h e U n it e d S t a t e s t h e n in f o r c e .
I t s h a ll be th e d u t y o f th e A t t o r n e y G e n e r a l to in s t it u t e p r o c e e d in g s
a n d c o n d u c t th e s a m e to a fin a l ju d g m e n t im m e d ia t e ly a f t e r c o n v ic t i o n
a n d s e n te n c e o f th e n a tu r a liz e d c itiz e n a fo r e s a id .
E v e r y a lie n d e p o r te d
u n d e r t h i s a c t is h e r e b y f o r b id d e n t o a g a in e n t e r t h e U n it e d S t a t e s
o r a n y T e r r it o r y o r p o s s e s s io n t h e r e o f.
I t s h a ll b e t h e d u ty o f th e
A tt o r n e y G e n e r a l o f th e U n ite d S ta te s to e n fo r c e th is p r o v is io n a g a in s t
a ll d e p o rte d a lie n s r e tu r n in g to t h e U n ite d S ta t e s a s a fo r e s a id .
®
rJ L J *
lfy
.F
, 5 a $ .l n
in v e s tig a tio n o r p r o s e c u tio n
fo r a n y o f th e
0^ 1
,n
a c t n o p e r s o n s h a ll b e e x c u s e d fr o m a t te n d in g
o r d e p o s in g , o r fr o m
p r o d u c in g a n y b o o k , p a p e r , d o c u -
Z Z n i m t o I ! e L e v i ! r i c c . o n tllP S r o i u >d t h a t t h e t e s t i m o n y o r e v i d e n c e ,
o c u m c n ta r y o r o t h e r w is e , r e q u ir e d o f h im
n la y te n d t o in c r im in a t e
160550— 20355
13
him or subject him to penalty or forfeitu re; but no natural person
shall be prosecuted or subjected to any penalty or forfeiture for or on
account of any transaction, matter, or thing as to which in obedience
to a subpoena and under oath he may so testify or in obedience
to a subpoena shall produce evidence, documentary or otherwise. But
no person shall be exempt from prosecution and punishment for perjury
committed in so testifying.
,
l 4 ' Tllat
any clause, sentence, paragraph, or part of this act
shall fot any reason be adjudged by any court of competent jurisdic
tion to be invalid, such judgment shall not affect, impair, or invalidate
the remainder thereof, but shall be confined in its operation to the
“ vu - •
>
ru o a j, lie, ana m e same is nereoy,
Any offenses heretofore committed in violation of said
of
.
cases pending thereunder may be prosecuted and
punished as therein provided in the same manner and with the same
effect as if this section had not been enacted.
lepeakd.
s i°n s
a.
i
c o n ta in e d
„
s « „ i.a „
° tt J
f
™
t
under
k
o
. r ,n v P erso n c o n v ic te d o f v io la tin g a n y o f
in a n y o f t h e s e c t io n s o f t h i s a c t , e x c e p t
t h e p r o v is e c tio n s 1
p u n is h e d b y b e in g im p r is o n e d fo r n o t m o r e t h a n 2 0
m o r e th a n $ 2 0 ,0 0 0 , e ith e r o r b o th .
A n d a n y c itiz e n
a t ** c o n y ic tc d u n d e r th is a c t s h a ll b e fo r e v e r d e b a rre d
t h e 1 n i t e d 's t a t e s ™ *
U
h o h lin g
any
o fflc e
of
Pr o fit> h o n o r > o r
tru st
Mr. OWEN. I ask to have printed the statement of Mr. Alfred
Bettman in its continuous form.
There being no objection, the matter referred to was ordered
to be printed in the R ecord, as follow s:
I n r e s p o n s e to y o u r r e q u e s t f o r a le g a l o p in io n u p o n t h e s e d it io n b ill
r e p o r te d b y th e H o u s e J u d ic ia r y C o m m it t e e , w ill s t a t e a s f o l l o w 's :
U n d e r o u r c o n s titu tio n a l sy ste m
p r o te c tio n
o f p r iv a te p e r so n s or
p r o p e r t y is r e p o s e d e x c lu s i v e l y in t h e S t a t e g o v e r n m e n t s .
T h e F ederal
a lle g e d
n
® P °
P u rp oses fo r
J u r is d ic tio n
w h ic h a c ts
over
su ch
o f v io le n c e
p r o te c tio n , n o r
can
th e
w e re c o m m itte d
a g a in s t
R « 1' ^ , , H ^ * , 0 f ^ ° + u P r o p e r t y
l,e lls e (l f o g i v e j u r i s d i c t i o n t o t h e F e d e r a l
t h a t w o u ld b e p u n is h in g t h e p u r p o s e
n r i m 'I n L
f ? p u n is h th e p u r p o s e w o u ld b e c o n t r a r y to a ll fu u d a A m e r ic a n c o n s t itu tio n a l la w .
T h e r e fo r e a ll th e
a L f C i 0 a :S 2 ’
l
h . 1 0 . a n d 1 1 , in s o f a r a s t h e y r e l a t e to
p r iv a te p e r s o n s o r p r o p e r ty , w o u ld b e u n c o n s t it u t io n a l, s in c e th e y a r e
h ^ X R 11^ t h e j u r i s d i c t i o n o f t h e F e d e r a l G o v e r n m e n t .
T h e s a m e is p r o b a b ly t r u e o f v io le n c e a g a in s t a S t a t e g o v e r n m e n t , b eP r o v id e d in t h e C o n s t it u t io n f o r t h e p r o te c t io n
o f S t a f o g o \ e i n m e n ts a g a in s t in te r n a l v io le n c e is th e s e n d in g o f F e d e r a l
tro o p s.
0 -T u n
P
tl!,C f w T 1n 1 R a„s “ s u g g e s t e d ” a n d “ t a u g h t , " i n s e c t i o n 4 ,
a r t > £ ? ! 1 d !' ,!> ?„f 'i(T (l ° ° t
sp e e ch a n d c o n tr a r y to A m e r ic a n tr a d itio n .
1 A e P a l ia w s s h o u ld d e fin e c r im e w it h s u c h e x a c t it u d e t h a t n o th in g is
le f t t ° a r b itr a r y d e c is io n o r th e p r e ju d ic e s o f th e c o u r t a n d th e ju r y .
S e c t i o n () m a i n t a i n s a p e a c e - t i m e c e n s o r s h i p c o n t r a r y t o t h e A m e r i c a n
p r i n c i p l e , t h a t t h i s i s a G o v e r n m e n t o f law * a n d n o t o f m e n .
I t is a ls o
c o n t r a r y to th e fu n d a m e n t a l A n g lo S a x o n p r in c ip le o f lib e r t y o f sp e e ch
a n d p r e s s , w h ic h is t h a t t h e r e s h a l l b e n o s u p p r e s s io n in a d v a n c e , b u t
o n ly r e s p o n s ib ility a f t e r p u b lic a tio n .
S e c t i o n s 9, 10, a n d 11 a l s o violate t h e fundamental principle of
A m e r i c a n and Anglo-Saxon in stitu tion s; namely, t h a t guilt is personal
a n d not by association.
I f enacted t h o s e sections would place upon
A m e r i c a n statute books a Prussian a n d c z a r is t i c - R u s s ia n institution.
S e c tio n 0 o f th e p r e s e n t p e n a l c o d e , a n d o th e r s e c t io n s o f t h a t c o d e
c o v e r e v e r y p o s s ib le c a s e o f s e d it io u s c o n s p ir a c y a g a in s t th e G o v e r n
m e n t o f th e U n ite d S t a t e s , a n d e v e r y a c t o f v io le n c e o r r e s is ta n c e a g a in s t
th e a u th o r ity o f th e U n ite d S ta te s .
I c a n n o t se e c le a r ly w h y th e r e s h o u ld b e n e e d fo r f u r t h e r le g is la t io n
u n l e s s i t is d e s i r e d t o r e a c h i n d i v i d u a l a d v o c a c y o f v i o le n c e a g a i n s t
F e d e r a l o ffic ia ls o r F e d e r a l p r o p e r ty , w h ic h a r e n o t a p a r t o f a n v c o n
s p ir a c y .
I f so , su ch le g is la t io n s h o u ld b e c a r e fu lly r e s tr ic te d to ad
v o e a c y o f v io le n c e a g a in s t F e d e r a l o ffic ia ls o r p r o p e r ty , a s is t h e la n g u a g e
o f th e p r e s e n t s e d it io u s c o n s p ir a c y s e c tio n o f t h e F e d e r a l p e n a l c o d e ”
T h e b i l l a s r e p o r t e d b y t h e H o u s e J u d i c i a r y C o m m i t t e e i n r e s p e c t s -is
a b o v e p o in te d o u t, g o e s b e y o n d th e c o n s t it u t io n a l b o u n d s o f th e F e d e r a l
160550— 20355
I
14
jurisdiction and violates the fundamental principle of American and
Anglo-Saxon civil liberties.
(Signed)
A lfred B e tt m a n .
Mr. OWEN. I call attention to several other opinions which
have been sent to me regarding this matter.
Prof. C. Chaffee, of the Harvard Law School, says:
This bill, if enacted, will be the first of its kind since the notorious
sedition act o f 1798, opposed by Marshall and denounced as uncon
stitutional by Jefferson and Madison. W ithout such laws this country
has passed through much worse crises than the present.
Dr. Frederick C. Howe says:
This bill makes an end to freedom of the press in America.
the provocateur, espionage, and spying of all kinds.
It invites
Jackson II. Ralston, an eminent attorney o f Washington, says:
Its language is so broad, its terms so indefinite, that no man can
know what is criminal under it until Federal judges tell us what it
means.
Mr. Samuel Gompers, representing as he does several million
workmen, with their dependents amounting to millions o f people
more, is naturally concerned that this bill, under the color of
protecting the Government against force and violence shall not
be used to suppress the rights of those who live and labor in this
country to advocate a betterment of their own condition.
His loyalty ought not to be questioned. That man, when the
world was shaken with war, stood like a rock and like a hero
and marshalled the labor of this country to avoid strikes and
use its utmost patriotic efforts in the making o f munitions and
to the rendering of those services without which the war could
not have been won. No man ought ever to impute to him a lack
of loyalty or a lack of patriotism. He deserves well of his
country; he deserves the respect and affection of his country.
He said, indeed, that—
Section 5 of the bill, unbelievable a 3 it may seem__
Y es; “ unbelievable as it may seem ” —
makes it a crime to wear in public any button of an organization w h o s e
purpose is to obtain an amendment to the Constitution of th” United
States or any existing Federal law.
Samuel Gompers says th at; yes, he says it, and I say it, and
the proposed bill says it. Look at that proposed statute. I
have put it in the R ecord.
Mr. President, the liberties of the people o f the United States
comprise the most precious possession of the people o f this Re
public. It is upon liberty that the wisdom and the conscience
< 1 the patriotism of tlie muss o f our citizens have boon able,
iih
through their processes of education and of industry, to build up
our great Republic with its wonderful powers. I should regard
it as a national catastrophe if any act should be passed which
would jeopardize those liberties or menace freedom o f speech
or the freedom of the press. I have often been disgusted and
pained by the folly and falsehood of articles printed in the press,
but folly passes and falsehood dies away, while the lessons of
wisdom and truth which also daily come through the modern
press remain and the world is enriched by their fruits.
Liberty— freedoni— freedoin of speech, o f the press, o f religion,
v ° 1 ,imon7 freedo,n from the threats or menace of
h w t v ™ ? ^ eaucrat? ml,St be Preservt>d if “ the rights o f life,
b IGOooO—1 2 0 3 o « UrSU1 of hai)pincss” are to be preserved.
ic n -' 1 oA« u
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