The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1917-10-13
TO CURB DISLOYALTY.
ALIEN AND NATIVE ENEMIES
WILL BE CLOSELY WATCHED.
Restrictions Made Possible by Trad
ing With the Enemy Act to Be Put
Into Effect Within Few Days
President Virtually Completes Eek.
ecutive Order.

washington, Oct. 9.-Commerce
and communication restrictions to be
enforcedAay the trading with the enc
my act will be put into effect within
a few days under an executive order
which President Wilson has virtually
completed after ocnferring with cabi-
net members, Vance Mccormick,
chairman of the exports administra-
tive board, and acting Secretary
Crosby of the treasury.
Postmaster General Burleson an
nounced after the cabinet meeting
that the provision authorizing the
postoffice to license foreign Language
newspapers already was in operation
and that within ten days the depart
ment would begin to issue licenses. A
number Of papers already have filed
applications
Under the tentative draft Of the ex-
ecrtive order the censorship of mails,
cables, radio and telegraph communi-
cation would be entrusted to a board
including representatives of the post
office, war and navy departments and
the exports administration. The navy
which now censors cables, aAd the war
department, which exercises control
over telegraph communication to Mex
leo, probably would retain those func-
tons while the new problem Of CEN
soring mail, directed particularly tn
Spain and the northern European neu-
trail countries, would be given special
attention by the army and exports ad-
ministration representatives on the
board of censors.
Mr.. Burleson is anxious that his de-
partment refrain as much as possible
from the work of actually opening and
ccnsoring mail. Consequently the pos
tai authorities probably will limit
themselves to merely cooperating witt,
the active censors
Control over imports and exports
vested in the president by the trading
with the enemy act will be delegated
to the export administration. The ex-
port administration would then have
more positive authority to forbid
shipments suspected of being destined
to Germany or her allies.
The license control over enemy in
surance companies, vested in the
president, probably will be turned over
to the war risk insurance bureau of
the treasury. Commerce department
officials are said to be anxious to ad-
minister the insurance companv IL
censes. Regulation of foreign ex-
change and export of coin and bullion
would be given to the federal reserve
board.
1t is understood the commerce de-
partment will be given custody of en-
emy property in the United States.
The postmaster general said today
that publications need not fear sup-
preston under trading with the enc
my act unless they transgress Tho
pounds OF legitimate criticism of tho
president. the administration. the
array, the navy or conduct of the
war.
we shall take great care not to
let criticism which is personally or
politically offensive to the adminis-
trarion affect our action" he said. But
If newspapers go so far as to impugn
the motives of the government and
thus encourage INSTRUMENTATION they
will be dealt with severely.
For instance, papers may not saw
that the government is controlled by
Wall Street or munition manufacture
ers or any other SPECIAL interest. Pub
lication of any news calculated to urge
the people to violate law will be con-
ground for drastic action. We
will not permit the publication or cir
culation of anything hampering the
wars prosecution or attacking i'm
properly our allies"
Mr.. Burleson explained that the pol
icy of foreign language newspapers
would be judged by their past ut
terances and not by newly announced
intentions.
German newspapers not licensed
will be required to publish English
translations. Mr.. Burleson said n,
oociahst paper would be barred from
the mails unless il contained treas
Dnahle or seditious matter.
THE trouble is he added, that
most Socialist papers do contain this
matter"
see
In big factory near Pittsbur,rb