The Daily Missoulian., 1912-04-29

him, and was not simultaneously en-
forced against other publishers at all.
A special retroactive ruling was made
for him alone.
After several years Of effort to get
an actual trial on these indictments.
he finally forced the government to
the Issue In court and the government
was beaten. Other indictments were
then dismissed because equally base
less. ai
Meanwhile, In searching for some
other thing that might be done to de-
stroy MIR. Lewis and his enterprises. "
was discovered thai there was a tech
nical fault In his right to the second
class---ohe cent a pound--privIlcge for
the Woman's Magazine. He originally
started II as the Wilmer Magazine. for
which he received the second class en-
try. When he changed the name
making no other change--he applied
for permission to change and this per-
mission was granted by letter.
His formal application, for some
reason. was never acted upon. He
continued for several years to mail un-
der the letter of authorization. When
this fact was discovered by the postal
officials. they took advantage of their
own carelessncss and error in not
granting a formal certificate, and shut
him out OF the mails entirely by With
drawing the second class privilege,
claiming that he never had II.
There was no Jurisdiction for this
act of destruction. None was claimed.
II was baldly called a war measure.
an act of demolition. an abuse Of Of
fial power without parallel In the
" hole history of the United States
government of century and "a
quarter.
or course. the magazine. which had
been suffering severely under the
continued assaults. was completely de-
stroyed by this act. II was impossible
TO pay eight times as much postage
and continue TO issue the publication
An effort was made to prevent the de-
struction by increasing the subscrip-
tion to IS cents, but 1t failed. The
very life blood of the magazine had
been let out, and II died
Meanwhile Mr.. Lewis had conceived
and organized the American Woman's
league. which was to become-and did
become--a great subscription agency.
and TO this league he gave so per cent
Of the subscription price to all mag
azines. his as well as others. This
league became the direct beneficiary OF
the university plans. and local chap
ter houses were to be built--many
were actually built before renewed
hostility crippled the lcaguc--and
started TO revive his enterprises. on
the supposition that he was now to be
let alone. n supposition which gave the
hostile officials too much credit.
He had introduced In congress res
olution for an investigation OF the
whole matter. and for an appropria-
tion Of $1,500.000 for reimbursement
for the losses wrongfully caused him
BY the prosecuting officials.
Then new attack was begun upon
him. II Is impossible to relate It's de-
tails at length. The country was
flooded with official circulars and un-
official Notwithstanding copies
by thc'' thousands Of n weekly paper
which had been In some way induced
70 take up the matter-for which Mr..
Lewis has secured n verdict OF $4,000
damages against the publisher-and
In every way possible those who In.
vested In his plans for upbuliding his
almost destroyed enterprises were
worked upon to induce them to let
them alone or to make complaint.
Local postmastcrs were instructed to
talk with patronS of their offices and
tell what a bad man Mr.. Lewis was.
and postal inspectors raced over the
country trying to get people to make
complaint and take action against
ri ,r a.,
thousands worked upon this way,
somebody was found who could be in
duccd TO complain. and last November
100 or more were brought TO st. Louis
TO appear before a federal grand jury.
Many Of these were sent home with
out testifying, when II was discovered
that they were still friendly to Mr..
Lewis and would not swear they be-
lieved themselves defrauded.
Out of the number actually taken
before the jury only handful were
found to be willing and available wit
ncsscs. Indictments were brought and
the government went to trial hastily
with the small number Of witnesses
out of the possible many thousands, In
an effort to convict him before tho
congressional committee could finish
It's investigation.
| II was a race TO see II Mr.. Lewis
could not be discreditcd by legai
conviction before the avalanche oil
criticism the committee Is known tc
be preparing. could be let loose. with
a most vicious prosecution on the part
of the federal attorneys and the III.
recting forces behind them. and before
a court hostile to the defense In ever,
action. this effort has failed. II there
had been the least possibility of prov.
Ing any intention on the part of Mr.
i Lewis to dcfraud his investors for hi.
personal advantage, a conviction woult
have been certain under such hostile
trial conditions. 1t was triumph
equal in moral effect to an acquitta
that the effort failed.
And, now, what are the people o
st. Louis going to do about it? Ar,
they going to let this thing continue
or are they going to use their influences
TO have It stopped? Has not grea
ST. Louis enterprise been ruthlcssl,
destroyed without the people so mucl
as raising a protesting voice? Is
not time to call halt?
And, what are the people of tn
United States, and especially the WON
EN-, going to do about It? Millions 0