The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1918-05-21
BURLESON SAYS
COL. ROOSEVELT
D0DCES ISSUE
Gets Many Complaints on T.
RS Writings, but Has mo
Case"

WASHINGTON, D. c.. May 81
Postmaster General Burleson issued a
statement asserting that Col. Roose.
yet evaded the issue and was mislead-
Ing In his preliminary" reply to the
demand that he prove his charge that
the administration was furnishing pub.
locations which upheld the war but
told the truth about administration
failures, while it failed to proceed
against those who opposed the war or
attacked the allies but defended inef.
ficiency.
Mr.. Roosevelt's reply of May II,
which lie then termed preliminary
Mr.. Burleson said, 'in the main eyades
the issue presented and is thoroughly
misleading. He names the New York
Tribune, Golfers. and the Metropol-
itan magazine in way which creates
the impression that these publications
have been the objects Of improper dis
elimination by the postoffice depart.
ment.
This department has taken no &C.
ton against Golfers. This depart.
ment has taken no action against the
Tribune
Censorship Aided Sales.
The department has taken no ac-
ton against the Metropolitan maya
zine.
With respect to this magazine, the
incident referred to by Mr. Roosevelt
occurred after the magazine had
passed through the mails and not a
copy offered for mailed failed of trans
mission. 1t cannot be said that the
magazine lost sales on that account at
taht time. On the contrary, more
copies of the March issue were sold on
account of the publicity given the
magazine. The injury therefore must
have followed as a result of public
disapproval of the matter contained in
that issue.
Il have yet to learn of a patriotic
reader. unless 1t be Mr.. Roosevelt, VINO
approved the publication in that issue
of the article rs America Honest?"
by William Hard
Appreciated by Germany.
II am reliably informed that Ger
many highly appreciates the Hard ar
ticle-so highly, in fact. that her prop
agandists have translated it into Ger
man, Spanish, Portuguese, and the
Scandinavian languages, and are now
other countries with it.
so much for Mr.. Roosevelt's first
charge. Now what of the second?
The press of every complexion al
ways should have the widest latitude
for criticism of the acts of all public
officials. This principle is constantly
kept in mind in the administration Of
the espionage act and disposing Of
complaints Hereunder.
Many Complaints Against T. r.
"The postoffice department has re-
ceived possibly more complaints from
the public alleging that Mr.. Roose-
velts articles were in violation of the
espionage act than it has against the
Hearst newspapers. All but two of
the articles in the Hearst papers re-
ferred to be Mr.. Roosevelt were pub
lished before the passage Of the espi-
onage act June Is, 1919 and some
OF them before out entry into the war,
Mr.. Hearst, through his vast news
paper circulation and writings along
lines familiar to the public, and Mr..
Roosevelt. with the prestige of an eX-
president Of the United States, writ
ing along entirely different but equally
we'll known lines, have each said
things, whatever the motive. that
casual reader might believe were in
conflict with the espionage act. But
those whose responsibility it is to
enforce this law do not believe a case
could be made to stand against either
of them in the courts.
Denies Aiding Hearst.
eff Mr.. Roosevelt means to intimate
that | was instrumental, directly or in
directly. in obtaining for Mr.. Hearst,
or any company or association with
which he is connected. a restoration If
news or cable facilities which had
been withdrawn from him by the allied
governments, he is in error. | will
say further, know of no one who per-
formed such service for him.