The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1894-08-10
Congressman Linton Insists Upon HIS
Rights.

congressman LlIltOil lHololo opOii Atio
Rights
WASHINGTON, Aug. Especial
resentative Linton, of Saginaw, has had a
sensational encounter with the postoffice de-
partment. 1t is all about his speech on the
sectaran school question which attracted
such attention some weeks ago. A tremend-
Gus demand for the speech has come from
all over the country, and the number called
for in the aggregate will amount TO millions
of copies. AS a congressman Linton's
speeches are entitled to be Thanked" through
the mail free of charge. 1t is in this way
that national committees always circulate
their documents. But on July 2Sth Linton
received telegram from +. M. Garlick say
ing that Postmaster Denny Ryan, of Foot
vile. Wis, declined TO let the speech go
through the mails on the ground that the
original party to whom they were addressed
in bulk could not distribute them separately
This was directly contrary to the law, and
Linton concluded that there were other rea-
sons for the postmaster's refusal to handle
the speech.
Linton went to Assistant Postmaster Gen
eral Craig and protested. Mr.. Craig looked
up the law and found the postmaster unjus
tilted. He therefore wrote on July 81 quot
ing the law, and adding, ''ln cases of this
kind it is permissible for the person receiv-
inng the bulk package to employ others to
assist in addressing the individual articles,
which, If properly ranked, are entitled to
transmission in the mails" Linton thought
he had secured valuable ruling applying
to the whole country; but it soon developed
that the postmaster had another card ana
was backed by the postoffice department.
On August 9, Garlck telegraphed that,
Notwithstanding the ruling of the third post
master general, the first postmaster general
had instructed the postmaster not to handle
the speeches on the grounds that they con-
tanned advertising matter on the last page.
Linton was amazed. He looked at the last
page of his speech and saw at the bottom
small cut of the "union labeP' and the inn
print of the printer. IL was as follows:
"Allied Printing Trades Council Union La
bel, Washington, ID. g., Hartman u Cadick,
Printers" This was so small and obscure
as not to be noticeable.
Linton was red hot when he sought First
Postmaster General Jones and presented a
second protest. Jones insisted that the
union label etc., was an advertisement
"Why is it, them" said Linton, with quiet
determination, that the speeches of VIM.
l.. Wilson, Senator Voorhees,, Gov. McCrea-
ry. Senator German and many other demo-
yet go through the mails by thousands?"
Jones was flabbergasted at this turn of af-
fairs. He insisted, however. that Unions
speech could notgo through the mails. "Then
give you notice." SAID Linton, as a finally,
THAT IL my speech is stopped will enter a
protest against the mailing Of $4,000 of the
speeches OF Speaker Crisp and Chairman
Wilson, which are today in the pOstoffice
waiting shipment"
Jones saw that hornets nest had been
stirred up and he therefore suggested that
the matter be investigated further. Linton
saw only one way of fixing ii up, and that
was to pass his speech through the mails.
Jones agreed that he would issue an order
to that effect, but, with view to avoid
placing the department in the attitude of
overruling its own ruling, the order was is
sued pending an investigation" OF course
every one understands that this pending
investigation" Is the means to avoid ungra-
ci0us departmental surrender.
Mr.. Jones issued his order Aug. 4, closing
as follows: 1T is immaterial whether the
speeches be presented to You by Mr.. Garlick
or Mr.. Shaw, the frank of Mr.. Linton being
the material feature required for their free
distribution. Pending an investigation of
the other questions involved, to-wit: the adj
vertisement on ;ne back, you will let these
speeches go through the mails"
Today Mr.. Linton received from Jones an
official copy of the order with a note saying
IL was Tin accordance with the understand
ing arrived at" Linton naturally feels elat-
ed, for he has shut off what he believes to
have been systematic effort on the part OF
certain people to keep his speech out of the
mails. Aside from this issue the question
now arises as to what the trades unions and
organized labor element of the country will
think of an official ruling which places the
s'union LABEL on the blacklist