Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-04-03
GOVERNMENT MAY PROCEED
May Prosecute Those Subject to De-
portation as Aliens.
GEN. FUNSTON MUST WAIT
Cannot Be Promoted Until Others
Longer in Service Have Been
Advanced.

ed to President Roosevelt at the cabinet
meeting an important decision as to crimi-
nal prosecution of anarchists in this
country. especially with regard to those
associated in the publication at Paterson.
\, j.. of La QUESTION: Sociale. which was
recently excluded rom the mails by order
of the Postmaster General After author
iZinE the Post ONCE Department to for
Did the use of the mails to this publca-
ton. the President. March 90. wrote let
ter to Attorney General Bonaparte. asking
him. whether it was possible to prosecute
the editors and publishers and. generally.
as to the powers of the government in
handling anarchists.
The President in that letter said that
IL was against the laws to circulate OBJ
scene or immoral literature. He took
The position that the advocacy of murder
by dynamite. as was done by La cues
t1onc Soc:ale ia immoral and he believed
the editors and publishers could be i'm
prisoned.
While directly answering the question
propounded by the President Mr. Bona
parte goes beyond that. it is understood
and it may be that. following his opinion,
the government may take r hand against
the anarchists. particularly against those
subject to deportation by reason OF being
aliens. If this cannot be done the Presi-
dent probably will appeal TO Congress- as
ne Indicated In his letter TO the Attorney
General for laws that will enable the
government TO take drastic action against
the reds
The President is disposed to think that
the general government should be en-
powered with laws that will enable the
federal hand to deal with the worst class
es OF these citizens. II their publications.
those that incite to bloodshed by dynamite
the mails by law their educational prog
ress will be stopped. 1t is believed by
government officials that il the incendiary
newspapers can be shut out forward
step Will be taken toward suppression.
Funston Must Wait for Promotion.
Brig. Gen. Funston. whose rise TO high
position in the United States Army has
been meteoric must wait for promotion
to major general. Senator Curtis OF Kan
sas. from which state Gen. Funston halls.
talked with the President today and urged
that Gen. Funston be raised to a. still
higher place in the army. The President
expressed appreciation of the military
abilities of the Kansas man, but said that
at present he would have to provide pro-
motions for others who had been in the
service much longer than Gen. Funston
Eleven years ago Gen. Funston was an
insurgent officer with the struggling
Cubans against the Spaniards.
He had been a newspaper reporter and
MS love of adventure and Of liberty led
him to offer his services to the Cubans.
He quickly enlisted In the war with
Spain In 1898. but had no opportunity to
distinguish himself here or in Cuba Then
his regiment of Kansans was sent to the
philippines. where he aided I'm chasing the
rlnpinos: In one enga cement. that which
attracted most attention to him. he swan
a river to attack the enemy His deeds
were exploited and Congress and the
White House Joined in making him a
brigadier general. He continued to do
good work in the islands and since his
return to this country has had important
comma nds. He Is now stationed at San
Francisco. There arc many men who
have been In the army over forty years
who have not yet become major generals.
and it is with the idea OF promoting these
men as fast as possible that the Presi-
dent desires to go slowly in elcvating
those Of shorter service.
John Mitchell Declines Good Position
John Mitchell. former president of the
United Mine Workers. was today offered
the position of special commissioner froE,
the President to investigate and report
upon labor conditions on the Isthmus of
Panama. Mr.. Mitchell told the President
that lie would not be able to accept the
offer. which he greatly appreciated, owing
to the condition of his health. The labor
leader called upon President Roosevelt
manned in conference some time. Going
away from the White House Mr. Mitchell
said that he had no settled plans for the
future. everything depending upon his ef-
forts to recover his health.
He intended to devote his time to re-
operating, and IL he should recover his
health he would consider some of the
various propositions business and other
wise. now before him. There have been
suggestions that he would become editor
Of a newspaper devoted to the labor inter
ests. but he said that he would go slowly
about that kind Of work or any other at
this time. President Roosevelt entertains
such high opinion of Mr. Mitchell that
he would probably find a good place for
the former mine leader when the latter's
health will permit him engaging in active
work.
Kentucky Job Hung Up.
4 mighty fine federal job has been
hanging fire at the White House for sew
eral months. 1t is that Of collector Of
the port of louisville. Every republican
in the Kentucky delegation has a candi-
date and has urged him upon the Presi-
dent. but each man has been told that
the delegation must get together upon
one ::.an before the President will take
action. Not only would II be dangerous
politics 70 make an appointment now
without the republican representatives
being in harmony. but 1T might split the
party up and remove some Of the
chances that are claimed to exist as to
carrying the state this fall. Representa-
tions have been made to the President
that the party has fine chance Of win
ming in November on the presidential
ticket and in a majority of the congress
sional districts. Consequently any ac-
ton that would stir UP discOrd would be
to the detriment Of the party. The re-
publicans of the delegation have been
to the White House a half dozen times
to confer and try to reach an agreement.