The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1899-05-10
WOULD CAUSE MUTINY.
Pamphlets Issued by the Anti -imperIailst League
Of Boston Barred From the Mails
to the Philippines.

Inc government OlEclhlS nave iol-
hidden that citizens communicate with
Americans at Manila on the subject
OF the Philippine war. Pamphlets,
which are claimed 10 be nothing more
than proceedings and debates OF the
United states congress have been
barred from the malls leaving for the
Philippines
The postmaster general has directed
the postmaster at San Francisco to
take out of the mails for Manila three
pamphlets Issued by Edward Atkinson
Of Boston, vice-prcsident of the Anti
Imperlalist League. This order does
not apply to the circulation or the
pamphlets by mail In this country,
but bars their dispatch TO the Philip
pines.
The three pamphlets, copies OF
which have been prohibited In the
malls for the Philippines. are those
which have the following titles;
Criminal Aggression by Whom?
'T'he Cost of n National Crime ana
THE Hell of War aud Its Penalties.
These, unless something should de-
vclop to necessitate further action,
may be circulated through the mails
within this country. The matter was
brought TO the attention OF the postal
officials by the war department. ~ IL
thought that there is little possibility
of any of these publications gettlns
past the San Francisco office. but II II
few should the military authorizes III
the Philippines will promptly suppress
them. Postmaster General Smith
made this statement:
These pamphlets actually incite 10
inutiny and IL would be utterly unJus-
tlnable to permit their circulation
among tine soldiers In the Philippines
Their circulation Is a movement TO IN
duce the soldiers TO disobey orders
and In effect to embarrass ana resist
the government in whose services they
are engaged. Not only are they
designed to melted to mutiny the
American soldiers In those islands, but
also to foment and encourage insur-
rectlon on the part of the Filipinos
themselves. The law covering the case
H. ample. what action might be taken
and the offense Is OF the graVest
character-is not to be discussed. 1
do not believe there is any intention
| to prosecute Mr.. Atkinson as the mat
ter now stands.
Edward Atkinson. Vlce-president OF
the Anti-Imperialist League OF Bos-
ton, was shown the Washington DIS
patch stating that the postmaster gen
eral had directed that certain nm
| phlets prepared by Mr.. Atkinson be
| taken from the malls to Manila. lie
| explained that the documents were
| compilations of facts and figures taken
| from the debates In the national mouse
and senate and calling attention 10
| points overlooked In debate.
Mr.. Atkinson stated that any action
| excluding these pamphlets would ihdi-
cate that the congressional records
| and official documents were unsuitable
| to be sent to officers of the volunteer
regiments now at Manila whose terms
| of service have expired and whose re-
| turn is demanded even by certain
state officials. He said:
"There are two pamphlets only. The
| first edition of the first printed IN NO
vember was dedicated to President
| Mckinley, In support of his statement
| that 'forcible annexation would be
| criminal aggression The facts ana
| figures given in that pamphlet were
made the frequent subject or DEBATE
| in the house of representatives ana
| the senate during the session, ana the
| first pamphlet as whole was nnally
| printed by order OF the senate as sen,
| ate document No. go. The second
| pamphlet was issued late in February
when 1t appeared that acts of criminal
| aggression were being committed in the
| Philippine islands. In that pamphlet
certain facts and statements were SUB
| niitted to the attention of the senate
| and were the subject of debate, and
| that pamphlet again. by order OF th'
| senate, was printed as n senate docu,
ment. / have copy OF NO. 62, ano
| have sent for a copy of the latter.
"If 1t Is unlawful for citizen or the
| United States to communicate witt
other citizens In Manila by sendlnt
them documents In n private editor
which have been printed by order o
the United States senate as pubic
documents, I am content to leave th'
matter at that exact point. which re
quires no comment from me.
"If this attempt to forbid FREE
speech and free mails to the people
of this country has been made. which
cannot believe, think the people
will decide themselves what to d.
about it,"
1