Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1899-05-03
EDWARD ATKINSON MAY FIND HIM.
SELF IN TROUBLE.
LIABLE TO HEAVY PENALTIES
not ALLOWED To SEND HIS PAaIPH-
LETS TO MANILA.
Postoface Department Orders Them
StOpped-Their Circulation in,
This Country Not to BE In
terfered With-Cabinet
Discusses Matter.


3ects Of discussion at to-day's cabinet meet
ing was the circulars which were mailed to
the troops at Manila criticising the Philip
pine 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 of
these circulars, was unquestionably guilty
of assisting an insurrection against the au-
thority of the United STATES. and was SUBJ
ject to term of imprisonment, or heavy
fine, or both. The law which, 1t is said,
has been violated, is section 1894. of the re-
vised statutes, which is as follows:
Amy 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 then ten years,
or by fine Of not more than $4,000. or by
both such punishments; and shall. more
over, be incapable of holding any Office un-
der 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.. Atkinson as those
of a person without any proper conception
OF the gravity of the offense committed,
and the government may not. at this time,
take action against Mr.. Atkinson and his
assistants
The postmaster general stated at the
cabinet meeting that he had ordered the
circulars stopped at San Francisco.
Members of the administration regard Mr.
Atkinson's action as seditious and disgrace
ful, and it is not Improbable that, if repeat
ed, prompt and energetic action 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
Whom?" THE Cost of National Crime"
and THE He'll of War and Its Penalties"
These, unless something should develop to
necessitate further action, may be circulat-
ed through the malls within this country.
According to Mr.. Atkinson's own state
fnent, 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 department, whose au-
thorities 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 Francisco office, but, IL few
should. the military authorities in the
Philippines will promptly suppress them.
Postmaster General Emory Smith made
=. this statement to the Associated Press to-
day:
These pamphlets actually fncite to mu-
tiny, and II would be utterly unjustiiable
IN afr f.i,.p I'll 81,
diers in the Philippines. Their circula-
tion is a movement TO induce the soldiers
to disobey orders, and. in effect, to en-
barrass and resist the government in whose
service they are engaged. Their circula-
tion, except in the mails for the Philip
pines, is not interfered with, because, 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 incite to mutiny the American soldiers
in those islands, but also TO foment and
encourage insurrection on the part of the
Filipinos themselves.
such seditious literature as now estop-
ped might have an effect on the forces we
now are dealing with that would be in
calculably to their advantage and GER
tainly would tend to stimulate and
strengthen their already weakening oppo-
eitiOn- Inc law covering Inc case Is am
pie What action might be taken-and the
offense is of the grayest character-is not
TO be discussed. / do not believe there is
any intention to prosecute Mr.. Atkinson,
as the matter now stands. The authority
TO do so, however, is plain. He not only
attacks the president and the government
in the most virulent 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 circula-
BOSTON, May 2.-Edward Atkinson, vice
president of the Anti-lmperiaist League
of this city, was shown the Washington
dispatch stating hat the postmaster gen
erai had directed that certain pamphlets
preparcd by Mr. atkinson be taken from
he had received no disect coinrnunicafion
from Washington about the matter. He ex-
planned that the documents were conipila-
lions of facts and figures taken from the
debates in the rational house and senate
and calling atteution to points overlooked
by action of the senate Mr. Atkinson
continued, these compilations were pub
lished as senate. documents. and they are
now public documents OF the United States
Therefore. any action taken toward keep
ing them out Of the mails would Imply
that congressional records and official doc
umenfs Of the United States are unsuitable
10 he sent 10 officers of the volunteer reri-
mcnts now in Manila. whose terms of sery-
ice has exI,ired and whose return to this
country is demanded by officials of certain
states, who say that the men are entitled
Mr. Atkinson said he had sent copies of
these documents TO Admiral Dewey, Presi-
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