A bill to prohibit the spreading of racial or religious propaganda and to bar such propaganda from the mails is being groomed by the Jewish War Veterans of the United States and will be introduced in Congress before the middle of March, it was learned today.
The draft of the bill has not been completed, but it is expected to make a misdemeanor the acts of spreading hatred against various groups by books, newspapers and other printed and mimeographed materials and in other ways. It is tentatively called the “Group Libel Bill.”
The bill follows the general outlines of a “model” State bill which the veterans organization drafted for introduction in legislatures throughout the country. The latter bill, already introduced in Connecticut and Pennsylvania, provides $100 fine, 60 days imprisonment, or both for violation.
The model State bill makes illegal any propaganda “which shall, in language or otherwise, urge, create or tend to create hatred, ridicule, violence or hostility against any group of persons resident in this State because of their race, color or religion.”
In Pennsylvania another bill “to prohibit attacks on race and religion by writing or printing” has already been offered in the House of Representatives by Jacob A. Elporn, of Greensburg, and referred to committee.
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