The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1911-02-14
POLITICS BEHIND
POSTAL INCREASE
Blythe it IS a Direct Reprisal
on Part of Taft, Hitchcock,
Cannon and Others
A BODY O AT
PRESS
Heavy Mailing Charges, it IS
Asserted, Would Put a Num-
Der of Magazines Out of
Business

WASHINGTON, D.. c., Feb. IA
Samuel G. Blythe. n of the fore
most writers and political students
OF America. made the direct charge
to-day In an article written for the
United Press hat the effort to In
crease the postal rate on magazines
is part OF a plot to stamp out the
progressive movement politics
Blythe declared that 1t was act OF
reprisal on the part OF President Taft.
Postmaster General Hitchcock,
Speaker Cannon. Senator Aldrich
and all the Cannon and Aldrich
crowd in congress"
Copyright, 1871. BY the United
Press.)
BY SAMUEL q. BLYTHE.
WASHINGTON. Feb. 1i.-foiitics.
not a postal deficit. is the underlying
motive OF the administrations at
tack on the magazine and periodical
press OF this country through the
medium Of an increase in second class
postage.
Postmaster-Genera Hitchcock has
his excuse In his alleged deficit. Presi-
den Taft has his excuse in his sup
port OF a cabinet member who Is try
ing to put his department on a self
sustaining basis. The administration
ECh&SotS VIZ LaNhed sAc atsASG0i1ttAt
on the p~ostofice bill have their ex-
cuse In the demand of the president
that the Increase shall be made. They
are making these excus too, now
that they are discovering how hor-
ouEhly the people are aroused on the
matter OF using the taxing power of
the government TO condensation a
In what tx amounts to--a free press
hat has dared to critfcise and con-
AA~x- Arshfn A~t. ~ roth 49, n-a!x
ixtrat3on and the supporters eff the
administration In the congress.
Laying aside the tremendous econo-
mic fact that the imposition Of this
tax by the government means the
ruin OF h magazine and periodical
business In this country. the absolute
extinction of the popular magazines.
look at the politics OF IL, Three facts
are certain:
/. This tax is a part of a carefully
matured plan by the administration In
conjunction with the interests the Re-
publican majority In congress have
served for sixteen years to stamp out
the progressive Republican movement
in this country by depriving that
movement OF its means OF publicity
n its mediums for the spread OF its
propaganda
2. 1t Is especially directed at the
So tkstS sVESlNt lhfkhbliAA N
League and at the progressives In
Congress, h have been supported
- 10y the magazines arid periodical
press In their pts TO rid the
country nf Aldrichism and Cannon
ism.
.. II il IN act Of direct reprisal
ON the part of the President, Hitch
cock. Cannon, Aldrich and all the
Cannon n Atdrtch crowd In Com
ERASE rf nhnTn thARA -
the eDnlrpitte that put the q sae q
ment In she Senate bill. intended to
punish those magazines and periodi-
Gals that have spoken feariessly about
governmental and political abuses.
OF course. the publishers can make
the case. and are making II vigorous
~ and effectively. that this disCrifni-
natory reprisal tax win bankrupt
them, or II any OF them can con-
nrice OF the popular, magazines to the
reading public. but that isn't the main
point.
The vital being hat mfw mww w
The vital thing that concerns the
people OF this country is that this
administration. by exercising Its tax
ing power. Is endeavoring to abolish
a free press. not only in the inter-
ests of its own political ambitions,
n those of the men who serve II.
but also, In the interests and for the
protection of the financial powers 1t
seeks to serve.
The question is bigger than one Of
money. either In the governments
purse or out of the purses OF the pub
fishers and the scores Of Thousands
OF men who will be thrown out or en-
ployment IL the publishing business
II curtailed. as II will be II this In
nraa~~ ~ aaraNd nIaou v.Ae<oD a hor~---
a law.
1t Is a blow at the liberty guaran-
teed under the Constitution. and is
surversive to every American idea of
Justice, fair play and decent poll
tics.