Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1918-05-27
Continued from Page Ons)

have already exercised discrlmlna-
ton between the papers they prose
cuted and the papers they failed 20
prosecute.
Congress should give the Pres;-
dent fun power for efficient execu-
tive action. IL should not abroga
". own power. IL should define how
he Is 20 reorsanize the Adminis'ra :
ton II should say how large An
army We are 20 have, and not leave
the decision to the amiable Secre-
,ary of War who has for two years
shown such inefficiency. 1t should
declare for AN army OF Ave million
men. ard inform tho Secretary th1'
~ would give him moro the minute
he asks for meye
Quotes Burisson's Challenge
"Thereupon Postmaster General
Burleson issued the following state
ment
"'Office OF Information.
postoffice Department..
Ma 6. 1918
Postmaster General Burleson to-
day made the following statement
with reference 10 the editorial signed
by Colonel Roosevelt. which appear II
in this mornings paper.
"'Ex- President Roosevelt. in the
newspapers this morning. made ,h-
following statement
"'"During the last year the Admin
r.tration has shown itself anxious ~
punish the newspapers which unheid
,he war. but which told the tru'h
about the Administrations failure so
conduct the war efficiently: wherea
(, has failed TO proceed against vari-
Gus powerful newspapers which OPP
posed the war or attacked our allies
~ directly or indirectly aided Ger
many against this country. AS those
papers upheld the Administration
and defended the inefficiency."
"'Th,s statement. taken in conreH-
ton with other published statement
~ Mr. Roosevelt, is manifestly aimed
At the administration Of the postal
service II is either true or false.
II true. ! am utterly unworthy OF
must and should he scourged from
office in disgrace IT false. right
thinking men and women Will form
their own opinion of the man VINO
uttered IT, lis truth or falsity IS
easily iemonstrable invite Ny
Roosevelt TO name the paners CT
ma gaxines which have upheld the
war. but which told the truth ABOUT
the Administrations failure to con-
duct tho war efficiently which have
been punished" by the Postofficc
- RnnqoNplt
10 name the newspapers or maya
zines, powerful or otherwise. which
have opposed the war and attacked
our allies or directly or indirectly
aided Germany against this country
IN such manner az to violate the law
which have not been proceeded
. gainst by this department.
Failure on the part OF Mr.. Roose-
Welt 10 respond is 10 admit his in
ability to do SO.
Makes Record Of Answer
las this was issued officially by the
Postmaster General. desire that a
permanent record shall he made Of
my answer and Of the facts that led
up 10 my statement to which tne
Postmaster General took exception,
and which caused him 10 issue his
challenge to me to prove my state
men'. 7 therefore wish TO put these
facts before YOU in fun
II insert as appendices to this let
TER the editorial in The Metropolitan
Magazine. in the issue which tf,c
New York postofTice attempted to
suppress. this editorial being entitled
and nv article in The Metropolitan
on Lincoln and Free Speech togeth-
or with the Metropolitan statement
a. tn IT, wa record page &. May
'Metropolitanp
II deal with Mr. Burleson and lis
actions purely because he is the rep
r"sentettNe OF President Wilson, Cx-
actlN as is Secretary Baker. exact'%
ms Ia Mr. Crcsl President Wilson IS
responsible for everything that Posi-
master General Rurleson and Sccra-
'ary Baker ard MIR. Creel do, or lea w
undone. Nothing that any one of
these gentlemen SAYS. nothing that
any one of them does. and nothing
that any one of them leaves undone,
IL of the slightest Importance, except
because he is President Wilson's rep
resertat.ve, appointed by President
Wilson TO position Of high govern
mental importance in a great crisis
and serving as the medium through
his policies affecting this county
This Is, Of course. equally true of Al
Of President Wilson's other appom-
tees.
Scant Patience With Folly
Il have sCant patience with the IT,
nudity or the folly which dareS no.
hold accountable the source of power
and only ventures TO express dis
pleasure with the instrument through
which the power is exercised. Messrs
Burleson. Baker. Creel and their as
SOCRATES possess no Importance what
ever except that acCruing 10 them
because it is through them that the
President speaks and acts or refuses
or fails TO act. AS the above article
shows, was not speaking of M.
Burleson in particular. but of the
Administration, of which he is a
part; Of the President, whose servant
he is.
The reasons for my comment IN
THE Kansas city Star and for my
previous article in The Metropolitan
Magazine is tina: since the war he.
gan the Administra ton has used The
very great war powers of the govern.
ment over the public press to stitie
honest criticism Of governmental IN.
effic.ency or misconduct. while con.
doning (Which necessarily means Ell
ceuraEing) proGermans. antiAlly
and therefore anti-American agita-
ton in certain powerful papers which
defended this inc ff1ciency and mis-.