The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-05-06
Extracts from the Literature That
Mails at San Francisco.
THREE RADICAL PAMPHLETS
ENTITLED "CRIMINAL AGGRESSION
BY WHOM COMMITTEDso
"The Cost Of a National Crime" "The
He'll of War and It's Penaltfes," All
Intended to Work Harm.

WASHINGTON, May 5.-Three members
of the Cabinet, Messrs. Gage. Alger and
Griggs, were absent from to-day's Cabinet
meeting. The meeting was comparatively
brief and the discussion covered variety
of topics. Secretaries Long and Wilson
have just returned from their trips, the
former to New England and the latter to
the South, and they indulged In some
"reminiscences. The President and the men,
bers Of the Cabinet regard the situation
in the Philippines as improving, notwith-
standing the fighting, and an early surren-
der of the insurgent forces is anticipated.
Postmaster General Smith read to the Cabi-
net a letter from Edward Atkinson, presi-
dent of the Anti-imperialistic League, ask
ing permission to send to the officers and
soldiers serving in the Philippines copies
Of the interdicted literature Of the league.
The letter was dated several days ago. and
1t was the receipt of this letter which in
duced the Fostoffioe Department 10 take
action. In view of the widespread interest
in the case the Postoffice Department to-
day made public the letter Of Edward At
kinson. Many letters asking information
about the subject have reached here. and
to-day the following statement was given
out by Postmaster General Emory Smith:
I'm view of the statement of Mr.. Edward
Atkinson that he sent his pamphlets only
to Admiral Dewey. General Otis. President
Schurman and three or four others the let
ter of Mr.. Atkinson containing his applica-
ton will be of interest. 1t is as follows:
"'Boston, April %.
""ro the Secretary of War, Washington:
"'Sir--I desire to send a large number or
the inclosed pamphlets % ON on The & Cost OF "a a
Penalties. Penalties Criminal Aggression By
Whom Committed?" to the officers and
privates in the Philippine islands, l there
documents can be sent directly through the
War Department or may be forwarded in
due. course Of mail. A list of regiments @ ,i Is
GERS available they would serve me very
useful purpose. EDWARD ATKINSON
mo answer was made to this letter ex-
cept to send an official copy to the post
master general, who issued instructions to
the postmaster at San Francisco to hold the
pamphlets. The spirit and design of the
pamphlets will be indicated by a few ex-
tracts. In one of them Mr.. Atkinson says:
Il will append one question to each reader:
How much increase Of taxation are you
willing to bear, and how many of your
neighbors' sons are you ready TO sacrifice by
fever, malaria and venereal disease in order
to extend the sovereignty of the United
States over the West Indies and the Philip
pine islands,
Again, after describing what he calls the
hell of war and its penalties, Mr.. Atkinson
says: Lest others should be entrapped into
enlistment in the regular army or volun-
teer service in the tropics, 1t will only be fair
and honest on the part of the recruiting Of
ficers to be put In possession of these facts
Again Mr.. Atkinson says: The way has
already become plain for the youth of the
land to avoid disease in the tropics by re-
fusing to volunteer or enlist in the army
or the navy of the United States. The way
will be found for the volunteers now held
against their will to get their release from
unlawful service in any other country than
their own after peace is declared
"Mr Atkinson not only speaks thus OF
and to the soldiers of the United States.
but he encourages the Fiipinos to insur-
rection when he says, they have the power
to enter into international relations and
they may yet be recognized and rightly rec
ognized by other powers 4"