The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1899-05-03
THE AUTHOR TALKS.
Pamphlets Were Complied from Rec
ords Of the Congress.


ords Of the Congress.
Boston, May Edward Atkinson, vice
president of the anti-Imperialist league Of
patch stating that the postmaster general
had directed that certain pamphlets pre-
pared by Mr.. Atkinson be taken from the
mails to Manila. Mr.. Atkinson said he
had received no direct communication
from Washington about the matter lie
explained 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.
By action of the senate" Mr., Atkinson
continued. the compilations were pub
lished as senate documents and they are
now public documents OF the United
States. Therefore any action toward
keeping out of the mails would imply that
the congressional records and official doc
uments of the United States are unsuitn-
Bile to be sent e. officers of the volunteer
regiments now at Manila. whose term of
service has expired and whose return to
TINS 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 the Philip
pines is barred lest they should create
discomfort and even mutiny among the
soldiers; that being stated by the depart
ment to be the design of publication.
There are two pamphlets only The
lirst edition of the first, printed in Novem.
Der. was dedicated to President Mckinley,
In support of his statement that 'forciplr
sion
The facts and figures given in that
pamphlet we're made the frequent subject
OF debate In the house OF representatives
and the senate during the session and the
pamphlet as whole was finally printed
by order of the senate as senate document
No. .,
The second pamphlet was issued lats
in February, when it appeared that acts OF
criminal aggression was being committed
III the Philippine Islands. In that pamphlet
certain statements were submitted 10 the
attention of the senate ard that pamphlet
again, by order of the senate, was printed
as senate document. ] have copy OF
No 81 and have sent for a copy OF the
latter.
These pamphlets were. on April "a and
20, addressed by me TO Admiral George
Dewey, President Schurman Prof. Wor-
cester. General H. G. Otis, General Law
ton. General Miller and the correspondent
VI d ANSN iolh iiiuslTdleu weekly IN Ma
Mia.
None others have TO my knowledge
been sent TO anyone else I desired to
send TO other officers and for that purpose
notified the war department of my inten-
ton asked for list that would give me
the names If II is unlawful for citizen
of the United States to communicate with
other citizens in Manila by sending them
documents in a 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. |
would, however call the attention of the
postmaster general to the necessity of re-
quiring that all newspapers lately printed
here and elsewhere which contain the
late speech OF Senator Hoar, given at the
republican club in Boston. in which he
used this expressive phrase i can see
no difference in the lvnchng of he South
ern postmaster and lynching a pe0pls I
think a government derives its just pow
ers from the consent Of the governed and
got those ideas from the constitution OF
the United States be taken from the
mails.
IF this attempt 10 forbid free speech
and free mails to the people Of this coun-
/ try has been made. which ! can not be-
I lieve, think the people will decide them
| selves what 10 do about It,"