The Washington times., 1918-05-20
BURLESON FINDS
NO SEDITION IN
7. r. OR HEARST

tion by the Postsnice Department
under the espionage act against
either OF them
Before Law Was Passed
"AH but two OF the articles in the
Hearst papers referred to by Mr..
Roosevelt were published before the
passage Of the espionage act June
Is, 1917), and some OF them before
our entry into the war. The Post
office Department can hardly be ex-
peoted even by Mr.. Roosevelt to take
action against q paper for the publ
cation OF matter which was printed
and circulated before the passage Of
the law. The two articles specifically
mentioned appeared in the New York
American OF July % and November
%. 1917. Mr.. Roosevelt is not a law
yer and however one may disagree
with these two articles. Il is conf
IDENTIFY asserted that II Mr.. Roose-
welt had advised with a lawyer OF
even second-rate ability, he would
have been, told nothing could be found
in these articles in violation of the
espionage act.
''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 well-known lines. have each
said things, whatever the motive, that
a casual reader might believe were in
conflict with the espionage act But
those whose responsibility h is TO en-
force this law do not believe a case
could be made to stand against either
OF them In the courts
Can Read the FactA
'"The law must be administered a.
1t Is found. Any layman can read
the facts as stated In the opinion Of
the court in the departments case
against Watson's paper, The Jeffer-
sonian' Congressional Record Of
August %, 1917) and see that It WAS
very different from Mr.. RooseVeltB
case against Mr.. Hearst.
"If Mr.. Roosevelt means to intimate
that was instrumental, directly or
Indirectly, in obtaining for Mr..
Hearst, or any company or associa-
tion with which he is connected, a
restoration OF news or cable facilities
which had been Withdrawn from him
by the allied governments, he is in
error. I will say, further. l know OF
no one who performed such a service
for him
Telegram In Case.
sAs to the telegram OF M. Arthur
Brisbane. I quote from Mr.. Roosevelt:
Mr.. Burleson says OF Mr. Hearst's
charge that he "cong ratulAtes the
people OF Chicago because they are to
have the beneht of Mr.. Brisbane'H
able and unselhsh efforts for justice
and freedom and true democratic gov
eminent
THE telegram sent was as follows:
From press reports l note that
you are to be the editor OF the new
Herald and Examiner, and l con-
gratulate the people of Chicago that
they are TO have the benefit OF your
able and unselhsh efforts in further
ance OF the progress OF the city and
the development OF the new paper.
and I indulge the hope that il will
always stand for justice, freedom.
and the principles of true democratic
government
However. this telegram may have
been handled or whatever its effect,
the purpose in sending ii was far
from that charged by Mr.. Roosevelt
"In conclusion to those who have
the will to launch assaults against
public officials who are discharging
their duty l commend a careful read
ing OF the eigth stanza in Tennyson's 5
The Grandmother"