The Springdale news. [volume] (Springdale, Ark.) 1887-1990, 1917-01-05
A PERFECT EXCUSE


prised last week when The News did not carry the
announcement of the winning numbers in the drawing
held in Sprngdale, December Goth They were alst
surprised that The News did not mention the drawing
any manner whatever. AS the drawing days have beer
discontinued and for good reason; below is given thu
The News has refraned the last few weeks from
making any mention whatever of the drawing This
letter receiver by the local postmaster from the
Office of the Solicitor of the Post Office Department
and in turn handed to the editor of The News Follow
ing is the letter:
Postmaster, Springdale, Arkansas.
The attention of this office has been called the
November 10, 1916 issue of "The Springdale News
your office, which contains list of winners in, and
advertisements relating to- drawings for prizes. 1t
appears that tickets given by certain merchants
of your city with each dollar cash purchase pay
account which allows the holder to par
tieipate in a drawing for certain prizes
This scheme is manifestly lottery and under
Section 482, PL & R, 1918, all matter of every kind
in any way relating thereto is unavailable. The
issue of the newspaper in question should have been
excluded from the mails.
Please invite the attention of the publisher of
THE News to the enclosed copy of Section 213 of
the Penal Code of the United States, which makes
it crime to deposit such matter in the mails and
obtain from him for submission to this office
written explanation of his action in the premises.
The promoters of this unlawful enterprise should
also be cautioned against using the mails in any
way whatsoever in the conduct of this scheme
After the receipt of this letter the pubishe submitted
the Post Office Department at Washington, D. c.,
full explanation in the premises; stating that
of it being violation of the law, and WOULD
refrain from furthur publications of the advertising
would print the list of winning numbers, die
not desire The News refused admission to the mails.
The following paragraph is the penalty provided ol
the violation of the section referred in the letter
"Sec. 213 No letter, package postal card or cir
cuar concerning any lottery gift enterprise sim
liar scheme offering prizes dependent in whole or in
part upon lot or chance; and no lottery ticket or
part thereof paper, certificate, instrument
purportlng to be or to represent ticket, chance
share, interest in dependent upon the event of
lottery, gift enterprise, similar scheme offer
ing prizes dependent in whole in part upon lot
chance; and check draft bill, money postal note
money order, for the purchase of any ticket
part thereof, or any share or chance IN any such
lottery, gift enterprise, scheme and news
paper, circular pamphlet, or publication of any kid
containing any advertisement of any lottery, Gift
enterprise, sheeme; and newspaper, circular
pamphlet publication of any kind containing any
advertisement of any lottery, gift enterprise.
scheme of any kind offering prizes dependent in
whole or in part upon lot chance, containing
any list of the prizes drawn awarded by
of any such lottery, gift enterprise, scheme,
whether said list contains any part all of such
prizes, shall be deposited in carried by the mails
of the United States be delivered by any post
letter carrier.
The penalty provided for violation of the above
section is fine of not than thousand
dollars, or imprisoned not more than two years, or
both; and for any subsequent offense shall be inn
prisoned not than five years.
The News had desire to enter into controversy
with the Post Office department with reference to the
drawing in Sprngdale being lottery. There those
who contend that the drawing lottery; but it
that the Post Office Department has different
opinion, and The News is perfectly willing to abide by
that opinion.
1t is hoped that this explanation will prove salts
factory to readers, and they will agree with US
when say that The News had perfect in not
the publication of matter PERTAINING to the
drawing.