Kansas agitator. [volume] (Garnett, Kan.) 1890-1905, 1901-12-13
PRESS CENSORSHIP.

PRESS CENSORSHIP.
The Topeka Advocate has only partially won
its fight to retain its right to the second-cass
postmaster general, says, in effect, that such
subscribers as are Legitimate may be sent at
the rate of one cent per pound, but that sub
scribers whose papers are not paid for IN ad-
vance are not legitimate subscribers, and such
papers must be paid for at the rate of one cent
each. Thus, Mr.. Madden sets himself as wiser
and greater than various courts which have de-
cided that person is legally subscriber to a
paper if he takes it out of the postoffice, regu-
lary, whether he ordered it or not; that the
taking Of the paper regularly from the office is
evidence that he wants 1t, and he must pay for
it,
There is not weekly paper published in
Kansas that has no delinquents, it matters not
what its politics may be, and if Madden's rule
applies TO all papers as it does to the Advocate,
all must suffer alike. That may be the reason
why not single. Republican, editor ip the state
has opened his head or written line in con-
demnation of Madden's outrageous, unjust rul-
ing. They appear TO be afraid of him.
The Topeka Capital, one Of the worst lying
sheets in the country, tries to make sport of the
Advocate, and the Appeal to Reason. In a 1e-
cent number, the following appears:
Both of those papers have apparently no
claim on second-class mail privileges, nasmuch
as they are not Legitimate newspapers, but are
supported as plopagandist sheets by persons
outside of advertisers and subscribers. The de-
partment at Washington Investigated the sub
scription lists Of these papers, and discovered,
we understand, that actually more han half OF
the papers sent through the mails are not to
subscribers at all, but are sent out as advertis-
ing matter for certain hobbies or principles or
beliefs. This is not objected to by the depart.
rnent, but the sole reason why the departments
expenses have exceeded its income for years
has been the advantage which publishers of
books, pamphlets and dodgers have taken of
the second-class mail rate of a cent pound,
and the department has determined, as an
nounced some months ago, to remedy this evil.
1t is looking into the class of publications that
are getting second-cass rates without being
entitled to them, and it has discovered in the
number these two Kansas publications-tne
Advocate and the Appeal to Reason.
The editor of the Capital knowingly and
wilfully lies There is absolutely no truth in
the above. He knows that both Of the papers
mentioned are as legitimate and as much en-
titled to the second class rate the Capital and
the Mail and Breeze, both of which are sent
free to thousands of people throughout the
state-especially during political campaigns
For weeks and months, there stood at the head
of one of the columns of the Mail and Breeze a
notice something like this: "Dont be afraid
to take this paper out of the office. 1t is paid
for" Paid for by whom? Not by those who
were receiving the papers without ordering
them, but by the Republican central committee.
The Capital says the Advocate ard Appeal to
Reason are sent out 'advertising matter for
certain hobbies or principles or beliefs" This
cannot be said of the aptal, except as to
hobbies, for IT HAS NO PRINCIPLES The fel
lows who run 1t do not know the meaning of
the word ''principe"-it isn't in their diction-
ary.
The Capital says: "The sole reason why
the departments expenses have exceeded its
income for years has been the advantage which
publishers of books, pamphlets and dodgers
have taken of the seconu-cass mail rate"