–The body blows that are being directed against the Rafferty Bill, which would make vicious propaganda a criminal offense, have begun to raise a doubt in minds of its proponents whether the Senate will act on it this week. The Assembly passed the measure last week.
The latest opponents of the measure to enter the contest are the American Civil Liberties Union, the Philadelphia Civil Liberties Committee and the New Jersey Civil Liberties Committee. The Civil Liberties Union, in letters to members of the Senate, urged prompt defeat of the measure and announced that Arthur Garfield Hays, general counsel, would appear in opposition. Mays, noted Jewish liberal, was conspicuous as an observer in the Reichstag fire case. He and Dr. Harry F. Ward are signers of the communication.
“AN AMAZING PROPOSAL”
According to the Union, the proposed measure “is an amazing proposal, unparalleled in American history. It violates every conception of free speech. Its vague language could not possibly be sustained by the courts.”
A demonstration occurred here yesterday when a delegation of workers, including Communist sympathizers, appeared at the State House, and following an unsuccessful attempt to see Governor Moore, protesteo against the measure to Senate President Clifford Powell, contending that “the measure would outlaw any militant struggle on the part of the working class.” Powell declared he had no objection to seeing the bill amended, but added that he had sufficient confidence in the courts to see to it that the measure, if enacted, would in no way transgress upon the rights of workers, as the delegation lustily contended.
Among the groups represented in the delegation were the Young Communist League, Trade Union Unity League and Leather Workers’ Union.
The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
