The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1899-05-03
THE WORK A COMPILATION
FACTS AND FIGURES FROM De-
BATES In CONGRESS.
Mr.. ATKINSON DESCRIBES THE BOOKS
He Declares if They are Kept Out Of the Mails,
the Congressional Record is lmpliedIy
Unsuitable Sending for the
Troops at Manila.

Boston, Mass, May 2.-Uon. Edward
Atkinson. NicePresdent of the Anti
Imperialist League of this city, was
shown the Washington dispatch stating
that the Postmaster General had direct
ed that certain pamphlets prepared by
Mr.. Atkinson be taken from the mails
to Manila Mr.. Atkinson said he had
received no direct communication from
Washington about the matter. tie eX-
planned that the documents were COM
pilations of facts and figures taken from
the debates in the National House and
Senate and calling attention to points
overlooked in debate.
"Bv the action of the Senate, Mr..
Atkinson continued. these compilations
were published as Senate documents and
they are now public documents of the
United States. Therefore any action
taken toward keeping them out of the
mails would imply that the Congres-
sional Record and official documents o.
the United States are unsuitable to IN
sent to officers of the volunteer regl-
ments now in Manila. whose term of
service has expired, and whose return to
this country is demanded by officials OF
certain States who say that the men are
entitled to discharge.
1T is said that the dispatch of these
pamphlets from this country to iha
Philippine Islands is barred lest they
should create discomfort and even mutins
among the soldiers: that being s:.:ted .ly
the Department to be the design OF
thesse publications.
There are two pamphlets only. Tn
first edition of the first. printed in No
vember was dedicated to President Nc
kinley. in support of his statement that
'forcible annexation would be criminal
aggression. The facts and figures given
in that pamphlet as whole were made
the frequent subject of debate i'll the
House of Representatives and the Senate
during the session, and the pamphlet as
IL whole was finally printed by order of
the Senate as Senate document No. 62.
1.-The second pamphlet was issued late
in February, when it appeared that acts
Of criminal aggression were being COM
mitted in the Philippine Islands. In
that pamphlet certain facts and state
ments were submitted to the attention
of the Senate, and were the subject of
debate, and that pamphlet again by or
Senate document. l have copy of No.
62. and have sent for a copy of the latter.
These pamphlets were, on April 9th
and 25th. addressed by me to Admiral
George Dewey. President Schurman,
Prof. Worcester, General III. q. Otis,
General I-awton, General Miller and the
correspondent of Il New York illustrated
weekly in Manila None others have,
to my knowledge been sent to any one
else | desired to send them to other
officers, and for that purpose notified the
War Department of my intention and
asked for list that would give me the
names. If it is unlawful for a citizen of
the United States to communicate with
other citizens in Manila by seud'ng them
documents in private edition which
have been printed by order of the United
States Senate as public documents, am
content to leave the matter at that exact
point, which requires no comment from
me-"