The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1899-05-03
Intended To Cause Mu.
tiny At Manila.
Boston Citizen Is Liable To a
Prosecution.

| San FRANCISCO to take out OF the malls foI
Manila, three pamphlets issued by Ed.
ward Atkinson of Boston, vice president
of the Anti-Im perialistic league.
This order does not apply to the circu.
lation of the pamphlets by mall in this
country but bars their despatch to the
Philippines, discomfort and even mutiny
among the soldiers being stated by the
department to be the design of these
publications.
A member of the cabinet in speaking of
the matter said that Edward Atkinson of
Boston, who is believed to have been
largely insrrumental in the preparation
and sending out of these circulars, was
unquestionably guilty OF assisting an in
surrectiou against the authority of the
United States and was subject to term
of imprisonment or a heavy fine or both.
Members of the administration regard
Mr.. Atkinson's alleged action as seditious
and disgraceful and 1t is not improbable
that If repeated prompt and energetic &C.
ton will be taken.
The three pamphlets, copies of which
have been prohibited In the mails for the
Philippines are those which have the fol-
lowing titles:
Criminal Aggression by WhomP"
"The Cost of National Crima'
The He'll OF War and It's Penalties"
Thsse, unless something should develop
to necessitate further action, may be cir
cudnfefS .-hxov4ae..tk Vv-. -iia. 4aV-s---Li
own statement as reported, large Enm-
Der of pam nphlets have been sent out. The
marter was hrought.to the attention OF
the postal officials by the war department
whose authorities were greatly exercised,
with a suggestion that home action be
taken. 1t Is thought that there is little
possibility of any Of these publications
getting past the San Francisco ofnce, but
IL a few should, the military authorities In
the Philippines will promptly suppress
them. Postmaster General Smith made
this statement to the Associated Press to
day: .,.. o..
mutiny and it would be utterly upjust1-
fable 10 permit their circulation among
the soldiers in the Philippines. Their
circulation Is movement to induce the
soldiers to disobey orders and in effect to
embarrass and resist the government In
whose service they are engaged. ineir
circulation, except in the mails for the
Philippines, is not interferred with, be-
cause in being sent to Manila they are
destined for soldiers lighting our battles,
but in this country tine eject TO 1nclte TO
mutiny could have no result. NOT only
are they designed to incite to mutiny the
American soldiers in those islands but
also to foment and encourage insurrec-
tion on the part of the EilipiDos them
selves. Such seditious literature as that
now stopped might have an effect on the
forces we now are dealing with that
oIa 10, ,1u to THAR ADVANTAGE
and certainly would tend to stimulate
and strengthen their already weaeknmg
oppostion. The law co vering the case Is
ample. What action might be taken. ana
the offense Ia of the grav est characeer: Ii
| not to be discussed. l do not believe
there is any intention to prosecute Mr.
Atkinson as the matter now stands. Inc
authority to do So however, Is plain
Hs not only attacks the President ana tht
Government in the most violent language
and disputes the national policy, put aiso
calls on the American troops to DEFY tne
government. Certainly this government
IS empowered to stop or check, as 1t seer
| ft. the circulation of these sedltlous pup
| lications
MIR. ATKINSO MS DEFENCE.
Boston, Mas, May 2.-Hon. Edward
Atktnsop. vice president of the Antl-lm
| perialist league of this city this alternool
was shown the Washington despatch stat .n,
| ing that the postmaster general OF an'
United States had directed that GerCair
pamphlets prepared by MIR. Atkinson
taken from the mails to Manila. said an In, n,
had received no direct comm unica'i9n ~ =
from Washington about the matter. rs
explained that the documents were com,
| Diiatious of facts and figures takeh irolii
the debates in the Nationsi house Eau. aue
Ssnate,and calling attention 10 po'n'S
overlooked in debate. ux A..
"By action of the Senate" Mr, .,an, Az
kinson continued, these compi,a.ion, ~,
thav are now public documents of tn
states es Thersf0fs rsem amy oSt Of a''H, th
oaAHn az w""id impIy that Congressional
reoords m and official documents of tn
Unised states are unsuitable to be sen sen,
to officers of the volunteer regiments nov
in Manila, whose term of service has eX
niyed and whose rsturn to this country II
demanded by officials OF certain state
who say that the men are entitled TO OILS