The Washington herald., 1915-02-02
CLERGY Defends
PRESS Freedom
Lively Tilt Marks Hearing on
Bill to Bar Scurrilous
Publications.
REV. DIR. M'KIM TESTIFIES
Representative Mahar Says Catholics
Want to Curb the Menace and
the Yellow-jacket.

A lively hearing was held before the
House Committee on Postof1ces yester-
day on three bills designed to exclude
from the mails certain publications
that are making attacks upon the
Roman Catholic Church. The bills un-
der consideration were one offered by
Representative Fitzgerald, of New
York, and two presented by Repre-
sentative Gallivan, OF Massachusetts.
The opposition to the measures was
Kim. rector of the Church of
the Epiphany. of this city; Rev.
g. F. Williams a clerical writer
of this city; s. s. Horton, secretary of
the Columbia Religious Liberty Asso-
citation. and W. L. Buegan, who ap-
peared for the Seventh-Day Adventists.
Arguments were made in support of
the bill by Representatives Fitzgerald
and Gsllivan and by Representative
Mahar. of New York. Before the dis
cussion came to an end il partook of
the appearance of a religious contro-
versy, and on two or three occasions
the chairman of the committee, Repre-
sentative Moon, of Tennessee, had to
call the disputants to order.
At the beginning of the hearing Rep
resentative Fitzgerald made the state
menI IndI certain puDllCaIlOnS were
carrying matter of a defamatory char
acter. but that under existing laws the
Postmaster General was powerless to
correct what Mr.. Fitzgerald said was
an abuse. Representative Finley, Of
South Carolina, a member of the COM
mittee, endeaVored to ascertain what
prompted the introduction of the bills.
Mr.. Fitzgerald replied that the Post
once Department could furnish exhibits
4L,&
resentment of a large element in the
United States. Representative Mahar told
the committee that Catholics of his dis
trict are anxious to curb publications
that M Mahar said were making vicious
attacks upon the church. OF these pub
locations Mr.. Mahar mentioned only two
The Menace and The Yellowjacket.
Literature Defeated Democrats.
There is no man in the country who
believes in the criticism of a religion in
coarse and scsndalous language" said
Mr.. GalliVan. Il want to call attention
to the fact that distribution Of that sort
of literature through the mails in the
recant campaign resulted in the defeat
Of forty-eight Democrats, either at the
primaries or at the elections. 1t is time
something was done"
The Catholics want protection from
these slanderous libels circulated through
the mails" exclaimed Representative
Mahar.
In opposing the bills Rev. DR.. McKim
said that he spoke for 300 Protestant
clergymen of Washington.
This proposed legislation is incon-
sistent with the principles of Ameri
IAN liberty and represents an attack
On the freedom of the press" said the
witness. Il have no desire to defend
:he scurrilous, libelous and filthy pub
locations, and would to God there were
none, but we should not get at them
Oy striking at the liberty OF the press
I would rather see the press free than
clean, if TO clean it We had to assaiI
liberty. Persons that were libeled can
find redress in the courts. The bills
are unconstitutional. The Postmaster
General is responsible to the people