The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-05-03
BARRED FROM THE MAIL
Atkinson's Pamphlets Are Rank
Sedition.
SENT TO THE SOLDIERS
Will Be Suppressed by the Military Au
thorities If They Get Past San
Francisco-Calls on Troops
to Defy the Government.

Washington, May 2.-The absentees
from to-day's cabinet meeting were
Secretaries Gage, Long. Alger and Will
son. One of the subjects of discussion
was the circulars which were mailed to
the troops at Manila. criticsng the
Philippine policy of the government and
advising volunteers whose term of serv-
ice Is about to expire not to re-enlist A
member of the cabinet. in speaking of
the matter. said that Edwin Atkinson
OF Boston, who is believed to have been
largely instrumental in the preparation
and sending out of these circulars was
unquestionably guilty of assisting an
lnsurrect1on against the authority of
the United States and was subject to a
term of imprisonment or heavy fine or
both.
What action. if any. will be taken in
the matter has not been determined.
but it is said that the government is
disposed to regard the acts of Mr. At
klnson as those of a person without
any proper conception of the gravity of
the offense committed. and the govern
ment may not at this time take action
against Mr. Atkinson and his assist
ants The postmaster general stated at
iiic teibiIlel meeting tIat he fldu Ofuefeu
the circulars stopped at San Francisco
Members Of the administration regard
Mr.. Atkinsons alleged action as sedi-
tious and disgraceful and it is not i'm
probable that, If repeated. prompt and
energetic action will be taken
Parts of the reports of the army beef
committee We're read and matters relat-
ing to the Alaskan boundary question
were briefly discussed.
ha l.,
have been prohibited in the mails for
the Philippines. are those which have
the titles 'Crininal Aggression by
Whom" THE Cost of National
Crime and The Hell of War and Its
Penalties"
These, unless something should de-
velop to necessitate further action. may
be circulated through the mails within
this country. According to MI Atkin-
sons own statement, as reported,
large number of the pamphlets have
been sent out. The matter was brought
to the attention of the postal author
tiles by the war department, whose au-
thorities We're greatly exercised at
suggestion that some action be taken.
1t is thought there is little possibility
of any of these publications getting
past the San Francisco office, but if
few should, the military authorities in
the Philippines will promptly suppress
lHeIll. foSllHdSleT Htuetal S1Tltn nlauh
this statement to the associated press
to-day:
''These pamphlets actually incite to
mutiny. and it would be utterly un-
justitiable to permit their circulation
among the soldiers in the Philippines.
Their circulation is movement to in
duce the soldiers to disobey orders and
in effect to embarrass and resist the
government in whose service they are
engaged.
Their circulation, except in the mails
for the Philippines. is not interfered
with because, in being sent to Manila
they are destined for soldiers fighting
our battles. but in this country the eff
fort to incite to mutiny could have no
result Not only are they designed to
incite to mutiny American soldiers on
those islands, but also to fomtnt and
encourage insurrectiOn on the Iart of
the Filipinos themselves.
'Such SeditiOus literature as now
estopped might have an fleet on the
forces We now are dealing With that
would be incalculably to their advan-
tage and certainly would tend TO slim
ulate and strengthen their already
weakening cause. The law covering
the case is ample. What action NJ ight
be taken-and the offense is of the grav-
est-is not to be discussed. | do not
believe there is any intention to pros
ecute Mr.. Atkinson as the matter now
stands. The authority to do so. how
ever, is plain. He not only attacks
the president and the government in
the most virulent language and dis
putes the national policy. but also
calls on the American troops to defy
the government. Certainly this gov
ernment is empowered to stop, or
check. as it sees fit. the circulation of
these seditiouS publications"