Against Anarchy
Senator Vest of Missouri
will occupy a position of especial distinction in offering a resolution
calling upon the Committee on the Judiciary of the United States
Senate to furnish all laws known in this country on the subject
of anarchy as a basis for new legislation against that dangerous
creed.
The assassination of President McKinley
by the anarchist Czolgosz made imperative the enactment of stringent
laws for the suppression of anarchy. Until that tragical moment
the national and State governments had done little to prohibit or
even restrict the spread of this cult of murder and chaos. The laws
now in effect are not adequate. They must be supplemented by legislation
which faces the truth that anarchy must be crushed as a teaching
aimed to overthrow all law and government.
The Missouri Senator believes that
the problem of the extermination of anarchy can be solved only by
means of a constitutional amendment. The punishment of anarchists
who teach the doctrine of assassination must be made certain and
sufficient. The penalty for the attempted assassination of representatives
of established order must be so fixed that such criminals will thereafter
stand as potent warning to others of their kind. There can be no
trifling with anarchists hereafter in this country. The assassination
of President McKinley drew the dead-line against these murderous
conspirators.
Senator Vest will, in this instance,
lead a movement in which there will be no question of party to divide
the Senate vote. There should be a unanimous support of the anti-anarchy
legislation finally decided upon. If necessary, the Constitution
should be amended to meet the demands of the situation. Effective
laws against anarchy must be enacted.
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