The Detroit times., 1911-02-14
sees PLOT TO KILL
|. PROGRESSIVE WAVE
Samuel @. Blythe Says Taft, Aldrich
and Cannon Are Back of Move
To Raise Magazine Rates.

WASHINGTON, Feb. 14.-Samuel
G. Blythe, one of the foremost writer's
and political students in America,
made the direct charge today In an
article written for the United Press
that the effort to increase the postal
rate on magazines IL part OF plot
to stamp out the progressive move
ment in politics.
Blythe declared that II was an act
Of direct reprisal on the part OF Presi-
dent TAFT, Postmaster-Gener Hitch
cock, Speaker Cannon, Senator Aid
rich "and all the Cannon and Aldrich
crowd in congress-"
The Blythe article follows:
BY SAMUEL @. BLYTHE.
(copyrIsht 1911 BY the United Press
Associatlon.)
Politics, not postal deficit, Is the
underlying motive OF the administra-
tion's attack on the magazine and
periodical press OF this country
through the medium OF an increase In
second-class postage.
Postmaster-Gener Hitchcock has
his excuse In his alleged deficit.
President Taft has his excuse In his
support OF a cabinet member who is
trying to put his department on a
self-sustaining basis The administra-
ton senators who tackled the amend
ment on the postoffice bill have their
excuse In the demand OF the president
that the increase shall be made. They
are making these excuses too, now
that they are discovering how thor
oughly the people are aroused on the
matter of using the taxing power or
the government to confiscate-for that
Is what It amounts to-a free press
that has dared to criticise and con-
denim certain acts OF both the admin
istration and the supporters OF the adj
ministration in congress.
Laying aside the tremendous econo-
mic fact that the imposition OF this
tax by the government means the ruin
of the magazine and periodical busi-
ness in this country, the absolute ex-
tinction of the popular magazines,
look at the politics OF 1t. Three
facts are certain:
1. This tax Is part OF carefully
matured plan by the administration,
In conjunction with the interests the
Republican majority In congress have
served sixteen years, to stamp out the
progressive Republican movement In
this country by depriving that move
ment OF it's means OF publicity and It's
mediums for the spread Of its propa-
fganda. e-eq.s a - ssssyy-7fT
2. 1t is especially directed at the
newly-formed progressive Republican
league and at the progressives IN con-
gress, who have been supported by
the magazine and periodical press In
their attempts to rid the country OF
Aldrichism and Cannonism.
8. II is an act of direct reprisal on
the part OF the president, Hitchcock,
Cannon, Aldrich and all the Cannon
and Aldrich crowd In congress, Of
whom there are seven on the commit
tee that put the amendment In the
senate bill, intended to punish those
magazines and periodicals that have
spoken fearlessly about governmental
and political abuses.
OF course, the publishers can make
the case, and are making 1t vigorously
and effectively, that this discrimina-
tory reprisal tax will bankrupt them.
or II any OF them can continue, vii.
inevitably increase the price of popu-
lar magazines to the reading public
but that isn't the main point.
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 interests
of its own political ambitions and
those of the men whoserve II, but also
in the interests and for the protection
of the financial uowers AZ sacks m
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 thousands of men who
will be thrown cut OF employment II
the publishing business Is entailed, as
It will bel this increase In second
class postage becomes law.
1t is a blow at the liberty guaran-
teed under the constitution. and is
sutversive 70 every American idea OF
Justice, fair play and decent politics.