The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1918-05-25
ROOSEVELT MAKES
DRASTIC ATTACK
ON PRESIDENT
ADMINISTRATION USES ITS
POWER TO SQUELCH
CRITICISM, CHARGE.
NE USES BITTER WORDS
Alleged Inefieiency and Misconduct
on Part Of Officials Is Asserted
Says Anti-Ally Attitude Of Ger
tain Papers Is Condoned.

Washington, May 2S.-A repl,
TODAY b, Theodore Roosevelt to
Postmaster General Burleson in
their controversy over alleged dis
elimination ~ he postotfice depart
mcnt in treatment of newspapers
and magazines. lrcsened to the SEN
ate TODAY by Senator Poindexter OF
Washington, charged that the ad-
ministration had played for and
against different newspapers and
magazines, and that President Will
son WAS directly responsible.
The administration. Mr.. RooSe-
welt declared has condoned the
anti-sllv attitude of certain publica-
tions. among them the Hearst news
papers, while embarrassing those
that have made honest criticism Of
the conduct OF .he war.
Statement by Roosevelt.
Since the war began said
Roose yelt, "the administration has
used the very great powers Of the
government over the public press to
stiAc honest criticism of govern
mental ineficiency or misconduct
while condoning (Which necessarily
means encGuraging) pro-German,
anti-ally and their anti-American
agitation in certain powerful papers
whicl defended this ineHiciency and
misconduct and it has sought from
congress great addition to the al
ready existing power it has thus
misuGc1.
~ brueye that the FIRST article of
the constitution guarantees the
right Of the people to criticise
truthfully the conduct of their pub
liz ser ants and that this right can
rot be taken away by any law.
During the past year the action
OF the administration. taken largely
through the pogtofice department,
has been such AS to render it mat
ter of Some danger for anybody, and
especially any newspaper, to speak
the truth, if that truth be unpleas-
ant 10 The governmental authorities
at .shington. The effect OF this
att:tvie has been very marked po-
litical,y. Such coercive power tends
to make upright men, even although
they are strong men. cautious about
telling truths which ought to be
told.
Refers to German Enlissaries.
at forces veal men to praise the
administration whether it does well
or ill. 1t invites unscrupulous men
who desire - serve Germany to gain
license to do so and to secure ad-
vantages by praising the administra-
ton, especially when it has acted
W wrotgfully and inefhciently and by
supporting it politically.
There are cases where all COM
petent and honest observers are
certain that political sup
por. has been gwen and is now be-
ing given to TIE administration by
newspapers, because of the
club it has held over them by the
a administration. From the very ma
ture of the case there can rarely be
positive proof in such cases, but as
regards The most striking cases OF
those concerning the
Hearst papers. as compared with
the suppression of Tom Watson's
paper, and the attack (for nominally
wholly different reasons) on the
(iaagaxine) ] herein
give the facts which prove exactly
what have alleged.
Challenges Mr. Burleson.
The postmaster general has
raised the issue: ] meet it squArely; |
and he shall not evade it. The ad
has successfully en-
1eavo'ed 10 rtevent expression OF !
opinion hostile TO it and 10 put
premium upon supporting the presi-
lent personally and politically with
,uS regard 10 whether his actions
ire detrimental or beneficial to the
Roosevelt also assailed Chairman
Creel of the committee OF pul'Ec
Information and in imputing iespon-
ibility for the acts of the postmaster
general and Mr.. Creel, said.
81 deal with Mr.. Buriesou and his
actions purely because he is a rep
'esentative of President Wil.on ex-
,ctly as is Secretary Baker, -xactiy
IS is Mr.. Creel. President Wilson
S responsible for everything Post
master General Burleson and Secre.
AIRY Baker and M. Creel do or
cave undone. ''' have scant pa
ience with the timidity or the folly
\ hich cares not to hold accountable
he source OF power and only ven
ures to express displeasure with
Instruments through which tie pow
.r Is exercised. Aessrs. Burleson,
Baker, Creei and their associates
'ossess no importance whatever ex-
'ept that aceruing to them, because
{ is through them that the presi-
lent speak, and acts or refuses or
Ails to act"
Alleges Crave Shortcomings
In attacking Creel. Roosevelt de-
Jared he (Creel) "AssaJs publicz-
ions that truihfully expose short
'omings of the administration and
without regard to the facts person
lily; and through his bureau active
y upholds the administrator in
matters such As the aireraf. pro-
ram. in which there hx,e been
rave governoental shoreomings-