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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 O