The Washington times., 1918-05-20

That the public has IN some cases
complained Of Colonel RoOseveltl
writings as alleged violations Of the
espionage act was the claim OF Post
master General Burelson In q state
ment published today.
He added. however, that no matter
published by either Mr.. Roosevelt OF
Mr. Hearst has come to my attention
which in my opinion warranted &C
ton by the Postohice Department
under the espionage act against
either OF them"
Has waited Patiently.
The Postmaster Generals reply in
full follows:
II have waited patiently for Mr..
Roosevelt to substantiate his state
ment made in the morning papers Of
May to the effect that the Post
office Department was using the
espionage act for political purposes
By furnishing papers which upheld
the war but which told the truth
about the Administration failure 70
conduct the war efficiently and by
falling to proceed against powerful
newspapers which opposed the war
or attacked our allies or directly or
indirectly aided Germany against
country, as those papers upheld the
this country, as those papers upheld
efficiency
''Mr. Roosevslt's reply OF Nay IL.
which he then termed preliminary IN
the main evades the issue presented, and
is thoroughly misleading He names the
New York Tribune, colliere'. and the
Metropolitan Magazine In a way which
publications have been the objects OF
improper discrimination by the Post
office Department
This department has taken no action
against Golfers.
This department has taken no action
against the Tribune
I'm exposing German propa ganda
early in the war the department brought
10 public attention typical seditious mat
ter which was being circulated through
out the country. II made available to
Newspaper men its files disclosing such
disloyal matter. The Tribune promptly
Availed itself Of this opportunity and
gave helpful assistance, for which pa
triouc service I personally thanked one
OF its stan correspondents.
The department has taken no action
against the Metropolitan MAgazinA
Has Boosted Circulation
with respect to this magazine, the
incident referred to by Mr. Roose-
welt occurred after the magazine had
passed through the nails. and not a
copy offered for mailing failed Of
transmission. The facts with respect
to this matter were made public in a
statement by the Solicitor, which ap-
peared in the morning papers OF
that the Metropolitan Magazine was
injured from that incident is unfor-
tunate. II cannot be said that the
magazine lost sales on that account
at that time On the contrary, more
copies Of the March issue were sold
on account OF the publicity given the
matter. The injury. therefore, must
have followed as a result OF public
disapprOval OF the matter contained
In that issue. / have yet to learn
OF a patriotic reader, unless IL be
Mr.. Roosevelt, who approved the
publication in that issue OF the
article. Is America Honest by Will
liam Hard. The department received
large number OF letters from wide
ly separated sections of the country
eharacterizing the publication OF the
Hard article as bad from every view
point Some claimed it was unpatri-
otic, others that il violated the
espionage act and still others that
It was reasonable.
Cannot Accommodate.
II Mr.. Roosevelt means that I
should repair the injury C?) TO the
magazine by joining him in commend
ing the Hard article as desirable lit
erature for forwarding the war aims
OF the Government / cannot accom-
modate him.
Il am reliably Informed that Ger
many highly appreciates the Hard ar
ticle; so highly, in fact, that her prop
agandists have translated II into Ger
man, Spanish, Portuguese and the
Scandinavian languages, and are now
hooding Mexico, South America and
other countries with copies Of II. Mr.
Roosevelt could hardly add to the in
furious effects OF this article should
he now have II reproduced in the Cons
gressionAl Record in full with its dis
gusing illustrations accompanied by
his express approval: thus giving il
free and unlimited distribution.
80 much for Mr.. RooseveIt's first
charge Now. what OF his second7
The press OF every complexion
should always have the widest lati-
tude for criticism Of the acts Of all
public officials. This principle is con-
stantly kept in mind in the adminis-
tration Of the espionage act and dis
posing Of complaints made there
under.
The Postohies Department has re-
ceiVed possibly more complaints from
the public alleging that Mr.. Roose
yelt's articles were in violation OF
the espionage act than II has against
the Hearst newspapers No matter
published by eithsr Mr.. Roosevelt or
Mr.. Hearst has come to my attention
Ehteh. ~ ny ollnsan. Narnantnd &C.