The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1910-02-02
REPUBLICANS ARE ANGRY,
THEY RESENT CRITICISM OF
POSTAL EXTRAVAGANCE.
congressman Smith, of California,
says Newspapers Are Guilty of
treason When They Expose the
shortcomings of Management OF
Postoffice Department..

lean republic can't stand forever with
this sort of thing being rung in the
peoples ears-these anarchistic
staements,' angrily declared Repre-
sentative Smith of California otday,
addressing Herbert Myrick, repre-
sentiye of the Agricultural Press
League. witness before the house
committee on postoff1ces and post
roads at its hearing on the subject
OF increasing the postal rate on Sec
ond-class mail matter. He was re-
ferring to an editorial which Mr.. N.Y.
rick acknowledged came from one of
the publications which he represent
ec.
Il protest that the farmers of the
country are not anarchists and I pro-
test that / am not traitor hotly re-
torted Mr.. Myrick, who shortly be-
fore had been further alluded to as
being responsible for traitorous utter
ances.
Asked by Chairman Weeks if he
had been canvassing the country
with circulars and editorials in an
endeavor to defeat the raise Of rates
On second-class matter Mr.. Myrick
gave an affirmative response. Mr..
Weeks then produced several of the
circulars and editorials and Mr.. N.Y.
rick acknowledged authorship of
them. They were entitled, "a Fresh
Attack Upon Liberty" "Still Another
Tax" and "New Taxes and Fresh
Robbery"
Are these your conclusions? Do
you think there is any robbery?" ask
ed Representative Smith Of Califor-
mia.
II saw that the postmaster general
had reported that It cost cents q
pound to carry gecond-class matter
while the sgovernment receives but 1
cent pound. If the government in
tended to raise it to cents, it would
constitute ROBBERY, in my opinion, f"
replied Mr.. Myrick.
"Your editorial refers to fresh rob-
berry. Do you mean that there have
been other robberies?" asked Mr..
Smith.
Some people, answered the wit
ness, consider the tariff a robbery,
and If this raise in rates occurred it
would be a fresh robbery"
Mr.. Smith replied by saying that
there was no intention of raising the
postal rate to cents. but merely
enough to make up the $4,000, 900
postal deficit.
One OF the editorials referred to
"scheming" and graft" going on in
congress In connection with the pro-
posed increase and Messrs Weeks,
Smith and Fassett, members Of the
committee. waxed angry over these
characterizations.
Mr.. Myrick stated that he referred
to the relations Of the railroads to
the government in the carrying Of
mail, and did not intend to reflect
upon the memebrs OF the committee.
Didn't you use the word robbery
to mean something wicked?" inter-
jected Mr.. Smith. Didn't you mean
slur upon congress?"
mo-" said Mr.. Myrick.
THAT is the impression you con-
vey," said Mr.. Smith.
II don't think so," answered the
witness.
'Then you think the word rob-
berry is polite form of criticism,
I suppose" continued the California
member
II merely had reference. to the pro-
posed heavy increase in the postal
rate" replied Mr.. Myrick.
Mr.. Smith said that he was getting
large number of letters speaking Of
anarchy and giving the impression of
growing hatred against the insttu-
tAOho VI thc COuHITy. ne ueCldTeu
such ideas were fostered by the edi-
torials in qeustion and others like
them. and that they constituted trea-
son.
Mr.. Myrick hotly denied that the
farmers of the country were anarch-
lists or that he himself was guilty of
treason.
Representative Murdoch Of Kan
sas. another member Of the commit
tee, called attention to the fact that
the government was paying $4,000
year for carrying mails across an old
carried for much smaller sum
across a new bridge which was now