The Watchman And Southron

SEDITION BILL IN SENATE.

GERMAN SPIES, I. W. W. AND DISLOYALTY IN GENERAL DISCUSSED FREELY.

Reed Delays Vote, but Lynching of German in Illinois May Hasten Action.

Washington, April 5.—All other business was laid aside by the senate today for denunciation of disloyalty sedition, German spies and the I. W. W. and discussion of how the Espionage Act should be extended so as to curb the evils and avoid mob law, without abridging the fundamental liberties of American citizens.

While the senate debated the pending sedition bill, carrying severe penalties for disloyal utterances and attempts to obstruct the draft or Liberty loans, President Wilson and the cabinet gave attention to reports of the lynching of Robert Prager, a German, at Collinsville, Ill., last night. Members of the cabinet said afterward the deplorable incident emphasized the necessity for immediate legislation that would enable the government to deal with disloyalty and enemy agitation so that the people would not be tempted to take the law into their hands.

Administration leaders in the senate hope to pass the sedition bill tomorrow, the anniversary of America's entrance into the war. An agreement for a vote tomorrow, sought tonight by Senator Overman, of North Carolina, in charge of the measure, was blocked by Senator Reed, of Missouri.

The Missouri senator said he was in sympathy with the general purposes of the legislation, but thought it should not be hastily considered.

Several efforts to widen the scope of the bill were made today, though there were criticisms that its prohibitions against disloyal and seditious utterances are already too broad. Senator Lodge, of Massachusetts, introduced an amendment prohibiting transmission through the mails of any matter printed in the German language, and Senator Lewis, of Illinois offered one which would forfeit the citizenship and property of persons adjudged disloyal by a jury.

During the discussion the attitude of Victor Berger, Socialist candidate for the senate in the recent Wisconsin election, was denounced by Senators Borah, of Idaho, and Lodge, as disloyal and verging on treason.

Senator Lodge while urging the death penalty for spies and German agents who destroy property in this country, said the bill's restrictions upon free speech were too broad and could be used to suppress legitimate discussion.

Senator Hardwick, of Georgia, suggested that they might prevent peace talk later when such discussion might be proper.

Senator Borah called the senate's attention to the lynching at Collinsville. Senator Fall, of New Mexico, said that if congress does not enact the necessary laws the people "would take the law into their own hands with Judge Lynch."

Senator Lodge objected to the wide powers now being exercised by the Postmaster General as to the use of the mails. Senator King, of Utah, declared these powers had been an effective weapon in the hands of the government in stamping out the propaganda of the I. W. W. and similar organizations, and added that in every case in which Mr. Burleson had acted his judgment had been vindicated.

Senator Hardwick referred to the fact that in some people's opinion it borders on disloyalty to discuss peace at this time and added:

"The president did this country a big service when he recently discussed the terms upon which peace could be made."

The Georgia senator said we were in the fight now, but he said he hoped the time would come when we could discuss our differences with Germany.

"When that time comes, I want to be able to discuss peace, unmolested," he added. The principal objection to the pending bill on his part results from the amendments inserted by the senate committee, Senator Hardwick said.

Any allusions to peace at this time were deplored as being "most unfortunate" by Senator Lodge, of Massachusetts. Senator Hardwick said he agreed that this was no time to discuss peace. Senator France, of Maryland, was charged with making statements not "creditable" to the senate and Victor Berger, Socialist candidate for senator in Wisconsin, was flatly declared a disloyalist by Senator Borah during a clash with the Maryland senator.

Mr. France had said he did not believe many persons in the country are disloyal. Retorting, Senator Borah said Berger received 100,000 votes in the recent senatorial election.

"I am glad he ran and that he was defeated in an orderly way," Mr. France replied. "I trust upon reflection the senator will strike out a paragraph of his statement which was not creditable to this body," Senator Borah interrupted.

Senator Borah explained that he referred to the statement that Senator France was glad Mr. Berger was a candidate. He said the "copperheads" during the Civil War were just as disloyal as "the platform upon which Berger ran" for withdrawal of American troops from the war and an immediate peace on German terms.

"It was not only disloyal, but ought to be brought within the purview of treason," Senator Borah continued, saying such action would mean triumph for the Hohenzollerns.

Senator France replied Berger's doctrines were all "utterly repugnant to him." He explained he meant he was "glad" Berger was allowed to run for senator in an orderly way without being compelled to withdraw.

"Berger stood ready to surrender his country to the Hohenzollerns," Senator Borah replied, with apparent feeling. "I can not conceive of a more despicable traitor under the American flag than a man who stands ready to surrender his country to a foreign country."

Applause from the galleries for the remarks drew the customary warning from the presiding officer to the spectators, closing the incident.

Forfeiture of property and citizenship of American citizens declared by a jury to be disloyal were proposed in amendments introduced by Senator Lewis, of Illinois, providing that disloyalty could be proven from "conduct, acts or declarations."

Restoration of citizenship and property in the usual legal manner was provided.