Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1917-07-25
WATSON MUST SHOW CAUSE
why "rhe Jeffersonian," His Paper.
Should Not Ise Excluded.

1ency which the Federal government
mas heretofore shown toward the
men and papers such as The Appeal
TO Reason, published at Girard, Kan.
and Watson's Weekly Jeffersonian,
which has been opposing the army
draft laws and the government plans
for the prosecution Of the war, is a
thing of the past.
A heavy hand Is to be laid upon all
sheets which are openly preaching
sedition. This action is being taken
under the espionage law.
Officials Of the post Office depart
ment hold that the constitutional
guarantee Of a free press does not ex-
cuse open revolt against the govern
ment at any time, and especially in
time of war.
To Suppress Draft Opponents.
In view of the possibility of disor-
der when the drawing is made within
the next few days to select men for
the new national army, the greatest
vigilance Is being exercised to sup
press those~wh are fighting the pro-
visions made by Congress for raising
the army. The first step was to i'm
prison Alexander Berkman and EN-
ma Goldman, who were suspected Of
being in the employ Of German
agents.
number Of newspapers have been
n hDx
the publications should not be exclud-
ed from the mails. Among these is
the Weekly Jeffersonian, published
at Thomson, Ga. One issue Of the
paper was recently held up by Marion
Lucas, postmaster at Savannah, and
denied circulation through his office.
The departments action in issuing
rule nisi indicates that If Mr.. Wat
son does not make the proper kind
Of showing his publications will be
permanently excluded from the
mails.
Several weeks ago Mr.. Watson ap-
pealed to certain members in the
Georgia delegation for their opinion
OF the proper course Of procedure for
him to take to protect him in the en-
joyment of the second class mailing
privileges.
Representative Overstreet, to
whom the letter was addressed, after
comforting with several of his col
leagues, wrote back very frankly ad-
vlsing Mr.. Watson to obey the law
and cease criticising the draft law.
he also suggested that Mr.. Watson
file brief showing that his editorials
hadn't transcribed the limits of le-
gttimate criticism. Mr.. Watson, in
characteristic reply, said he would
neither surrender his fight nor tenn
per his criticisms of the army bill.
To-day a sudden change developed
In the situation. j. J. Brown, Com
missioner Of Agriculture Of Georgia
and a director in the Jeffersonian
Publishing Company, called up on the
telephone from Atlanta to speak to
Chas. Fl. Barrett, who Is here. He
urged Mr.. Barrett to see certain
members Of the Georgia delegation
and ask them to plead with the post
Office department to grant an extern
sion of one week, or until July 27,
TO show cause why The Jeffersonian
should not be admitted to the mails.
Mr.. Browns request, as transmit
ted through Mr.. Barrett, was that the
directors and stockholders Of the JEFF
fersonian corporation were scattered
through Georgia and adjoining
States, and at least week was re-
quired to call them together and get
an expression Of their wishes.
Relieving the request a reasonable
one, two members Of Congress from
Georgia called at the post office de-
partment to ask that the extension
be granted. Postmaster General
Burleson was in conference with VIM.
Lamar, solicitor Of the department.
The Georgians were informed that
tho matter was within the jurisdic-
ton or Third Assistant Postmaster
General Dockery. and they called on
him. He agreed to the extension of
time.
Before the hearing can be had, the |
draft law, which Mr.. Watson has been
opposing so strongly in his paper,
will have been put in operation.
Two thousand bluebill and 800 !
white-winged scoter ducks were
found to destroy 5000 oysters a day