Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1917-08-25
RICHMOND PLANETS SUBSCRIBE
FRS WAITING.
Letter to Editor Detained Recent
Issue In POStoflicc.

TO the Editor of Public Ledger:
Sir-The Richmond, Va Planet Is
the organ of tho colored people of
Virginia in particular and Of the col
, orcd people OF tho United States in
general. To-day l was notified, upon
inquiry by me as to why the papers
! had not been delivered after having
| been received at the postonicc Friday
! between the hours of IL noon and I
y. M. that they had been held up
pending an investigation relative to
! the question as to whether q contri-
! butcd communication signed by W.
, ziah Miner, former editor Of the How
! ard University journal and now 10
Gated at Howard University at
Washington, ID. G. made the entire
issue of that journal unmai!ablc.
I | am incloSing 4 copy Of the article
: in question: l was informed that no
objection was made to the matter i'll
the editorial columns of The Planet
, AS the delay makes the issue of the
journal from tho standpoint of date
worthless and the advertising matter
Is lost to the Gust Omcr, it will be seen
that this is Il virtual fine upon the
management and ownership of the
: journal in question and amounts to
virtual contiscation without due pro-
cess OF law
{ Uzziah Miner spoke only for HIM
self and he told why he had not vol
untecrcd TO serve in the United States
army. He was DESTROYS OF having
President Woodrow Wilson and the
Department Of Justice assume the
same attitude as that taken by ex-
President Theodore Roosevelt in his
timely remarks upon the East St
Louis massacre. He did not protest
against the drafting of men in the
army of the United States, The pol
icy Of The Planet appears in its
editorial columns, and the editorial
department does not assume respon-
sbility for views expressed by it's
correspondents.
| have been much annoyed by in
quiries on the part of subscribers as
to why they have not received their
papers. AS to my loyalty to the dis
tinguished occupant Of the White
House and to the Administration and
its policy, | need but to state that
have published matter from the Ma
tional Defense Bureau, Bureau of
Insurance, Agricultural Department,
and the recruiting bureau in the col
umns of The Planet free of charge
I have volunteered my services both
to the Mayor Of this city and to Gov
ernor Henry G. Stuart, tho presiding
genius and Chief Executive OF the
State.
I am chairman of the local bureau
among the colored people that pro-
noted the sale Of Liberty Bonds. ap-
proximately 81 5. 900 worth being sold
oIrh Int In, ohSN
at meeting held here am q fell
don, and I have committed no act
either directly or indirectly that
would warrant such treatment at the
| hands Of the Postomce Department or
the Department OF Justice.
am president Of the Mechanics
Savings Bank, of this city. deem
1t prudent to make no comment fur
Their than 70 inquire If the constitu-
tional guarantees Of citizens are still
operative. Is there any code Of rules
or instructions by which can be
guided without a censorship, and is
there any way that l can find out just
what is to be permitted in the col
umns Of The Planet before it Is issued
without having an entire issue of the
journal coniscated by Il department
/ OF thee Government without notice?
| sent down to the Richmond post
Office today for the Planets which had
not been delivered and were being
. held up
An excuse was given. and my pro-
| perty is still being held by the Gov
eminent at this writing
/ JOHN MITCHELL, JR.,
; Editor and Proprietor OF The Planet
Richmond, Va. Aug. 7, 1917