Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1899-05-05
BARREDFROM MAILS.
Atkinson's Anti Imperialistic Pam.
phlets Excluded from Manila.
FOSTER Discomfort AND MUTINY.
Postmaster-Genera Issues an Order
Cabinet Discusses the Subject
Author May Be Punished for
Aiding Insurrection.

/
Cabinet Discusses the Subject
Author May Be Punished for
Aiding Insurrection.
Washington, May 3.-The postmas
ter-general has directed the postmas-
ter at San Francisco to take out of the
, mails for Manila three pamphlets is
sued by Edward Atkinson, of Boston,
, vice-president of the Anti-Imperialistic
league. This order does not apply to
the circulation of the pamphlets in this
country, but bars their dispatch from
this country to the Philippines, dis
content and even mutiny among the
soldiers being stated by the department
to be the design of these publications.
The three pamphlets, copies of which
have been prohibited in the mails for
the Philippines, are those which have
the following titles: Criminal Ag-
erosion by Whom?" "The Cost of a
National Crime" and "The He'll of War
and Its Penalties" These, unless
something should develop to necessitate
further action, may be circulated
through the mails within this country.
According to Mr.. Atkinson's own state
ment, as reported, a large number of
the pamphlets have been sent out. The
matter was brought to the attention of
the postal officials by the war depart
ment, whose authorities were greatly
exercised, with suggestion that some
action be taken. 1t is thought that
there is little possibility of any of these
publications getting past the San Fran
cisco Office, but if few should, the mil
itary authorities in the Philippines will
promptly suppress them.
Incite to Mutiny.
Postmaster-General Emory Smith
made this statement Tuesday:
''These pamphlets actually incite to
| mutny, and it would be utterly unjustifia-
BILE to permit their circulation among the
soldiers in the Philippines. Their crcula-
ton is movement to induce the soldiers
to disobey orders and in effect to en-
barrass and resist the government in
whose services they are engaged. Their
circulation, except in the mails for the
Philippines, Is not interfered with, be-
cause, in being sent to Manila, they are
destined for soldiers fighting our battles;
but in this country the effort to incite to
mutiny could have no result. Not only are
they designed to incte to mutiny the Amer
lean soldiers in those islands, but also to
foment and encourage instruction on the
part of the Filipinos themselves. Such Sc
ditious literature as now estopped might
| have an effect on the forces we now are
dealing with that would be intellectually to
their advantage and certainly would tend
| to stimulate and strengthen their already
| weakening opposition. The law covering
| the case is ample. What action might be
| taken-and the offense is of the gravest
character-is not to be discussed. I do not
| believe there is any intention to prose-
cute Mr.. Atkinson, as the matter now
! stands. The authority to do SO, however,
is plain. He not only attacks the presi-
dent and the government in the most viru-
lent language and disputes the national
policy but also calls on the American
troops to defy the government. Certainly
this government is empowered to stop or
check as it sees fit, the circulation of
| these seditious publications"
May BE Punished.
Washington, May 3.-The absentees
from Tuesdays cabinet meeting were
Secretaries Gage, Long, Alger and Will
| son. One of the subjects of discussion
was the circulars which We're mailed to
the troops at Manila criticising the
Philippine policy of the government
and advising volunteers whose term of
| service is about to expire not to re-
| enlist. A member of the cabinet in
| speaking of the matter said that Mr..
Edward Atkinson, of Boston, who is
believed to have been largely instru-
mental in the preparation and sending
out of these circulars, was unquestion-
| ably guilty of assisting an insurrection
against the authority of the United
States, and was subject to term OF
| Imprisonment or heavy fine, or both.
| The law which it is said has been vio-
lated is section 1894 of the revised
statutes, which is as follows:
Every person who incites, sets on foot,
assists, or engages in any rebellion or in
surrection against the authority of the
| United States, or the laws thereof, or gives
| aid or comfort thereto shall be punished by
| Imprisonment not more than ten years, or
| by fine of not more than $4,000, or by both
| of such punishments; and shall, moreover,
| be incapable of holding any office under the
| United States"
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
kinson as those of a person without
any proper conception of the gravity OF
the offense committed, and the gov
eminent may not at this time take ac-
ton against Mr.. Atkinson and his as
| sistants. The postmaster-gener
stated at the cabinet meeting that he
had ordered the circulars stopped at
San Francisco. Members of the adj
ministration regard Mr.. Atkinson's al
legged action as seditious and disgrace
full and it is not improbable that, if re.
peated, prompt and energetic action
will be taken.
Parts of the report of the army beef
commission were read at the meeting
and matters relating to the Alaskan
boundary question were briefly dis.
cussed.
| MIR. Atkinson Interviewed.
Boston, May 3.-Hon. Edward Atkin
son, vice-president of the Anti-Impe
rialist league of this city, was shown
the Washington dispatch stating that
the postmaster-general had directed
that certain pamphlets prepared by Mr.
| Atkinson be taken from the mails to
Manila. Mr., Atkinson said he had re,
| ceived no direct communication from
Washington about the matter He ex
| planned that the documents were com
pilations of facts and figures takel
from the debates in the national house
and senate and calling attention tc
points overlooked in debate