Louis Freeland Post

Louis Freeland Post (November 15, 1849 - January 11, 1928) was the Acting United States Secretary of Labor during the period of the Palmer Raids and the Red Scare.

Biography

In March 1920, at the age of 71, he became Acting Secretary of the United States Department of Labor. This meant he was in charge of all deportation matters- which often brought him into conflict with A. Mitchell Palmer, the Attorney General, and J. Edgar Hoover, then a clerk for Palmer.cite book |last=Coben |first=S. |authorlink= |coauthors= |title=A. Mitchell Palmer: Politician |year=1963 |publisher=Columbia University Press |quote= | url= |isbn=0231025718 ]

Post found it difficult to win support from both newspapers and the United States Congress in his clashes with the Attorney General, partially because of his appearance, he is said to have resembled Leon Trotsky, and because of his background.

Post had previously argued for unrestricted immigration and free speech, and was a supporter of Henry George's single-tax movement.cite book |last=Schmidt |first=R. |authorlink= |coauthors= |title=Red Scare: FBI and the Origins of Anticommunism in the United States, 1919-1943 |year=2000 |publisher=Museum Tusculanum Press |quote= | url=http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=Fo1jblFR3BcC&pg |isbn=8772895810 ] As early as January 1920, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) had been compiling a file on Post, on his political leanings, but had failed to find any substantive evidence of radical connections.

During his seven years as Acting Secretary, Post proved a formidable opponent, working seven days a week to clear a backlog of cases that had seen some men imprisoned for up to two months, merely for attending a meeting. By April 10, Post had dismissed 71% of the 1600 cases he had examined, freeing many innocent men. Post also determined that aliens were entitled to a fair hearing, which was contrary to the Bureau of Immigration and their belief that immigrants were not subject to constitutional safeguards.

As a result of these actions, on April 15, 1920, Homer Hock the Representative of Kansas accused Post of having abused his power, and called for his impeachment. Post was called before the House Committee on Rules in late April. Post successfully defended his actions on May 7-8, and the case was dropped. The Red Scare began to fizzle out shortly afterward, but Post is credited with preventing many unnecessary deportations and freeing many innocent people.

He died on January 11, 1928 in Washington, DC. [cite news |first= |last= |authorlink= |coauthors= |title=L.F. Post, Friend of Single Tax, Dies; |url=http://select.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=F60F1FF83859127A93C3A8178AD85F4C8285F9 |quote=Was Assistant Secretary of Labor During Both Wilson Administrations. Had Been a Lawyer Here and an Editor. Came of a Long Line of Literary Men. Louis F. Post, a former Assistant Secretary of Labor, lawyer, single-tax advocate and former editor, died today at Homeopathic Hospital after a short illness. His age was 78. |work=New York Times |date=January 11, 1928 |accessdate=2008-08-14 ]

References