The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1915-02-13
SEEKS 70 EXCLUDE papers FROM TIE US MAI.
Representative Gilman Declares AntCaholc Publications Defeated
Foatyeight Democrats Either Primary the Pos-Anti
Catholic Organizations Fight Introduction of Bills

Forty-eight Democrats Either
Catholic Organizations F
The three bills aimed at excluding
scandalous. libelous. scurrilous mat
ter, ETC.. from the mails on the per.
sonal veto Of the postmaster general
drew big crowd to the House COM
mittee on postohices and post roads
last week, and toward the close Of the
protracted hearing, the discussion be-
gan to have the appearance of a re-
ligious controversy.
The bills were one by Representa-
tive Fitzgerald Of New York. and two
by Representative Gallivan Of Massar
chusetts. These two and Representa-
tive Maher of New York, argued
briefly In favor of the bills, while Rev.
DR.. Randolph H. McKim, rector Of the
Church of the Epiphany, Washington;
Rev. G. F. Williams, a writer of Wash
ington; s. w. Horton, secretary, Col
umbia Religious Liberty Association,
and w. L. Buegan, Seventh Day Ad-
ventist. opposed the bills.
AS the hearing opened, Representa-.
tive Fitzgerald said the postmaster
general found himself in position
where the existing law did not allow
him to debar from the mails certain
indecent and scurrilous matter, and
as far as Mr.. Fitzgerald went the hear
ing was confined to a phase of the
postal law.
Representative Finley of South
Carolina, member Of the committee,
endeavored to ascertain what prompt
ed the introduction of the bills.
Mr.. Fitzgerald replied that the post
office department could furnish ex-
hibits Of printed matter that had
aroused the resentment of large ele.
lnent in the United States.
1t was not until Representative Ma
her spoke that he mentioned that
Roman Catholics in his district are ex-
tremely anxious to curb some of the
activities of six publications. He men.
toned only two-namely. The Menace
and the Yellow Jacket.
There is no man in this country
who believes in the criticism of a re.
ligion in coarse and scandalous Ian.
guage," said Representative Gallivan,
in favoring his own bill, "and want
to call attention to the fact that dis
tribution of that sort of literature
through the mails in the recent cam.
paign resulted in the defeat Of forty.
eight Democrats, either at the pri-
maries or at the election. It is time
something is DONE"
"This is direct attack on the
Roman Catholic Church" said Repre-
sentative Maher, after he had men,
toned the names of the publications
sought to be excluded by individual
veto of the postmaster general. "The
Catholics want protection from these
slanderous libels circulated through
the mails"
In opposing the bills, Rev. DR.. Nc.
Kim said he appeared as an American
citizen to represent the views of 300
Washington clergymen incorporated
into the Federation Of Pastors.
"This legislation is inconsistent
with the principles of American lib
erty," said he. "and constitutes an at
tack on the freedom of the press.
would rather see the press free than
clean II to clean it we had to assault
liberty"
He called attention to the fact that
the courts were open to redress in the
case of persons injured by slander and
libel. "The bill is unconstitutional"
he continued. "The postmaster gen.
eral is not responsible to the people
and should not have dictatorial
power"
"Would you rather see obscene mat
ter go through the mail than have the
liberty of the press interfered with?"
asked Representative Fitzgerald.
Excluding obscene matter from the
mails Is not Limitation on the free.
dom of the press" replied DR.. McKim.
II would prefer that there should be
no press than that it should be at
liberty to publish any unclean and
libelous statement"
Rev. G. F.. Williams said that the
legislation is unnecessary, in his opin'
ion, because of the fact that the courts
have always been able to handle
charges Of scurrility, etc.
Sanford E. Horton. secretary of the
Columbia Religious Association, said:
with all due respect to the authors
Of the two bills before this committee
at the present time. l submit that
there is wrapped up in the Legislation
proposed a menace to the freedom Of
the press as we'll as to religious lib
erty.'
w. l.. Buegan, representing tht
Seventh Day Adventists, said: "Thou
sands Of Seventh Day Adventist
throughout the United States, believ
! inc khof tho v,ooo,,roo thof hova ro