Speech #670383601

The unusually large haul of January 2. 1920. arose from the apprehension of all persons attending meetings of the proscribed parties being held on the night of that day. the meetings having been called at the particular time at which they were held by the procurement of " under cover agents of the Department of Justice acting under explicit directions in that respect from Washington. In and about Boston from 600 to 1.200 arrests were made. apparently no accurate record was kept (testimony. p. 55) . in Detroit about 800 (testimony. p. 720) . in Buffalo 150 (testimony. p. 783). The proceedings were founded upon the statute of 1918. which subjects to deportation " aliens who are members of or. affiliated with an organization that entertains a beliqf in. teaches. or advocates the overthrow by force or violence of the Government of the United States or of all forms of law." The organizations referred to were held by the Department of Justice to be within the class thus proscribed and the warrants were issued upon that basis. In specific instances It was charged further that the alien proceeded against was an anarchist. or that he believed in or advocated the overthrow by force or violence of the Government of the United States. or allegations were made bringing him under some other provision of the statute. but in all or substantially all the cases membership In the proscribed organization was charged. prima face evidence of that fact was regarded as sufficient ground for holding him. and proof sufficient to establish the fact made a case for deportation. A circular containing instructions from the Department of Justice to the officers under whose immediate direction the "raids" of January 2. 1920. were. conducted disclosed that they were directed against all members of the Communist Party and the Communist Labor Party. whether the person proceeded against had brought himself under other provisions of the statute or not. We forbear from any inquiry and refrain from the expression of any opinion as to whether any of the organizations condemned by the Department of Justice do. in fact. believe in. teach. or advocate the overthrow. by force or violence. of the Government of the United States. as charged.